A Night of Art Inspired by Cinema
By Al Garcia
Photography by Al Garcia
Local artist and El Paso Art Association studio resident Serena Lizette Ornelas debuted her first curated exhibition, “Cinephiles: A Film Lovers Group Exhibition,” at The Falstaff, in collaboration with The Super Ultra Nova.
The show featured a diverse collection of 2D and 3D visual artworks inspired by cinema, transforming the gallery into a vibrant celebration of film culture and creativity. Attendees filled the exhibition room, discussing pieces, snapping photos, and embracing the show’s movie-inspired theme by dressing in costumes from their favorite films.
Outside the venue, local vendors including Xilakill-Bill, Elisa’s Kitchen, and Chaos Kindness Ice Cream offered food and treats, adding to the lively, festival-like atmosphere. DJs Salvador Lara and David Ramirez provided music throughout the evening.
Several featured pieces were available for direct purchase from the artists, giving visitors an opportunity to support local talent while taking home a piece of the exhibition.
Ornelas said curating Cinephiles was both a personal and professional milestone.
“It’s been really a passion project for me, and it genuinely means the world that people are so excited about it,” Ornelas said. “The turnout for Cinephiles was excellent! It definitely exceeded my expectations. It was my first time organizing and curating a group show, so there was a lot of unknown factors involved. But I don’t think I could have asked for a better turn out. I’m very glad the Falstaff community and Super Ultra Nova gallery welcomed the exhibit with such open arms!”
The success of Cinephiles highlights the momentum of El Paso’s independent art scene, which continues to expand through artist-led initiatives like this one.
Ornelas explained the meaning and motivation behind curating the show.
“I’m a multidisciplinary artist myself who has always been inspired by, and had a desire to work in, film,” she said. “The intersection of the two has been a place I’ve lingered in my whole life. I was interested in celebrating the meeting of film and visual art.”
She also expressed appreciation to Super Ultra Nova for providing the space and thanked the artists who submitted their work.
“I couldn’t be more proud of the artists’ submissions,” she said. “I’m glad so many like-minded and talented artists lent me their work and time. The artists’ contributions really made the job of curating this show unbelievably easy and enjoyable. Getting lucky enough for this exhibit to fall around Halloween made it extra magical.”
Artworks from the show remain available for purchase online, with 3% of sales donated to the Super Ultra Nova gallery to help fund future art events. Details are available on Serena’s website.
