Westwood Paletero Stories Exhibit puts the ‘art’ in cart
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DENVER — The paletero is an iconic figure in Latin American culture. These vendors dutifully push their carts through the streets, selling icy treats called paletas to customers eager for reprieve from the heat.
Paleteros are ubiquitous in Mexico and countries across Latin America. They’re also a staple in Denver’s Westwood neighborhood, which is a predominantly Latino and immigrant community.
This year, some of Westwood’s paletero carts are coming out a bit earlier in the season than usual, but they won’t be filled with refreshing paletas just yet.
The Westwood Paletero Stories Exhibit features seven painted carts, designed by different Denver artists and inspired by oral histories from paleteros who work in Westwood. The exhibit, curated by Westwood artist Juls Mendoza, will debut on Friday, Feb. 7 from 6 to 8 p.m. at the Re:Vision Gallery.
Mendoza started organizing this show a year ago, but he said the timing of the exhibit — which he hopes will showcase the hard work and personal experience of the paleteros — is especially important now.
In the two weeks since his inauguration, President Donald Trump has taken steps to increase ICE activity and reduce opportunities for legal aid or entry for immigrants. Early in the morning Feb.5, federal immigration agents raided apartment buildings in Aurora and Denver.
“I think it’s very important to give a voice to [the paleteros] and tell people they're real workers, they're part of our community. If you get rid of all the paleteros at once, you’re taking away from that culture, those traditions,” Mendoza said.
“During the summer, imagine walking eight hours in the street. It's a hard job, so we want people to show some respect for paleteros and just be aware of who they are.”
Mendoza said the featured paleteros plan to attend the event on Friday. Some have been working as paleteros for a couple years, others for a couple decades.
People will be able to scan a code on each cart to listen to the personal story that inspired the design. History Colorado trained the after-school youth program participants at Re:Vision, a food and health equity nonprofit based in Westwood, to collect the paletero’s oral histories.
“The Westwood Paletero Stories Project captures the spirit of food vendors who proudly contribute to strengthening and diversifying the stability of community food systems,” said Lucha Martinez de Luna, History Colorado’s associate curator of Hispano, Chicano, and Latino History and Culture.
“Like all family stories in the United States, except Native Americans, these stories begin with an individual or family migrating from another country to seek a better standard of living. For many, these stories of sacrifice and resilience are difficult to share.”
For Mendoza, and many others, paletas and paleteros represent joy and childhood. Growing up in Ciudad Juárez, Mexico, Mendoza remembers seeing paleteros all over the city. He is glad that they’re also a common sight in Westwood.
“Having my nephews just grow up into the same traditions, it seems like we're not losing the culture,” Mendoza said.
Mendoza’s cart tells the story of Arturo Correa, the owner of Paleteria Zacatecas, the popsicle shop in Westwood where the neighborhood’s paleteros fill their carts.
His cart’s design features a young Correa, carrying his caja de sueños — or “box of dreams” — as he starts his career.
Mendoza moved to Westwood when he was 11 years old, and has lived in the neighborhood for 24 years. He has worked as a full-time artist for about five years, and this is his first time curating an exhibit.
When choosing artists to participate in the exhibit, Mendoza wanted to include artists local to southwest Denver, as well as artists unfamiliar with the neighborhood and its traditions.
“It's not about just having a culture and keeping it to yourself. The important thing is to share these cultural traditions to other cultures, to other artists, to different neighborhoods,” Mendoza said.
“A lot of people just kind of know, when it comes to arts, either Santa Fe Art District or RiNo, so I wanted to bring more people, those artists, to our neighborhood so they can know what we are all about.”
The roster of artists involved in the exhibit includes Danielle SeeWalker, Thomas “Detour” Evans and Emanuel Martinez.
After Friday’s debut, the carts will be on display in the atrium space at the History Colorado Center from Feb. 10 through March 3. The exhibit will be included in general admission, which is free every day for guests 18 years and under.
After the exhibit, Mendonza said the plan is for the paleteros to continue to use the painted carts.
Type of story: News
Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources.
Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources.
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