http://www.31kproject.com/

Mexic-Arte Museum looks forward to collaborating with photographer Diego Huerta for the upcoming exhibition 31K Portraits for Peace opening January 27. Diego Huerta’s 31K project represents the over 31,000 people killed throughout the ongoing drug wars in Mexico. In the photography, there is no distinction between the sitter’s color of skin, social status, religion or political beliefs. Diego Huerta and project partner Daniela Gutiérrez have travelled throughout Mexico and arrived at cities like Guadalajara, Campeche, Tamaulipas, Michoacán, Ciudad de México, Mazatlan, and Baja California.

For over 180 days Diego and Daniela have cataloged their project on both their website and Facebook pages providing followers with current photos and video diary excerpts from their national journeys throughout Mexico. 31K’s large-scale vivid photographs portray the breadth of lives lost and the hope for peace that still remains in Mexico. With each 31K photograph Diego presents the panoply of Mexican life. Each colorful image captures a vignette of the Mexican people from students, families, street performers, artisans, businessmen, and priests.

Diego’s photographs truly portray the color that constitutes the Mexican landscape and the cultural identity of the nation. The ironic part of this photographic journey is that although each sitter represents a drug-related death, the persons represented in each photo emit an overwhelming positivity. The images do not capture a solemn, somber nation that is mourning its tragedies but instead a people that evoke resiliency and triumph.

Mexic-Arte Museum will display selected vinyl photographs from the 31K Project as well as video excerpts from the 31K Project journey.The exhibition will not be confined to our inside walls.

Along our 5th Street exterior wall space we will continue the promotion of the 31K Project with a public display of vinyl photographs. Capital Metro Transit and Mexic-Arte Museum will be
collaborating with one hundred in bus placards, three small bus wraps, and exhibition advertisements at various bus stops throughout Austin.

Join us for our opening reception January 27 and follow Diego and Daniela’s 31K Project on their official website www.31kproject.com and on facebook.com/retratosporlapaz.

3rd Annual Mix ‘n’ Mash Exhibit & Art Sale December 2, 2011 – January 3, 2012

Over 100 artists contribute to this annual fundraiser for Mexic-Arte Museum: each contributes an original 12×12 the sales of which benefit the Museum. By purchasing and combining 12x12s, patrons create their own Mix ‘n’ Mash collection.

Click here to purchase tickets.

Saturday, October 22, 2011

Free Admission

5th Street Downtown Congress to Brazos Vendor Fair & Live Performances 2-10PM	Plaza Saltillo 5th & Comal Concurso de Calaveritas & Family Activities 2-5PM	Grand Procession Plaza Saltillo Down East 6th Street 6-7PM

We are now recruiting vendors, volunteers and procession participants. For details and application forms, click on the links below:

2011 Grand Procession Theme: Calling 100 Mexican Free-tailed Bats!

For nearly three decades, Mexic-Arte Museum has introduced a new costume theme to the Día de los Muertos Grand Procession. With each new category, the parade becomes more creative, more visually impressive, and more uniquely Austin. This year, we are recruiting 100 Mexican Free-tailed Bat Costumes. As Austin’s unofficial mascot, bats are an important part of our “Keep Austin Weird” identity. But did you know that bats were also central to Pre-Hispanic images of Death and the Underworld? For details, costume ideas, and to register, download our Procession Application

General Information

Mexic-Arte Museum, the Official Mexican and Mexican American Fine Art Museum of Texas, is celebrating its 28th Annual Día de los Muertos – Austin’s largest and longest-running Day of the Dead festival featuring Latino artists and entertainment, educational art activities, and a grand procession in the heart of downtown.

Part of the proceeds benefit the Museum’s education outreach programs.

Viva la Vida Fest celebrates life and our environment through art and culture, using the traditions of Dia de los Muertos. The festival brings together a diversity of people in Austin to pay homage to friends, family, and heroes. The festival features a grand procession followed by a costume contest and a street celebration with:

• natural and organic Mexican and Tex-Mex foods and beverages
• hands-on art activities & artist demos
• local artist and retail booths
• spectacular, larger-than-life props
• live music and dance performances!

To make the festival eco-friendly, Mexic-Arte Museum encourages all participating artists and festival-goers to create their props out of recycled, re-used, and sustainable materials. The Museum is also committed to leaving a smaller footprint on the environment by reducing waste and minimizing energy wasted.

The event will not only encourage environmentally conscious artistic creations, but it will also promote eco-friendly living, healthy eating, and exercise through cycling and walking.

Bicycles, Buses and Cars

CYCLISTS
We encourage you to ride your bicycle to Viva la Vida Fest! It’s healthy, and it’s easier to find parking.

BUS-RIDERS
There is a Capital Metro bus stop at the corner of Mexic-Arte Museum. Please check their website, www.capmetro.org, for route information.

DRIVERS
There are several options available for those arriving by car:
1) pay-as-you go metered parking on the streets
2) garage parking at Perry Brooks garage at 9th & Brazos, Capitol Tower garage, at 9th & San Jacinto, and Littlefield garage on 6th Street, just east of Congress Ave.

What is Dia De Los Muertos?

For 27 years, Día de los Muertos (Day of the Dead) has been Mexic-Arte Museum’s annual signature event in the Austin community. Día de los Muertos is an important Latin American tradition, taking place on November 2, when friends and family gather to honor and remember loved ones – not through mourning, but through celebration! The origins trace back to the Pre-Columbian era, when death was viewed as a transformation. Death was not seen as the final end, but rather as a cycle or continuation of life. This ancient belief evolved to the modern tradition of creating altars to commemorate loved ones, decorated with sugar skulls, flowers, photographs, and favorite foods and memorabilia of the deceased. They share stories and memories, and they sing songs and play music.

Click here to download the Day of the Dead
Educational Activity guide

Click here to download the
paper-mâché shapes

Sponsors

Please contact pr@mexic-artemuseum.org or (512) 480-9373 x84 for 2011 Sponsorship Opportunities.

Children

Children and their families will have the opportunity to create activities, calavera masks and paper flowers. This is a special and wonderful opportunity for people of all ages to learn about the traditions of Dia de los Muertos (Day of the Dead) through interactive, hands-on art activities.

Murals

Each year we invite artists to create Day of the Dead-inspired murals on our 5th street Museum wall. This year visual artists were Federico Archuleta, Louie Chavez, and James Huizar. Please come by our wall, take photos, and enjoy!

During Austin’s annual Museum Day, Austin-based artist Federico Archuleta created this Day of the Dead mural advertising the upcoming Viva la Vida festival.

Photo by Ralph Barrera/Austin American-Statesman

San Antonio-based artist Louie Chavez’s Day of the Dead-inspired mural examines transcendental philosophy within the Catholic faith.

See more information at  http://photoblog.statesman.com/getting-ready-for-dia-de-los-muertos-by-painting-a-mural

Join us for a lecture about the history of Day of the Dead with Tomás Ybarra Frausto.