TAMIU and Local Art Baazar

To promote Laredo's local artist and sell their art, Students in Free Enterprise, a Texas A&M International University student organization, created a Bazaar on Saturday, September 3^rd from 6:30 to 9pm at the Scholars Caffe Barista located in 1701 Peaceful Meadows. S.I.F.E. came up with this project to implement photography, music, and crafts to reach artists throughout the community.

TAMIU students and local artists came together at Scholars Caffe Barista trying to meet everyone's taste with different paintings and jewelry. Attendees could observe the painting's various sizes and prices. Colorful and abstract paintings, some with lyrical meaning or expressive messages were created by artists of all ages. Jewelry attracted some of the buyers such as Elisa Zubeldia, a current TAMIU student who attended this event. Zubeldia stated, "The jewelry was very affordable, I was surprised… not even downtown is this cheap." These hand crafted earrings, bracelets, and necklaces ranged in materials such as crystals, stones, and metals. Colors varied from a light blue, to a red and hot pink.  Jewelry was made for, not only females, but also for males.

In order to attract the public, the Bazaar exhibited entertainment with a live band featuring Factura 22. The acoustic rock band is made up of a female vocalist from Guadalajara, a male vocalist from Laredo, percussions, and the guitar bass players. The band attracted the younger generation to become culturally involved. It provided the community an opportunity to discover our TAMIU and local talent not having to travel out of Laredo. As the S.I.F.E advisor claimed, "People don't have to say… I have to go to San Antonio, I have to go to Houston or I have to go to Monterrey… no because we have here our own artist". Therefore, the event gave an opportunity and place for the TAMIU students and local artist to display their talent.

To find more information about the bazaar project, the public can visit their Facebook page at, http://facebook.com/bazaarlaredo, or on their e-mail at backthebazaar@gmail.com.

Neguif Angles may be reached at neguif.angeles@dusty.tamiu.edu, Sdny Lugo may be reached at sandylugoespinoza@dusty.tamiu.edu