The gallery at the Stillwater Public Library opened an exhibit featuring local Chicano artist Jimmy Longoria on May 5. The exhibit will be on view until June 30.  

“The Power of Color” features 23 new paintings by Longoria, a new “Pala de mi Apa” (painted shovel), several painted farm tools, and the messenger bag commissioned by Target Corporation for the Hispanic Association on Corporate Responsibility

There are three sub-themes in the paintings in “The Power of Color”:  

• Paintings inspired by the Metropolitan Opera’s upcoming season in honor of the young women and men Longoria has worked with through the National Council Auditions.

 • The exodus of Central American and Mexican immigrants being driven out of the United States.

 • The imagining of the return of exiled American-born Latinos.

Born in Edinburg, Texas, Longoria is one of the most prominent Hispanic artists in Minnesota. He studied at the School of the Art Institute of Chicago and has called Minnesota home since 1988.  

“Preparing for an exhibition is always a rediscovery of my original intentions in becoming an artist — specifically, a painter,” Longoria said. “The act of painting, no matter who is present, is always a lonely act. Painting in the tradition of the innovative artist is always a terrifying challenge because you are obligated to go to the edge of your current knowledge and move forward into something that is implied in the work you have done before.”

The event is free and no registration is necessary.