Hispanic Heritage Month | Greenville (SC) County Library System

Each year, the Greenville County Library System celebrates Hispanic Heritage Month with free events that explore and share Hispanic history and culture through art, dance, poetry, and more. Hispanic Heritage Month events are put on throughout the months of September and October each year.

During 2019, this series of events was generously supported by Palmetto Luna Arts. Please check back during September of 2020 for an updated list of related events, and plan to join in the fun.

Visit Hispanic Heritage Month SC for complete listing of related events in the community.

Hispanic Heritage Month Exhibit

Exhibit

Sep 1-Oct 31, 2019 • Hughes Main Library

During 2019, the Library System celebrated Hispanic Heritage Month with an art exhibit at Hughes Main Library featuring the work of featured artist, Pedro Rodriguez.

Pedro Rodriguez

Born and raised in Old San Juan, Puerto Rico, Pedro began painting after the Army while living on the New Jersey shore, where a former co-worker at a concession stand on the beach left behind a set of oil paints. Pedro pursued his education in art at the University of Louisville in Louisville, Kentucky. While there he earned a bachelor’s degree in fine arts, a master’s degree in teaching art and Spanish, and a master’s degree in art therapy. Pedro began exhibiting his paintings while living in Kentucky. He was selected as one of over sixty artists in an eight state regional exhibit at the J.B. Speed Museum in Louisville in 1982. He had a solo exhibition in 1987 at Spalding University, also in Louisville. Pedro then moved with his family to South Carolina where he taught art and Spanish in the Charleston County Schools for over twenty-eight years.

More …

Pedro participated in many exhibitions in South Carolina, including the Statements of Heritage Exhibition in 1991 and the Triennial Exhibition in 1992, both at the South Carolina State Museum. At the local level, Pedro participated in the Artists Who Teach Exhibition at the Gibbes Museum in 1992, Piccolo Spoleto Juried Exhibition in 1991, Coastal Carolina Fair, and the North Charleston Arts Festival. In the early nineties he had solo exhibitions at the Colony House (1991), Cooper River Federal (1991), City Gallery at Dock Street Theatre (1988), and the Gaillard Auditorium (1993). Pedro received various grants and awards for his artwork, including two grants from the Trident Community Foundation (1989 & 1990), now known as the Community Foundation. Pedro also worked as an artist for Storefront School for the Arts for several summers in the early nineties.

Pedro continued to paint in the midst of teaching and raising three children but took a hiatus from exhibiting for many years. He has recently renewed efforts to exhibit including, Church Street Gallery in 2004, 10 Storehouse Row Opening, North Charleston Arts Festival (2nd Place in 2006, Purchase Award in 2007, 1st Place in 2008), and the MOJA Juried Exhibition (Honorable Mention, 2007). Other exhibitions in 2008 included a solo show at The Saul Alexander Gallery at the Charleston County Library and works on display at The Meeting Place Art & Craft Gallery in North Charleston. In 2009 he received a Lowcountry Quarterly Arts Grant. In 2011 Pedro’s painting “Strings” was selected as the Design Competition winner for North Charleston Arts Festival and was featured in programs and billboards all over the Lowcountry. Many of his paintings have leapt from the traditional canvas and landed on guitars bridging his love of painting with music.

2019 Hispanic Heritage Month Events

Bilingual Story Time / Cuentos Bilingües ages 10 and under

Cuentos bilingües en inglés y español para niños de 10 años y menores acompañados por un adulto. Llame al 864-242-5000 ext. 2634 para más información.

Fri, Sep 6, 4:30p–5:15p • Hughes Main Library
Fri, Sep 13, 4:30p–5:15p • Hughes Main Library
Fri, Sep 20, 4:30p–5:15p • Hughes Main Library
Fri, Sep 27, 4:30p–5:15p • Hughes Main Library
Fri, Oct 4, 4:30p–5:15p • Hughes Main Library
Fri, Oct 11, 4:03p–5:15p • Hughes Main Library
Fri, Oct 18, 4:30p–5:15p • Hughes Main Library
Fri, Oct 25, 4:30p–5:15p • Hughes Main Library

Hispanic Heritage Craft ages 2-10

Create a Martina the Beautiful Cockroach puppet. Call 864-527-9248 for more information.

Sat, Sep 14, 11a–12:30p • Hughes Main Library, Meeting Room A

Lollipops Concert ages 3-8

Greenville Symphony Orchestra leads a story-based musical performance of Martina the Beautiful Cockroach: A Cuban Folktale featuring Daniel Kirkpatrick, percussion. Listen to a short personal message from award winning children’s author/illustrator Carmen Agra Deedy! Call 864-527-9248 for more information.

Sat, Sep 14, 11:30a–12p • Hughes Main Library, Meeting Rooms A-C

Hispanic Heritage Bingo

Bring the family for Bilingual Bingo. Enjoy traditional Latin snacks and win prizes. Trae tú familia y pasa un rato divertido jugando bingo. Disfruta snacks latinos y gana premios. Llame al 864-277-7397 para mas información.

Sat, Sep 28, 3p–4p • Mauldin

Creation Station: Nichos Mexicanos ages 6-11

Learn about about these miniature shadowboxes and make one of your own. Supplies provided. Call 864-527-9248 for more information.

Thu, Oct 3, 3:30p–4:30p • Hughes Main Library, Story Room

Hispanic Heritage Concert

Led by The Greenville Concert Band, directed by Dr. Dan Turner, performing music from Central and South America. Call 864-527-9248 for more information.