Family, friends, and colleagues gathered on Sunday at the Latino Cultural Center on Bagley to surprise beloved local artist and mentor Mary Luevanos with the Michigan Hispanic/Latino Commission’s Arts in Community Award.
Luevanos was unable to attend the commission’s 2023 award ceremony in Kalamazoo last fall and so Theresa Rosado, who nominated Mary for the award, brought the ceremony to her.
“I knew she would shy away from a ceremony for her so it was presented as a birthday party for her [great] granddaughter,” said Theresa Rosado, a fellow artist who nominated her for the award.
For decades, Mary has welcomed fellow artists into Detroit’s arts spaces, guided children in valuing their creative potential, and facilitated artistic works and sessions throughout the community. Her enduring dedication and influence, even without expectation of payment, inspired Rosado to nominate her.
“I can't think of a person that has worked more selflessly without an expectation of being paid, or even thinking of an award,” Rosado said. “We can all learn from Mary.”
As Luevanos was honored, people shared stories of how she has contributed to Southwest Detroit’s vibrant, resilient arts ecosystem and motivated them personally. Despite limited resources, Mary has long prioritized community arts and made an impact by encouraging artists—from children scribbling with sidewalk chalk to painters working within cramped apartments—modeling how to stay dedicated to one's craft, even (especially) in difficult circumstances.
Mary's example reveals that art is not an extravagance, but an essential and uplifting force within communities. Her commitment has gradually cultivated a richer, more vibrant local culture, one inspired person at a time.