The vibrant, powerful sounds of classic Latin songs, spoken-word poetry and applause could be heard from the street, coming from the Conaway Center, located at 1104 S. Wabash Ave., where the “Colores de Nuestra Cultura” event was held.
The annual gathering was organized by Student Belonging and Persistence, with the goal of showcasing artistic works by Latino students at Columbia. Everything from the photography displayed on the walls at the entrance to the performances on stage were produced by students and student groups, such as the Latin Ensemble, Mi Gente and alumni, among others.
“Colores de Nuestra Cultura,” meaning “Colors of our Culture,” takes place in the middle of the semester, a time when students face a heavier academic workload. Nevertheless, the event provided an opportunity to showcase work developed behind the scenes, whether through co-curricular or extracurricular activities.
Kameron Murray, a member of the Mi Gente Latin Dance Club and Team and a senior English major, spoke about the importance of having a space dedicated to cultural art. “Having it all in one place at the same time is very important, especially for us as Columbia students, because we are all artists in one way or another, and it’s vital that art from every culture is showcased,” Murray said.
Copy edited by Isaac Russo
