Apr. 28—Throughout the years, Museum of Boulder has thoughtfully showcased the history of the region. With time capsule-like exhibits, curators capture unmatched details to craft displays that serve to teach, move and inspire.

In February, “Voces Vivas” opened. Anchored by real-life accounts and family heirlooms, the vast collection also features art in a variety of mediums by members of the Latino community.

“A love letter to the Latino communities in and surrounding Boulder is exactly what this heartfelt, handmade community-curated exhibit is all about,” said Lori Preston, Museum of Boulder’s executive director.

Organizers have worked exclusively with community members to bring their stories and messages to the forefront. They’ve called on artists to submit a variety of work and have been running focus groups to build elements that will spotlight family legacies.

“The museum staff did our best to take the backseat to the voices, aesthetics and desires of the community,” said Emily Zinn, a curator at Museum of Boulder. “Central to that effort was hiring one of the original Boulder County Latino History Project Advisory Committee members, Linda Arroyo-Holmstrom, to lead the community outreach and two student curators from the University of Colorado’s Ethnic Studies department, Jacqueline Mora Manzo and Betsabet Samarripa.”

The end result is an expansive treasure trove of Latino culture. From seasoned artifacts — direct portals to the past — to new and original work with much significance, the layered exhibit is every bit educational as it is visually moving.

Visitors can revel in sports memorabilia from historians Gabe Lopez and his wife Jody L. Lopez. The couple authored a book, “From Sugar to Diamonds: Spanish/Mexican Baseball 1925-1969: Stories of the Greeley Grays and the Teams That Dared to Challenge Them” in 2009.

Worn catchers’ mitts, chest protectors and baseballs from Latino teams fill cases.

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Lopez’s bats from his younger Little League years are in the collection, along with gear belonging to the men in his family. The Lopezes have also made, by hand, an intricate model of the Spanish Colony — a small village north of Greeley — that Gabe’s great-grandfather, Ynez Lopez, helped found in the 1920s.

Around 45 families lived at the Spanish Colony and built their own adobe houses on the land. Residents worked in the sugar beet factory and hit homeruns in a nearby baseball field they constructed.

In addition, the couple also crafted a model of the sugar beet field, a replica of the plot where many Mexicans and Hispanics worked tirelessly, keeping local agriculture alive.

But this slice of history doesn’t come without its darkness.

At the time, racism was prevalent, and certain business owners would not allow Spanish Colony members to shop or to dine in their establishments.

“For me, the process led to a unique type of historical storytelling,” Zinn said. “Linda (Arroyo-Holmstrom) says that it’s an exhibit with heart, and I really agree. This community has endured and persevered so much adversity and done it passionately and lovingly. I think the exhibit manages to hold both truths simultaneously — the hardship and the joy. It was only possible to convey that spirit because the community came together to direct the exhibit.”

One of the standouts of the varied collection is a large Mayan-like temple with many compartments to hold cherished items.

“The pyramid is simultaneously an ofrenda and a space for the community leaders that organized our focus groups to display their own artifacts representing their families,” Zinn said.

The shrine is intentionally left open so visitors can add to the evolving work with their own items that tell stories or act as tokens of remembrance for lost loved ones.

There’s also a section of the exhibit that closely mirrors the living room and kitchen of Abelina Muñoz, grandmother of Justine Vigil-Tapia. The space includes the matriarch’s rosary and visitors are encouraged to lounge on the furniture and take in the essence of “Abuela’s Cocina y Sala.”

“Sometimes people spend an hour sitting on the couch in ‘Abuela’s Casa’ sharing their own family histories with the friends and loved ones they are visiting with,” Zinn said. “There has been a lot of erasure of these stories. We can’t understand our community without learning these stories.”

While the warmth of the space conjures up a feeling of family togetherness and shared meals, visitors will also learn of the times when Grandma Muñoz hid in her dwelling — lights off — as the Ku Klux Klan strolled through the streets.

“We wanted to bring a specific story to life in a way that would transport visitors to a time and place and make it feel very personal,” Zinn said.

Among the eye-catching art is work from Denver-based artist David Martinez, a creative known for his colorful sugar skull paintings.

“The theme of the exhibit is very close to what I try to create with my paintings,” Martinez said. “I use my art to share my culture with people from all backgrounds — to share its beauty, passion and traditions. With my art, I hope to teach, connect and inspire. The best part of being included in this exhibit is adding my voice to this beautiful and powerful living collection.”

Martinez pays tribute to the iconic artist Frida Kahlo in his piece “Porque soy Mexicana.”

His other two paintings in the show, “Justin” and “Soldado” honor Justin Verdeja, a Mexican-American soldier from California who was stationed at Colorado’s Fort Carson.

Verdeja died in June 2007 — at age 20 — after being hit by small weapons fire from insurgents in Baghdad.

“Justin’s mother asked me to paint his portrait and sent me approximately 30 photos of him,” Martinez said. “I enjoy painting images of Day of the Dead, but painting one of a young man with so much life left to live was difficult. Painting his portrait allowed me to pay tribute to such a selfless young man with a beautiful soul. My only hope was I was able to do it justice.”

“Voces Vivas” continues to attract crowds interested in learning more.

“It has been indescribably rewarding to see visitors and collaborators share their family stories, represented in the exhibit, with the guests they brought with them,” Zinn said. “People stand at the wall honoring Latino military veterans from Boulder, Lafayette and Longmont and point out their friends and family members and tell stories about them.”

The exhibit artfully provides an intimate look into the lineage of community members and, in some cases, provides a platform for never-before-told accounts.

“Museums are realizing communities can tell their own stories,” said Linda Arroyo-Holmstrom, lead community curator of “Voces Vivas.” “The authenticity and sincerity of what is meaningful and relevant is on display. It is an amazing collaboration of storytelling by historic Latino families, community members and the Museum of Boulder.”

The exhibit runs through Feb. 26, 2023, allowing organizers the opportunity to hopefully craft a series of activities that keep the conversation going.

“We want to get the word out there, that the museum invites the Latino community in particular to create the events, the workshops and the experiences over the next year,” Preston said.

Preston sees the space as being one that could host everything from musical performances to family reunions and would be honored to see some of these happenings take shape in the coming months.

“This exhibit reminds us of the proud roots, traditions, culture and language of the Boulder County Latino Community,” Arroyo-Holmstrom said. “It recognizes the sacrifices that were made by the generations that came before us for the sake of a better life for future generations.”

Museum of Boulder is open every day, except Tuesdays, from 9 a.m.-5 p.m. Admission is $8-$10.

“A unique Boulder County history is in view, one that has long been overlooked,” Arroyo-Holmstrom said. “It is an interactive experience that is engaging, informative and reflects a beautifully rich community with enduring resiliency.”