If you walk into Rockford’s City Hall across the next month or so, you’ll be greeted by the artwork of local artist Victor Rivera.
ROCKFORD, Ill. — Hispanic Heritage Month, which starts on September 15th, is being celebrated in Rockford with a new art display honoring local Latino leaders.
If you walk into Rockford’s City Hall you’ll be greeted by the artwork of local artist Victor Rivera.
“These are just very qualified people that do great things in the community, lots of movers and shakers, these are people that are here in town, in our backyard,” said Rivera.
Rivera spent about a week drawing 20 different prominent local Latino leaders, 10 females and 10 males, all of whom have led local events, run organizations, and have been prominent in the Hispanic Culture in Northern Illinois.
“I hope that these 20 people can inspire another 10 people, and we can have 200 leaders, and so on and so forth,” Rivera said.
In 2024, Rivera helped design and display portraits of multiple worldwide Latino leaders. This year, he chose to focus on local leaders.
“Seeing these people, many who are immigrants, many who are first generation here in this country, many who have continued to contribute to this city, culturally and economically. It’s very trying times. But you know, here we are very much united, very much moving forward and supporting each other the way it should be,” Rivera said.
The portraits are in black and white for a reason, so that anyone can engage with the art and fill in the lines with color.
“I played the smallest role in this. It’s the people who are coming and engaging with this or who are making this complete,” Rivera said.
One of the twenty portraits is of Cat Valdez Doyle.
“I’m really grateful. I am blown away every moment that somebody says thank you, or puts me on a picture or something,” said Doyle.
“I think I’m gonna cry if I’m honest. I don’t really have words for it. I’m really grateful to be thought of as a leader, especially in the Latino community. Like to be up here along so many people who are my friends… I’m really lucky.”
Doyle helped create the successful annual South Main Mercado. Her sister and father are also honored in the display: Rudy Valdez, a local Hispanic leader, and Christina Valdez, who sits on the Winnebago County Board.
“It’s part of our culture, it’s part of our identity, to make sure that we are loving our family. We can include ‘La Comunidad, La Cultura, everyone. We’re all part of it,” Doyle said.
For both Rivera and Valdez, the timing of this display is meaningful.
“Right now is a really important time for the Latino leaders, especially those who are up here, to stand with their community and stand loudly and know what their role is as a leader. I also think that this project is even more incredible, especially during this current climate and time in our country,” Doyle said.
“It’s really, truly a community project,” Rivera said.
Hispanic Heritage Month begins September 15 and runs through October 15. Rivera hopes to make the display a tradition and include more leaders from the past in future exhibits.
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