Introduction – A Time for Reflection and Celebration
Each year, Hispanic Heritage Month offers a moment to celebrate the deep cultural roots and vibrant traditions that have shaped life here in the Inland Empire. At the San Bernardino County Museum, we see this celebration as both a reflection on history and a call to imagine the future — to consider the stories we inherit, the identities we carry, and the hopes we pass on to the next generation.
This year, our museum is proud to present a new exhibition in celebration of the Hispanic roots in our region, Expectations: A Better World Through Art, Music, and Respect, on view September 13 through December 14, 2025.
The Exhibition: Expectations
Featuring 77 artists and more than 90 works of art, this exhibition is one of the largest of its kind hosted by the museum. Developed in partnership with the Inland Empire Latino Art Association, Expectations brings together artists whose works reflect on themes of heritage, identity, resilience, and hope.
The exhibition explores how expectations — inherited from family, culture, and community — shape who we are, and how art can transform those expectations into visions for a better, more inclusive world.
Voices of Today – The Artists
In preparing for this exhibition, the museum interviewed 35 participating artists. Their reflections revealed a rich tapestry of themes:
- Heritage and Family Roots – Stories of parents, grandparents, and ancestors whose traditions, creativity, and perseverance continue to inspire.
- Identity and Belonging – Expressions of pride, struggle, and resilience in navigating life as Mexican-American, Chicano, or Latino in the U.S.
- Art as Healing and Expression – The role of art in processing grief, finding joy, or creating connection during challenging times like the COVID-19 pandemic.
- Community and Cultural Continuity – The belief that art carries culture forward, ensuring future generations remain connected to their roots.
- Hope for the Future – A unifying vision of a better world grounded in respect, inclusivity, and recognition of Latino/Chicano contributions.
Together, these voices form a living, collective reflection of culture, memory, and possibility.
Echoes of the Past – from the SBCM Archives
As part of our Hispanic Heritage celebration, the museum is sharing selections from its photo archives, including rare glass plate negatives by Elias F. Everitt of the Everitt Photographic Studio, which capture Hispanic individuals and families from the Inland Empire’s past.
These images remind us that Latino/Chicano presence in this region is not new but foundational — an enduring legacy of work, resilience, and community. Coupling with the contemporary artworks in Expectations, these historic photographs create a dialogue between past and present, showing how memory and creativity continue to shape identity across generations.
A Special Invitation
We invite you to join us in celebrating Hispanic Heritage Month through this powerful exhibition. Come experience the voices of today’s artists, see echoes of the past in historic photographs, and reflect on the hopes and visions that connect us all.
San Bernardino County Museum, Redlands
September 13 – December 14, 2025
Plan Your Visit
Together, let’s honor the past, celebrate the present, and imagine a better future.