CAMINOS is an ongoing project of Arte Américas to document the Latino community’s history in the Central San Joaquin Valley. It currently consists of an exhibit of texts, photos and videos, growing archives of materials, a website and several documented pláticas. 

The CAMINOS Project grew out of interviews and collections, leading to an exhibit in the galleries of Arte Americas from March through September 2019, in essence a crowd-sourced history of the valley focusing primarily on Fresno County. Dr. Alex Saragoza was the guide through the project, creating the historical framework underlying the analysis of each period. 

The Fresno County project was created by a committee of 30 participants–historians, community scholars, educators, artists, and community leaders. To replicate and guide the project in Tulare County, the Advisory Committee consists of 12 members and several participants.

Committee: 

Lucia, Lali, Celia, Norma, Oscar, Richard, Robert.

Additional participants:

Joan Cuadra, Hope Raycroft, Woodlake couple, Vazquez Family, Narcisco, Virginia Arenas.

Caminos exhibit and programs will take the next road trip to Merced’s Multicultural Art Center in 2023. Plans after that are dependent on continued interest and support. We see the project as a tumbleweed, gathering and growing as it engages the valley population.