Catrina Gala en Familia: A Family Affair & Virtual Edition 2020

This year, we will honor the distinguished art collector, Mr. Juan Antonio Sandoval Jr. In January 2020, the Museum received the Juan Antonio Sandoval Jr. Collection, considered one of the most important Latinx art collections in the United States. Mr. Sandoval, a now retired reference librarian and subject specialist for art and Chicanx studies at UTEP, amassed an art collection over thirty years. The extensive collection holds over 1,000 items that Mexic-Arte will use to develop exhibitions and teaching materials.

Hailed as a “Renaissance woman of Austin, Texas” by the New York Times, Patricia Vonne has claimed many titles in her illustrious career: singer, songwriter, actress, activist and award winning filmmaker. 

Vonne has appeared on the big screen in Spykids, Desperado, Machete Kills, Four Rooms, and Sin City:A Dame to Kill For in which she reprised her role as Dallas/Zorro Girl; Her song  “Traeme Paz” was featured in the film Once Upon a Time in Mexico.

We invite you to Mexic-Arte Museum’s 2020 Catrina Gala en Famila: A Family Affair & Virtual Edition. This year, proceeds from the Gala will benefit our award winning education programs in underserved schools, and Museum operations, both in dire need of funding due to the ongoing Covid-19 pandemic and economic crisis. The Catrina Gala is a spirited annual benefit recognizing Mexic-Arte Museum’s present accomplishments in visual arts and art education. We commemorate the Museum’s 36 years of presenting critically acclaimed exhibitions, award-winning education programs, and unique cultural events. 

This year, the event extends into homes virtually, including your guests and family, with something for everyone. The event is designed to bring a festive, delightful experience right to your homes, and includes informative programming, the new additions to collections, an art auction, and themed gift bags with Catrina inspired items. New this year we have included delicias from Fonda San Miguel and art activities for the whole family! We encourage dressing up with Catrina themed masks and makeup, making for an artful evening. We hope you will join us. Thank you for your support! Your support for arts education in underserved schools and Museum operations are greatly appreciated. 

Dinner will be prepared by highly acclaimed Fonda San Miguel.

Fonda San Miguel was founded in 1975 by Miguel Ravago and Tom Gilliland and has served the Austin public and visitors authentic and regional Mexican cuisines in atmosphere of museum quality art, luscious plants and décor ever since. The Fonda San Miguel collection includes works by Sergio Bustamante, Rufino Tamayo, Francisco Zuniga, Rodolfo Morales and many other prominent artists. Fonda San Miguel hosted the Frida’s Fiestas in the 1990s and generously donated artworks to the Mexic-Arte Museum. Now celebrating over four decades of culinary artistry, and through the work of the visionary Tom Gilliland, Fonda San Miguel is one of the most significant restaurants in the United States.

Take a Look at Catrina Gala 2020

Who is La Catrina?

The first image of La Catrina appeared as a zinc etching originally created by José Guadalupe Posada for a satirical leaflet produced in 1910. While most of his work was unknown during his life, Posada’s images were reintroduced to the public by Jean Charlot and Diego Rivera. Rivera popularized La Calavera Catrina in his mural Dream of a Sunday Afternoon in Alameda Park (1947), and she has since become a time honored symbol for Día de los Muertos that is embraced and celebrated by millions every year.

2020 Catrina Gala Dinner Sponsors: