Fiestas de las Americas celebrates 10 years of culture in OKC

click to enlarge Fiestas de las Americas celebrates 10 years of culture in OKC
Mark Hancock
Photographer Renzo Mazzini will have some of his work featured during the 10th Annual Fiestas de las Americas, 9-16-15.

A celebration of Oklahoma and Hispanic heritage takes over Capitol Hill 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. Saturday. The 10th Annual Fiestas de las Americas converges on SW 25th Street between Harvey and Robinson Avenues and will feature Hispanic art, a children’s arts and crafts tent, a parade and a full day of food, dance and live entertainment.

Carlos Tello, originally from Mexico City, is one of 12 artists who will showcase artwork during the festival. He said his participation in this event reinforces his artistic mission to promote the arts in the Hispanic community.

Once a week, Tello’s community in Mexico opens museums and galleries for free to the public and people wait in long lines to enjoy fine art. Similarly, Tello feels the local OKC Hispanic population is also interested in art, and this event provides a broader avenue to it that the residents might not have otherwise. However, Tello said it isn’t about just the Hispanic community.

“We don’t just want involvement with Hispanic communities; the point is to be more involved and have more impact with other communities, he said. “The next step is to invite everybody. They will feel like a tourist in their own town.”

Renzo Mazzini, another artist whose work will be featured at Fiestas de las Americas, primarily does wedding and portrait photography, though his true talent shines through in his shots of the night sky.

Mazzini believes art is a powerful tool that helps keep kids away from negative elements such as drugs and gangs, and he hopes his art and the festival inspire younger generations to choose a positive path. He said his work, as with all photography, crosses the boundaries of race and transcends language barriers.

“Everyone sees things differently,” he said. “I see the world in a completely different view. We are so focused on our everyday problems that we forget that it is amazing to just be here on earth.”

Other artists with work at the festival include Colombian painter Jaime Macias, Peruvian painter Rocio Pérez del Solar, Mexican painter Cristina Rivera, Venezuelan sculpture artist Beatriz Alicia Mayorca, children’s author Mariana Llanos, César Velez and Rosibel Reyes.

Saturday’s event kicks off with the first-ever OKCPS Fiestas 5K Family Fun Run. The idea to add the run to the roster of activities came from Felix Linden with Roosevelt Middle School Leadership Academy, an enrichment program at the school.

“He was looking for a good fundraiser and service project for his students and approached me about adding the race,” said Donna Cervantes, Historic Capitol Hill director. “The idea is to promote health and fitness for kids and families … and to promote community pride.”

Also new to the event this year is the Calle Dos Cinco Got Talent competition, a take on America’s Got Talent. Singers, instrumentalists, dancers and performers of all kinds submitted videos of their skill online. Voters then chose their favorite performers, and the finalists will compete in an onstage performance with prizes awarded by celebrity judges.

Print Headline: Heritage hijinks, The 10th Annual Fiestas de las Americas sweeps through Capitol Hill this weekend.

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