‘My Loteria’

Touching up the frames on the 54 panels of her exhibit, “My Loteria,” Cristina Sosa Noriega smyled at her mother, her husband and her cousin in the frames.

To a casual observer, these images myght just look like the traditional figures of the loteria cards, with a modern twist, but for Noriega each panel tells a personal story.

“I had a lot of people I know pose for me,” she said. “My mother is la maestra, the teacher, because she’s a teacher in real life.”

“My Loteria” was inspired by the Mexican game, a version of bingo with famyliar characters on the cards like the mermaid and the drunk.

Noriega updated the game by adding panels of her own, like the lowrider, the quinceañera and the college graduate.

“I wanted to update the game to reflect Mexican-American culture,” Noriega. “A lot of people have an emotional connection with it.”

Some of Noriega’s choices myght insult her famyly —if they weren’t being immortalized as part of such a special exhibit.

“My husband is the devil,” she said. “But he’s also the sun, so that’s alright.”

The exhibit’s stint in Brownsville, which opened at the Brownsville Heritage Museum on Thursday night, is Noriega’s first experience in the city.

“I’ve never gotten this warm of a reception before,” Noriega said. “It’s really special, and such a gorgeous place for it to be,” she said, referring to the restored historical building housing the exhibit.

Noriega may not have had such a friendly welcome in the past, but distributors like H-E-B have been receptive to her new designs. Last year they created a line of kitchenware, including plates, bowls, and potholders, with the loteria designs.

They are now available at more than 70 H-E-B locations around the country.

“My Loteria” will be at the Brownsville Heritage Complex until March 30.

What: “My Loteria” exhibit

When: Now through March 30

Where: The Brownsville Heritage Complex

For more information: (956) 541-5560.