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Meeting people where they are at.
Encontrando gente donde están.
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Community Engaged Art

Artist, Mario Mesquita interviewed for San Diego's Park Social Initiative, 2021.

Paletas Communal Social Club is an innovative socially engaged art project dedicated to bridging communities through art, shared experiences, and dialogue. At its core, the project utilizes the nostalgic and universally beloved sweet treat paleta (a Mexican popsicle) as a way to connect with different communities. By distributing free paletas from a mobile art cart, the project creates chances for people to meet, talk, answer questions, and bond in public spaces that otherwise wouldn’t have had an opportunity to engage with one another.


Paletas Communal Social Club is a great example of socially engaged art that transforms everyday interactions into meaningful connections. I focus on making everyone feel included and welcome, no matter who they are, emphasizing accessibility and inclusivity. Paletas goes beyond traditional art by emphasizing the social interactions and relationships that emerge from these shared moments.


I aim to show how art can bring people together, break down social barriers, and help build a sense of community. Whether it's through enjoying a paleta together or participating in art activities, the Paletas Communal Social Club has always aimed to create positive, lasting impacts by building stronger, more connected communities.

 

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Paletas Communal Social Club es un proyecto artístico innovador y socialmente comprometido dedicado a unir comunidades a través del arte, experiencias compartidas y el diálogo. En esencia, el proyecto utiliza la nostálgica y universalmente querida paleta (una paleta helada mexicana) como una forma de conectarse con diferentes comunidades. Al distribuir paletas gratis desde un carrito de arte móvil, el proyecto crea oportunidades para que las personas se reúnan, hablen, responden a preguntas, y establezcan vínculos en espacios públicos que de otro modo no tendrían la oportunidad de interactuar entre sí.

Paletas Communal Social Club es un gran ejemplo de lo que en inglés se llama socially engaged art o arte socialmente comprometido que transforma las interacciones diarias en conexiones significativas. Me concentro en hacer que todos se sientan incluidos y bienvenidos, sin importar quiénes sean, enfatizando la accesibilidad y la inclusión. Paletas va más allá del arte tradicional al enfatizar las interacciones y relaciones sociales que emergen de estos momentos compartidos.

Mi objetivo es mostrar cómo el arte puede unir a las personas, romper barreras sociales y ayudar a construir un sentido de comunidad. Ya sea disfrutando juntos de una paleta o participando en actividades artísticas, Paletas Communal Social Club siempre ha tenido como objetivo crear impactos positivos y duraderos mediante la construcción de comunidades más fuertes y conectadas.

Meeting people where they are at.
Encontrando gente donde están.

Upcoming Events

  • Oct 26, 2024, 1:00 PM – 5:00 PM
    Portland, 2222 NE Oregon St, Portland, OR 97232, USA
    Come Learn how others celebrate their cultural heritage and share with with community. We will be in the Bakery Blocks at 2222 NE Oregon St., #110
  • Aug 10, 2024, 3:00 PM – 7:00 PM
    Portland, 2305 SE 82nd Ave, Portland, OR 97216, USA
    Join Paletas at this year's Night Market! It will be held at PCC SE Campus.
  • Jul 10, 2024, 5:00 PM – 9:00 PM
    Portland, NE 104th Ave & Sandy Blvd, Portland, OR 97220, USA
    Paletas will be joining Historic Parkrose their evening of Summer Nights featuring a night market, live music, community resources, food, drinks and fun interactive activities for all!
  • Jun 22, 2024, 12:00 PM – 4:00 PM
    Portland, SE 64th Street at, Laurelwood Park, 6421 SE Foster Rd, Portland, OR 97206, USA
    Paletas will be joining the neighborhood to celebrate the summer season on Foster. Join us for sidewalk sales, vendors & pop-up shops, live music in Laurelwood Park (at Foster & Holgate), and other business promotions & activities.
  • Jun 15, 2024, 10:00 AM – 2:00 PM
    Portland, 5020 NE Martin Luther King Jr Blvd, Portland, OR 97211, USA
    Paletas will be featured at the Makers Market at openHaus during Laura's fundraiser. RSVP highly encouraged to this event but not to participate in Paletas.

Links

Strategic Collaborations and Past Partnerships

Responsive Artistic Projects

Park Social is a citywide initiative introducing social-specific public art into San Diego's vast and varied park system.

Paletas

MAKE IT POP!

We’re bringing paletas to the people in a bold new way, taking delicious risks to create authentic yet unique pops that would get just as much love from our ancestors as they do on the ‘gram.

PALERA HEAVEN IN THE PNW

Ice Queen is not just about frozen treats; it's a celebration of passion, dedication, and a connection to the community.

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