BLOOMINGTON, Ill. (WMBD) — Lele, la muñeca mexicana, tells the story of Mexican and Ingenious culture through the eyes of small dolls called Lele’s, bringing the roots of the culture to the Twin Cities.
“Heritage is the way that they can show their culture, their identity,” said Yolanda Alonso, artist and journalist who made the exhibit. “What is here is going to have a little bit of art, a little bit of journalism, a little bit of a story, and something that I want to highlight from my roots, my heritage.”
The Vortex Art Studio in Downtown Bloomington, owned by Janean M. Baird, is hosting this installation right in time for Hispanic Heritage Month. It features 20 different pictures from the streets of Mexico, from when Alonso traveled there last year to learn more about the history behind these dolls. Each doll shows a different expression of Mexican and Ingenious culture.
“They are making something that they (children) are able to play with and also to share and to keep in the community. This is a toy, but is also us,” Alonso said.
Each handmade doll serves as a toy for young children and are sold on the streets of Mexico. Each doll is inspired by the people of Mexico, and often simulates the same clothes they wear. The toys are passed down through generations for children to learn about their ancestors.
“I want to highlight the uniqueness of this, because if you can see it, there is a bunch of colors, but every doll is unique and also behind them is a story about the Mexican people but also in the indigenous community,” she said.
Alonso hopes this exhibit will help teach about Hispanic and Ingenious cultures to people who have neighbors and friends who are a part of these cultures.
“I would like them (visitors) to have fun and to also take a look or to learn something about the Mexican culture,” she said. “I think this is a really special moment to be able to learn something about the people who are living around town or who are your neighbors.”
Hannah Johnson, a local art educator, is helping host this installation, and is hoping this will give the communities a voice and show Bloomington who they are, and not just during Hispanic Heritage Month.
“We also very much make the intention to celebrate and amplify our Latino and Latina communities here locally any time of the year,” said Johnson. ‘Our Latinx communities don’t go anywhere, in terms of they are ever ever-present. If we’re not connecting with each other, if we’re not looking for opportunities to celebrate and better understand each other as cultures and the similarities and the differences year-round, then we’re not actually building community, right?
Alonso also hopes this exhibit will show her roots loud and proud to the people of the area, and show them that the Hispanic community is not going anywhere.
“I am so honored to be able to be here and to show a little bit of my root,” she said. “We know that we are Latino and Hispanic all year, all the years, but it’s a good time and it’s a good moment to celebrate and to highlight the Latino community.”
The exhibit will be open to the public on Oct. 3 and by appointment up until Nov. 8. Lele dolls are also sold at the installation, giving the chance to take a piece of Hispanic history home.
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