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Artists Reinvent Mexican Loteria Cards

Maria Vasquez Boyd's El Diablo
Maria Vasquez Boyd's El Diablo

Maria Vasquez Boyd is the featured artist - she told KCUR's Sylvia Maria Gross about the two images she chose to paint: el diablo and la dama -- the devil and the lady.By Sylvia Maria Gross

Independence, MO – La Loteria is a traditional Mexican game ? it?s kind of like Bingo, but played with a deck of 54 cards with simple images like a ladder, mermaid, boot, or flag. Instead of calling out a number, the leader calls out the image and people look for it on their pages. On Friday, August 4, Mattie Rhodes Art Gallery opens a show of local and national artist?s interpretations of these classic images, and 20 more contemporary subjects. They?ll eventually print a new deck of cards, which will be distributed to schools and community groups.

Full Deck ? La Loteria opens Friday at Mattie Rhodes Art Gallery. Members of the Latino Writers Collective will also read pieces related to the card game, and people might even play a few rounds. Also performing will be the local band Trio Aztlan.

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