OPOP becomes I.V. artists’ home

Local artists finally have a home. On Friday, the Imperial Valley Casa de la Cultura (Cultural Arts Center) opened its doors at El Centro’s Old Post Office Pavilion. This is a joint project of the Mexican Consulate, City of El Centro, and the Imperial Valley Artists Collective. Over a year of planning and meetings paid off as the first of many art exhibits showcased the work of local artists on Friday’s grand opening. Organizers said displays of various types of art forms and a series of art workshops will soon be available to the public.

Organizer and local artist Kimberly Alfaro Massey said the area is rich with artists and they need a home to call their own.

“We want to create classes, galleries. We want to make an international exchange – Bi-national exchange – with Mexico, Mexican artists on the other side of the border. And we want to send our artists over there. We want to send art to the schools,” Massey said.

The Imperial Valley Casa de la Cultura is now open Monday through Friday from two to eight p.m. at 230 South 5 th Street in El Centro.