Peace and positivity: Nicaraguan artist and Northport resident displays paintings in first ever art exhibit

Nicaraguan artist Ledis Chevez Coronna is celebrating her first ever art exhibit at Trinity Community Art Center in Northport Village; the Northport resident’s work will be on view Thursday through Sunday all September long at the Main Street space. Coronna’s daughter Ledis, a Northport High School graduate, shared news of the exhibit on social media. “She paints with her heart and you will see that reflected in her paintings,” Ledis said of her mom. “They are filled with emotions and meaning.”

Below is Ledis Chevez Coronna’s artist statement, as submitted to Trinity Community Art Center, detailing her life growing up in Nicaragua, including a visit from Northport High School’s Students for 60,000, a student-led humanitarian group founded at the school by Peter White in 1986.   

I was born and raised in a rural community called Chacraseca. I come from a family of ten and we lived a very humble life. We didn't have electricity or drinking water. Our transportation was either by horse, bicycle, public bus or walking. I had to walk one hour to get to my school and one hour back home but please don’t take this the wrong way, I am very grateful and I am not complaining in any way. 

My community was blessed to receive missionaries from Maryknoll Sisters. Sister Juanita started asking for contributions to the communities in New York and seeking help for my community. Through this, service groups came to Nicaragua. One of these groups was Students for 60,000. They came to Chacraseca and supported our community in many ways. This made a big difference in our community and for the people, it gave us a lot of hope to continue and to keep being happy. I thank all the members of the organization and Peter White for being a great leader with passion and the love to help others.

I was 15 years old when I started serving in my church teaching catechism classes to kids, preparing them to receive their first communion. I was lucky to be invited to be part of a project called Young Nicaraguans. This project allowed me to come to New York for the first time and perform cultural presentations of typical dancing in Nicaragua called folklore. I performed in schools, churches and community centers. Donations went toward granting scholarships to students in Nicaragua to facilitate their studies. 

After I returned from New York, I started studying every Sunday to be a delegate of the word of God. I celebrated the word of God in communities that were very far away from the church. I got married and my husband and I started serving together in social and spiritual projects. I am grateful to my husband, John Coronna, for always being by my side while helping people and supporting them in their times of need. 

John inspires me and motivates me to continue with my art talent, a beautiful gift from God. Through my painting I want to share a nice moment of peace and positivity. 

Thanks to Trinity Community Art Center, I am able to share and display my paintings, they all have their own unique positive message. I thank God for blessing me again by opening this amazing opportunity. I hope my paintings speak to you and give you a sense of peace, love, and joy.