The National Hispana Leadership Institute (NHLI) has selected three Latinas to display their art at NHLI’s 2009 Executive Leadership Training Conference and Mujer Awards Gala in Albuquerque, NM, November 5-6.

Blanca Santander from Seattle, WA; Angie Del Riego from Alexandria, VA; and Laura Lopez Cano from Seabrook, TX are the winners of NHLI’s nationwide poster art contest that celebrates Hispanic women.

The conference theme — Our Time in History — reflects these important times when more and more Latinas are advancing to significant positions of leadership and national influence as well as and the richness of the conference host state’s history and role Latinas have played.

Meet Conference Artists

First Place

Timepeace

Part of a six piece series, Santander’s 1st prize winning entry Timepeace “is a reminder to women that no matter how busy our lives are or how pressing our responsibilities, it’s important to have peaceful time to reflect and recharge, so we can move forward and have our time in history,” said Cristina López, NHLI’s President. “As women, mothers, and warriors, we need peaceful time — a stopping point, in order to reset our gears. These moments give us the power to continue working hard, protect our loved ones and focus in being a better part of this beautiful world,” added Santander.

Blanca Santander moved to the United States in 1996 from her native Peru to reunite with her mother and sisters. A renowned artist in Seattle’s community, she has dedicated her career to creating art that promotes her Latino heritage, particularly with women and Latinas as inspirations. 

Life in Seattle inspires her to develop the creative process of her artwork. She is proud to live in a state with sophisticated art and technology. Meditation, dreams, and spirituality are the primary elements of her work. Meditation allows her to harness external energies. Her faith in humanity and inspiration from dreams has guided her art into expressions of hope for preserving nature and protecting the environment.

In addition to showcasing Timepeace and four other works at NHLI’s Mujer Awards Gala art reception on Friday, November 6, as a contest winner Santander will receive $1,000 and her winning entry will be featured in NHLI promotional materials. This is Santander’s first award in a national competition.

To learn more visit www.blancasantander.com,

Second Place

Mariposa Metamorphosis

Angie Del Riego will showcase her winning entry, Mariposa Metamorphosis, and two other art pieces. The piece is a representation of Minerva Mirabal, the leader of the ¨Mariposas¨, the Mirabal sisters of the Dominican Republic, who fought fiercely against Rafael Leonidas Trujillo, one of Latin America´s most blood thirsty dictators. They paid for their courage with their life at the cruel hands of Trujillo´s men on November 25, 1960, day appointed by the United Nations as the International Day of No Violence Against Women in their honor.

A native of Dominican Republic, Del Riego recently settled in the Washington, DC area to develop art projects that educate, create awareness and empower women. Contrast has been a principal characteristic of her art, often reflecting her country and her roots. Largely a self-taught talent, Angie has been called a “Renaissance Woman,” for her passion about her art, as well as her music. She grew up singing “Boleros” (Latin American love songs.) Through the passion in the bright colors of her paintings, the character of her drawings, and the expressive emotion of her songs and writings, she tells stories of life experiences that have enriched her life as an artist, and as a person. The two most important ingredients in her work are “sensitivity” and “inspiration.”

Third Place

Mujer en el Jardin

Laura Lopez Cano will present her Mujer en el Jardin creation. As a 2006 graduate of NHLI’s Executive Leadership Program, Cano is well known among the NHLI family. Her art, which combines feminine diversity and cultural traditions, has been featured at NHLI’s annual conference in 2003 and 2004.

López Cano paints memorable images that disclose the tender yet powerful feeling of womanhood, portraying glimpses of private moments and sentimental encounters, and dripping with female experiences as interpretations of culture and tradition. Her unique style blends acrylics with oils on large canvases capturing the beauty, strength, elegance and pride of Latinas and all women of color.

Cano inspires feminine diversity and artistic creativity while working to improve her community, graciously giving of her art and time to support charitable organizations, including Prevent Blindness of Texas, Casa Marianella and others that promote education and women's issues. Cano’s work has been exhibited throughout the United States.

To learn more visit www.lauralopezcano.com.