The Branigan Cultural Center is excited to announce a new exhibit Tlazoh Amoxochitl: Florecimiento del Conocimiento Preciosos: Flowering of Precious Knowledge featuring artwork that investigates pre-Hispanic Mesoamerican cultural traditions painted by K-5 students at the Raices del Saber Xinachtli Community School.

This engaging exhibit presents 43 paintings that represent the young students’ interpretations of pre-Hispanic stories and legends of Mesoamerica. Drawing from oral traditions, the students were exposed to stories in school about how corn was created, how a girl and a monster produced the cacao tree, and the symbolism of death and resurrection found in the change of caterpillars to butterflies. From these stories, the K-5 students created a wide range of artwork. Objects that are used to process corn and cacao beans are part of the exhibition.

The Raices del Saber Xinachtli Community School offers a multicultural and bilingual curriculum that infuses indigenous Mesoamerican teachings and traditions in a child-centered dynamic. The artwork presented in the exhibit was created in an after-school program that was taught by teacher Diana Ginez during the spring 2024 semester.

An opening reception is scheduled for Friday, May 3 from 5-7pm. Students and teachers from the Raices del Saber Xinachtli Community School will be in attendance. An Aztec dancing group will perform during the reception.

The exhibit opens on May 3 and runs through June 22, 2024.

The museum is located at 501 N. Main St. and is open Tuesday through Friday from 10am to 4:30pm and Saturday 9am to 4:30pm. There is no admission charge. The museum is accessible from RoadRUNNER Transit Route 1 Stop 1. For additional information, visit the website at https://www.lascruces.gov/museums or call (575)541-2154.