Silver City, NM – The iconic cars of the mid 20th century beloved by the Hispanic-American community will be featured in an upcoming New Mexico History Museum photo exhibition at Western New Mexico University.

An opening reception will take place Thursday, September 7 at 4:30 p.m. in the Frances McCray Gallery of Contemporary Art.

The exhibit, funded in part by the New Mexico History Museum, will feature photos chronicling the beauty of the classic cars for several decades. The images will showcase New Mexicans who have customized, detailed, painted, and upholstered symbols of Hispanic culture, creating mobile works of art.

Focusing on lowriders, a term used for cars whose suspension has been lowered to inches from the ground, the Spanish translation is bajito or suavecito, meaning low and slow.

Lowriders have become expressions of faith, to honor the dead and bring families together for generations.

The art opening will be followed by a Lowriders, Hoppers and Hot Rods competition Sunday, September 17 from 12:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m. in the Juan Chacon Parking lot on campus. The free event will feature the vintage automobiles competing to win trophies in several categories.

The art exhibition will be open through Sunday, October 5 on the WNMU campus. Event sponsors include the New Mexico History Museum, New Mexico Culture Squared (NMC2), New Mexico Department of Cultural Affairs project facilitated by AMP Concerts, and the WNMU Office of Cultural Affairs.

For more information, visit wnmu.edu/culture.