Phi Iota Alpha Members Fundraise with Art Show
Brande Flack-Armstong and Hector Bello talk about where the sculptures will go for the Phiota Art Exhibit in the Multicultural Center at the UA. The exhibit will showcase artwork from local artists on October 24th to the 28th. (Photo by Brittany Wulf)
The Latino based fraternity Phi Iota Alpha is known for its involvement in political and social aspects, and they have decided to branch out and explore the artistic realm. This year the Phiotas Art Exhibition and Silent Auction will be one of many fundraisers for the fraternity. This will be the first art festival for the fraternity.
All media is encouraged “any kind of media and kind of style; photography, sculpture, music, video any kind of art,”said Raul Torres senior and apparel studies major and president of Phi Iota Alpha.
The idea was borrowed from a friend in Dallas that had run a similar event as a fundraiser, Torres said.
The silent auction will function as the fundraiser potion for the event. Twenty percent of the sales will go to the fraternity and the rest of the proceeds will go to the artist, Torres said. The art show will be a week-long event and will have a gallery setting in the Multicultural Center in the Student Union. The event will begin October 24 and end on October 28.
It is a week-long event that way people can have enough time to see the art and appreciate it, Torres said.
“I’m pretty excited about this silent auction, and to see the artist’s works,” said Rocio Bedolla Roldan senior and International business major and president of the University of Arkansas LULAC council.
Artists interested in participating must enter their pieces by October 21.
Bedolla Roldan said will be in attendance and will be bidding on some art.
“There’s no theme for the art, we just want to be a medium for local artists to present their work,” said Frank Berlanga-Medina senior, history and philosophy double major and social chair of Phi Iota Alpha.
However because the event will take place shortly after Hispanic Heritage Month, Latin inspired art is encouraged, but it is not exclusive to such.
A couple of members from the fraternity will also be presenting some of their art.
“We’re going to show a different side of us,” Berlanga-Medina said.
Part of the money fundraised by this event will go to the fraternity’s philanthropy project which is the Unicef project which helps bring potable water to areas in need. The fraternity was established in the fall of 2007 here at the UA and currently has 22 members.
In years past the Alpha Lambda chapter of Phi Iota Alpha has hosted various events for the community including last semesters’ Coming Out of the Shadows informational panel about undocumented students and the DREAM Act in which students affected by the DREAM Act bill stepped from out of the shadows and shared their experiences as undocumented students in Arkansas.
The fraternity hopes to continue the art exhibit as a yearly event. The fraternity will also be hosting the First Annual World Cultural Festival in the city of Lowell.
Those interested in participating should contact Raul Torres, Frank Berlanga-Medina or Hector Bello. Art must be submitted by Friday October 21.
