Craving Creative Safe Spaces in Harlingen

(This article was written by Steven Hughes and appeared in the August 2024 issue of Explore Harlingen Magazine .) It was a hot and semi-muggy Harlingen Art Night before Pride Month, but that wasn’t stopping creatives of all kinds from gathering for the monthly downtown event. Though a lot was happening, such as Entre Film Center and Archive hosting a screening of “A Luta Continua” in collaboration with Red Star Texas, one event was Cactus Valley Art & Supply Company’s monthly Queer Craft Night. It’s an opportunity for lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer (LGBTQ+) and allies to gather and have fun with their supplies or an activity facilitated by Souther Recio, owner of Cactus Valley Art. The May event is one of several hostings. Recio wasn’t sure what the initial public response was going to be, but she wanted to experiment, finding constant support within her fellow queer community. At the queer-owned art store/gallery, Recio hosted Harlingen-raised artist Joseph Decilos’ “Espacio Seguro” photography show that explored intersectionality and intimacy. The building’s front featured a few photos adhered to the windows. Once inside, the exhibit revealed the intensity of the works that tackled how viewers felt about the raw human body. After donating for entry to the May event and viewing Decilos’ work, attendees encountered a large table, like in science classes, with five other creatives laughing and reminiscing on their stories. Markers, pens, and colorful paper covered the massive table. While the five artists worked on crafts, with one going outside to add spray paint to their artwork, the “Espacio Seguro” show continued attracting people as Cactus Valley Art’s door frequently opened during the night. Although Recio said they’re not sure where the idea of her craft night originated, they knew there was always a need for calmer LGBTQ+ scenes for folks not in the party mood. “Each time we get to see a variety of different people,” Recio said. For more information, visit Cactus Valley Art at 305 West Van Buren Avenue.