TEXAS STATE UNIVERSITY
Wittliff hosts ofrenda, panel discussion to honor legacy of singer
Tuesday is your chance to wish Tejano superstar Selena a happy bidi bidi birthday at the Wittliff Collection.
Although April 16 is her official birthday, declared by George W. Bush as a Texas holiday, the festivities kick off early at the TXST museum located on the top floor of the Alkek Library.
“La Ofrenda: Selena in Art and Pop Culture” will take place March 31 with a panel discussion from 2 to 3:30 p.m. featuring artists Marc Burckhardt, Sara Hickman and photographer Al Rendon, moderated by the Wittliff’s Music Curator Hector Saldana. The talk will focus on Selena’s enduring inspiration for artists and her growing pop culture appeal, to be followed by a Q&A.
Guests are encouraged to visit the museum early to explore “The Selena Effect,” an exhibit which highlights the musician’s appeal and relevance three decades after her untimely death on March 31, 1995. Within the exhibit is a towering ofrenda art installation created by artist David Zamora Casas, where guests can leave flowers and notes for the beloved singer.
The afternoon discussion involves artists whose works line the exhibits walls, representing Selena’s continued impact on each generation.
Marc Burckhardt is an award-winning painter who has exhibited around the world. His iconic painting of a saintly Selena hangs in the gallery and was used for the famous April 2015 Texas Monthly cover.
Sara Hickman is an artist who created the “Texas Musicians Coloring Book,” which includes her Selena drawing on display in the gallery.
Al Rendon is a renowned photographer who has documented Mexican American life in San Antonio for half a century. His work is featured in the National Portrait Gallery at the Smithsonian Institution. His lens captured the rise of Selena during her early days of fame, including the iconic Coca-Cola commercial photos.
“The Selena Effect” exhibit is on display through early December, showcasing the singer’s ongoing effect on culture. The exhibit features never-before seen sketches and samples of her iconic fashion designed by her designer and close friend Martin Gomez.
Curator Hector Saldana had the challenge to create an exhibit that celebrates Selena’s impact as a cultural touchstone, displaying artwork that represents her enduring appeal and continued relevance.
Back in 2022 the Wittliff had a modest display of Selena artifacts in a side gallery.
“I noticed that students were lingering longer than most people usually do at exhibits, taking selfies and pictures, and I did start to wonder, why, what are these young people connecting to,” Saldana said. From there the title of the exhibit was born, “The Selena Effect.”
Salanda wanted to curate an exhibit that was not just a retrospective of the singer’s career but a representation of her effect not just in the past but on the present and future as well. The exhibit is designed to be the beginning of conversation, one that the viewer can have with the artifacts and representations of the beloved singer’s life.
“Artists help us view and understand the world,” Salanda explained. Through the artwork displayed, guests can better understand Selena and her own artwork, not just as a singer but as a fashion designer and icon in the Tejano music scene.
“She cuts across generations, she cuts across culture, across ethnic lines,” Salanda said.
The La Ofrenda event is free and open to the public with RSVP’s at thewittliffcollections. txst.edu.
