A new exhibit called The Selena Effect at Texas State University in San Marcos is casting new light on the “queen of Tejano music.” Running through December 6, the must-see exhibit will give fans an intimate view of the late pop icon Selena Quintanilla Pérez through never-before-seen photos, sketches, and artifacts.
The mementos will be on view at The Wittliff Collections on the seventh floor of the Alkek Library at 601 University Dr, and admission is free. The university says the show “celebrates Selena’s enduring appeal and relevance to future generations.”
The Selena Effect includes photographs by the singer’s former publicist, music historian Ramon Hernández, and renowned photographers Al Rendon, John Dyer, Scott Newton, and Sylvia Reyes, and art pieces by David Zamora Casas, Marc Burckhardt, and Sara Hickman.
The exhibit includes designer Martin Gomez’s fashion illustrations.Photo courtesy of The Wittliff Collections.
Fashion designer Martin Gomez, Selena’s close confidante, provides an even more intimate look at her life through fashion sketches, stage outfits, and accessories. He even shares a diary detailing their special relationship and creative partnership.
“I’m really excited because it is such a personal thing for me to share my archives,” says Gomez in a social media video previewing the show. “So I’m hoping you guys will love it.”
The Wittliff Collections has crucially kept Selena’s legacy alive through the Ramon Hernandez Tejano and Conjunto Music Collection, the Patoski Collection for the Selena Quintanilla Biography, the Texas Monthly Collection, and the Doug Hanners Collection. The documents have been used in documentaries, books, and television shows.
Fans of the Tejana legend can also visit the Selena Museum in Corpus Christi, where they can see her red Porsche and Grammy awards. The display space is naturally carpeted in purple, the same hue as the famous jumpsuit worn during her last major concert in the Houston Astrodome.