EVER PRESENT: Guillermo Galindo & José Luis Sotero
April 18 – June 6, 2026
Opening Reception April 18
- Members’ Preview 5-6 pm
- Artists’ Talks 6 pm
- Public Reception 6-8 pm
EVER PRESENT: Guillermo Galindo & José Luis Sotero presents two Mexican artists whose work reflects upon their experiences of migration. Guillermo Galindo (San Francisco, CA), an acclaimed Mexican-born artist and U.S. citizen, composer, and performer, shares his newest project Sonic Biogenesis, an installation commenting on genetics, mobility, and the environment. José Luis Sotero (Nogales, Sonora, MX), a self-taught Mexican painter, presents his recent paintings El lado oscuro de la migracion (the dark side of migration) using pictorial surrealism to depict the stories of people who seek refuge from violence and poverty in hope of a better life. While both artists have long worked with themes of migration, their work reflects distinctly different perspectives and expressions. This exhibition is mindful of the important role of immigration at the center of the American experience, and current conversations on immigration taking place in the U.S., with increased awareness in border states such as Arizona.
Exhibition Programming:
EVER PRESENT: Guillermo Galindo & José Luis Sotero
Opening Reception
Saturday, April 18, 5–8 PM
Location: Coconino Center for the Arts
Members Preview: 5–6 PM
José Luis Sotero Artist Talk: 6 PM
Public Reception: 6–8 PM
José Luis Sotero will attend remotely to discuss his paintings. Introductory remarks by exhibition sponsor Gil Gillenwater, with facilitation and translation by Robert Neustadt.
Guest Speaker: Dora Rodriguez
Thursday, April 23, 2026, 6–7 PM
Location: Coconino Center for the Arts
Dora Rodríguez, who nearly perished in the Arizona desert while fleeing the civil war in El Salvador, will read from and discuss her recently published memoir, Dora: A Daughter of Unforgiving Terrain. Dora’s survival helped spark the Sanctuary Movement and led to her lifelong commitment to humanitarian aid and immigrants’ rights.
Guillermo Galindo – Transonic Communities 3-Day Workshop
May 1, 5:30 PM | May 2, 9 AM | May 3, 2 PM
Locations: The Nackard Gallery (and TBA)
This workshop cultivates both individual expression and communal resonance—literally and metaphorically. Through guided exercises in listening, vocalization, and movement, and a culminating public performance, participants discover how sound resonates not only in spaces but between people, creating unique sonic textures that emerge from group interaction. Participants will leave with a heightened awareness of their sonic environment, confidence in their voice, and an understanding of sound as a medium for human connection. Free to participate; registration required.
Samaritans Documentary Screening
Thursday, May 7, 2026, 6–8 PM
Location: Coconino Center for the Arts Theater
In the shadow of remarkable human struggle, Samaritans weaves a poignant narrative of hope and humanity on the US–Mexico border, shedding light on dedicated volunteers who challenge the harsh realities of migration through unwavering compassion and life-saving aid. After the film, join writer and director David Damian Figueroa for a Q&A.
Additionally, Humane Borders and Northern Arizona Immigration Legal Services (NAILS) will table throughout the event.
Image credit: (above left) José Luis Sotero, Olvidados, oil on panel 27” x 21; (above right) Guillermo Galindo, Diptera Apestosus, 48” x 72”
Exhibition Sponsor:
NAU Martin Springer Institute
