Project: Serpentina Arts Partnership

Serpentina Arts (SA) is a collective of Minnesota based Latinx visual artists working to foster creative and professional development. Founded by artist Maria Cristina (Tina) Tavera in 2010, the collective supports Latinx visual artists in Minnesota through all stages of their career by nurturing a sense of solidarity to achieve professional aspirations via collective action. Their roster encompasses over one hundred visual artists across cultures, mediums, and ages. Artists range from emerging creatives to experienced professionals in the art industry.

Minnesota Transform has supported SA since 2021 through providing funds for programming and organizational costs. Programming supported through MNT funds includes the creation of Wikipedia pages for members of the collective, providing stipends for artists to form an advisory council for the organization, sponsoring their annual meeting attended by nearly 80 Latinx artists, funding regular Art Talks by the members of the group, and even supporting an internship which led to the organization finding its current program manager.

Internship and Wikipedia Articles

Intern Sebastian Alfonzo was brought on in the Fall of 2021 to support SA through the creation of Wikipedia pages for four significant members of their art community. Today, Alfonzo continues to work closely with the organization as its Program Manager. MNT continues to support Alfonzo’s work with SA, making much of their programming possible by providing funding for his work. Learn more about the Wikipedia project by exploring this project library page.

Latinx Leadership Council

MNT also provided crucial funding for stipends which allowed artists in the group to organize and create the Latinx Leadership Council which advises the collective’s direction and programming. the Latinx Leadership Council, a diverse group of ten MN based Latinx visual artists selected for their experience in the arts to guide the direction of Serpentina Arts. For the past year and a half, the Council has designed programming to meet the needs and support the artists.

Leadership Council member Xavier Tavera at at first SA Leadership Council meeting. Photgraph by Sebastian Alfonzo.

Serpentina Arts Talks

Another type of programming made possible by MNT funding are the Serpentina Arts Talks. Serpentina Arts Talks are spaces where the Serpentin Arts community comes together to network, share resources, and learn about each other's artwork. Each meeting, a few members from the group are selected to deliver “art talks” or presentations about their artwork to the greater group. This gives artists an opportunity to gain experience giving art talks similar to the ones they may be asked to deliver at galleries or institutions. It also provides members an opportunity to learn about artwork being made by their peers. Speakers are paid for their presentations. All attendees are provided with refreshments and fed dinner.

Mirella Espino presenting at a Saerpentina Arts Talk in 2022. Photograph by Nicolas Jaramillo.

2022 Annual Meeting at the Weisman Art Museum

The Serpentina Arts annual meeting is an annual gathering of Latinx visual artists based across Minnesota. Artists convene to celebrate together and discuss the state of Latinx arts in Minnesota. In 2022, the annual meeting was hosted at the Weisman Art Museum and sponsored in part by MiNT funding. Nearly 80 artists attended the 2022 meeting, making it the highest attended annual meeting in the group’s history.

Group photo from 2022 annual meeting at the Weisman Art Museum. Photorgraph by Nicolas Jaramillo.

Learn more about Serpentina Arts by…

• Visiting their website by following this link.
• Following them on Instagram @serpentina.arts