Cultural celebration

More than 50 years after opening the Machu Picchu Gallery of the Americas in Los Gatos, Olga Enciso Smith is hosting La Peña de la Unidad, a cultural gathering, on July 18–19  in downtown San Jose, where her gallery is currently located.

Since opening her gallery in 1974, Peruvian-born Smith, 81, has used it as a cultural bridge, introducing South Bay residents to Indigenous textiles, ceramics and visual storytelling traditions from across Latin America.

“These works carry memory,” says Smith. “They are not just handmade; they are hand-held stories of survival, spirituality, and community.”

La Peña de la Unidad will feature artist talks, film, photography, and a family marketplace highlighting handcrafted goods that reflect the spirit and purpose of the gallery’s mission. At the heart of the exhibition is a Shipibo textile from the Peruvian rainforest—painted using natural plant dyes and brushes made from the artist’s own hair.

The event runs 4:30-8:30 p.m. on Friday, July 18, and 10:30 a.m.-2:30 p.m. on Saturday, July 19, at Citadel Art Studios, 199 Martha St. in San Jose. Admission is $10 at the door and free for children under age 12.

Neighborhood Notes

ALMADEN>>Families and friends can send their hopes, dreams or letters to loved ones floating on Almaden Lake on July 18 at the San Jose Water Lantern Festival.

The festival starts at 5:30 p.m. at Almaden Lake Park, 6099 Winfield Blvd. Tickets are $38 at https://www.waterlanternfestival.com/events/san-jose and $58 the day of the event. Kids under age 8 are free with a paid adult.