Jun. 10 @ 10:00 am – Jun. 14 @ 3:00 pm
During the summer of 2024, the Mexic-Arte Museum Partnered with Austin Central Library to create the camp:Â Nuestro Estilo/Our Style, a week-long summer camp that focused on campers exploring Mexican identity through the traditional garments of Huipili. During the camp, participants of a wide range of ages learned about the cultural significance of a huipil, how to draft a design, and made their creations that they proudly showcased in the fashion show. Andrea Calderon of Colectivo In Situ planned and facilitated the camp and taught participants the significance of huipiles by bringing their huipiles to show during the camp.Â
On June 15 Nuestro Estilo Camp Participants showcased the huipiles they made during the camp in the Austin Central Library art gallery. Participants made huipiles with imagery of nopales, dogs, cheetahs, flowers, rainbows, clouds and more of many colors and techniques such as embroidery, printmaking and applique.Â
I loved that we were able to teach our designers about the history and significance of the huipil while also allowing our designers to get creative and do what came to mind!
Cristina Casas
Library PatronPhotos
Nuestro Estilo was open to ages 11 to 99+. Those younger than 11 were accompanied by an adult (parent or guardian).
Photos by Maia Castillo and Luisa Fernanda Perez
About the Artist
Andrea Calderon is an independent musician and cultural organizer with a background in anthropology + border studies, born in Mexico City with firm roots in Oaxaca and Chihuahua. They currently work as the Cultural Liaison at the James Beard award-winning NIXTA Taqueria in Austin, Tejas, and play violin in various musical projects.
Andrea also runs a reciprocity-based collective of indigenous artisans and uses the same platform to organize independent local cultural events, workshops, and encuentros at various venues and community spaces. Colectivo IN SITU functions to bridge communities and educate the public through sharing the diverse work of BIPOC creatives and activists fighting for visibility and justice. In Mexico, they work to highlight artisans working with ancestral mediums including wool + native cotton textiles, silk, and more, with a focus on bringing attention to their stories, lives, and histories. Through IN SITU, Andrea hopes to continue creating and fostering safe, inclusive, and accessible spaces for everyone. TODO PARA TODXS.
This camp is generously sponsored by The Office of Violence Prevention
Thank you to
Librarians Frida Garcia and Cristina Casas and Central Library Staff who helped plan and facilitate bringing this camp and fashion show to life and provided the work space for camp.Â
Leighla Molina for assisting with the camp and bringing indigenous huipiles to showcase and teach participants about.
Teaching artists Lydia Giangregorio and Alé Moreno and Education Intern Fabiana Muñoz for educating and assisting all participants in creating their special huipiles and making their visions come to life.Â
Andrea Calderon for sharing resources and information about huipiles, planning and facilitating the camp, and creating community throughout