Restaurant, Library Showcase Colorful, Mexican Art

While people fill up on food at Carrboro's El Chilango restaurant, they can also get their fill of contemporary Mexican art.

"Workmen would come in to have their lunch at noontime and they'd be sitting down eating their meal. They'd start pointing and having conversations about what they were seeing," says art dealer Nancy Park.

The fine collection originates from a state in southern Mexico calledOaxaca.

The dealers got the idea to bring some of the work back to North Carolina after they fell in love with it themselves and realized the potential to sell it here.

"Latino culture is growing here in the Triangle, and I think people are really interested in getting involved in the Latino culture and making people feel welcome," says art dealer Katie Costa.

What may seem like an off-the-wall idea -- selling artwork in everyday places -- seems to be paying off.

"It's a very positive thing to be able to have everybody see the artwork in the course of their natural activities. It's probably not bad for sales either," Park says.

The artwork will be on display at El Chilango restaurant in Carrboro and at the United Church of Chapel Hill until October 15. The works can be seen at the Chapel Hill Public Library until September 22.