La Casita Cultural Center Presents Corpórea A New Art Exhibit Exploring Healing, Identity, and the Body

Collaborative art in the making: Art as mindfulness workshops.

Syracuse, N.Y.— La Casita Cultural Center presents, a powerful new art exhibit exploring themes of healing, identity, and community through the lens of the human body, with an opening event on Friday, September 12, 2025, from 6:00 to 8:00 p.m. The event, free and open to the public, will feature music, dance with La Familia de La Salsa, traditional Spanish-Caribbean cuisine, and a presentation of our community artists.

Developed through a six-week series of art therapy workshops held from May through June 2025, Corpórea features large-scale collective works and individual pieces created by members of Syracuse’s Latino community. Using body maps and mixed media, these works reflect the artists’ personal journeys—recognizing the body as a site of memory, resilience, and transformation. The project is part of the 2025–26 Syracuse Symposium on “Creativity,” presented by the Syracuse University Humanities Center, with generous support from the Pan African Community of Central New York (PACCNY) and the Latino- Latin American Studies Program at Syracuse University.

The program was designed and facilitated by Bennie Guzmán, a Syracuse-based artist and recent graduate of the MS program in Creative Art Therapy at Syracuse University. Advising the project is Dr. Emily Nolan, a licensed art therapist and Professor of Practice in the Creative Art Therapy Dept. at Syracuse University’s College of Visual and Performing Arts. The workshops welcomed the participation of local community members, artists, as well as SU students and staff, creating an inclusive, intergenerational, and bilingual creative space.

“Corpórea—which means ‘of the body’—is about what we carry, how we heal, and how we thrive,” says Guzmán. “Art becomes a way to regulate, reflect, and reconnect. It’s not about being perfect; it’s about being present.”

“At a time when immigrant communities across the U.S. face growing uncertainty and isolation, Corpórea offers a powerful model of connection and belonging,” said Tere Paniagua, Executive Director of the Office of Cultural Engagement for the Hispanic Community at Syracuse University. “Many participants in the program, navigating linguistic and cultural barriers, found in this experience an opportunity to share their stories, and experience a sense of wellness through creative expression. The project affirms the importance of visibility, empathy, and mutual support.”

The exhibit will remain on view at La Casita through the 2025–26 academic year and will anchor a series of community programs focused on art, wellness, and empowerment— including creativity and mindfulness workshops, and public dialogues exploring body- centered healing practices.

Requests for special accommodations should be submitted by September 1.