amArte

Mexic-Arte Museum aspires to uplift underserved communities who lack exposure to art programming. Through amArte, the Mexic-Arte Museum will support the Office of Violence Prevention by fostering environments that cultivate healthy learning, academic and career excellence, as well as emotional and social wellness. amArte provides two community-based art projects with local, professional artists through an advanced art curriculum with all supplies provided at no cost.

These workshops give students access to materials and equipment that are not typically available with school budgets; in addition, participants interact with professional artists in the community. One amArte workshop will be held during the fall semester with a Dia de los Muertos theme. amArte’s second session will take place in the summer and it’s open to the public (ages 11+). amArte’s workshops span from 1 week to 2 weeks depending on the nature of the workshop and school availability.

This programming provides safe community spaces and frequent interventions which reduce exposure to future risks and, thus, the prevention of violence. The Museum supports the community with art and cultural enrichment that promotes community engagement and strengthens the skills of children by providing equitable curricula.

We thank the Austin Public Health’s Office of Violence Prevention for their continuous support.

Past Workshops

UNITY

Oct. 9, 2023 – Nov. 27, 2023

The 17th amArte workshop, “UNITY” was led by master artist Stacey Silva at Blackshear Elementary. In collaboration with talented 5th-grade students the mural showcases the power of creativity and teamwork.

Living on Your Mind

May. 16, 2023 – May. 19, 2023

The 16th amArte workshop “Living on Your Mind,” was led by master artist Juan Carlos Escobedo at Akins High School for Mr. Eric Cannon and Mr. James Monfries’ advanced art and sculpture classes.

Deepening Layers with Collaging

May. 15, 2023 – May. 22, 2023

The 15th amArte workshop “Deepening Layers with Collaging,” was led by master artist Dave McClinton at Akins High School for Mr. Sean Claes’s yearbook class.

Expresiones Grabadas with Sergio Sánchez Santamaría

Apr. 10, 2023 – Apr. 14, 2023

The 14th amArte workshop“Expresiones Grabadas,” was led by master artist Sergio Sánchez Santamaría, at Crockett High School. The workshop will be held for Ms. Erin Lane’s advanced art classes. Students will reflect on design motifs and elements found in diverse arte popular styles from across Mexico and the value of easy reproducing an image through the linocut printmaking medium.

Digital Archiving of Space and Time with Miguel Rodriguez

Mar. 2, 2023 – Mar. 7, 2023

The 13th amArte workshop “Digital Archiving of Space and Time,” was led by master artist Miguel Rodriguez, at Travis High School. The workshop was held for Ms. Miriam Reyes-Juarez’s CTE Engineering class. Miguel Rodriguez’s work is a contemporary approach to art making through the utilization of new technologies such as 3D modeling, texturing, sculpting and volumetric photogrammetry.

Workshop #12 with Lavender Yrrobali

Feb. 20, 2023 – Feb. 24, 2023

The 12th amArte workshop was led by Lavender Yrrobali at Del Valle High School. Lavender will guide and mentor advanced theater students on all the elements required to ideate, conceptualize, and materialize a successful community show production, from theme brainstorming to creating original characters to embody and perform as.

Workshop #11 with Mariana Nuño-Ruiz

Nov. 1, 2022 – Nov. 1, 2022

The 11th amArte workshop was held at Travis High School with local chef Mariana Nuño-Ruiz . The workshop aimed at spotlighting the power to create coalition, empathy, hope, health, prosperity, and peace between cultures via nourishment.

Workshop #10 with Mary Jane Garza

Oct. 18, 2022 – Oct. 20, 2022

The 10th workshop was led by master artist Mary Jane Garza at Norman-Sims Elementary. The Fourth and Fifth-grade students were guided into understanding, reflecting on, and crafting various elements for the altar and ofrenda they created for their school.

Creating Community Driven Murals with Ruben Esquivel

Sep. 21, 2022 – Nov. 10, 2022

The 7th amArte workshop was led by local muralist Ruben Esquivel at Akins High School. The students have reflected on and identified what culture means to the experience of being a part of the Akins High School community. Upon completion, there will be an unveiling event and ceremony in November.

Workshop #9 with Sequoyah Johnson

Sep. 5, 2022 – Sep. 12, 2022

The 9th amArte workshop was led by local ceramicist Sequoyah Johnson at Lyndon B. Johnson High School.

Workshop #8 with Mar Gonzalez

Sep. 1, 2022 – Sep. 21, 2022

The 8th amArte workshop was led by local photographer Mar Gonzalez at Akins High School. The workshop was aimed at designing and directing scenes that would get shot on 35mm film. Students got to pick one or more pillars of violence prevention: peace, prosperity, hope, and health (created by the Office of Violence Prevention from Austin Public Health).

Workshop #6 with Esteban Marquez

Jun. 6, 2022 – Jun. 6, 2022

The 6th amArte workshop was led by local artist Artists Esteban Marquez and Alex Diamantis. This was a Social Justice Emoji Design workshop where youth studied and reflected on the design and utility of emojis in contemporary language and their ability to transcend languages and cultures using simple shapes to portray emotions

Iconography: A sense of Home

May. 11, 2022 – May. 11, 2022

The 5th amArte workshop was led by local artist Santa Barraza at Del Valle High School. The workshop focused on creating a mini mural p on large 7’ x 4’ amate (bark) paper sheets.

Workshop #4 with Amado Castillo III

Apr. 4, 2022 – Apr. 4, 2022

The 4th amArte workshop was led by local artists Amado Castillo III and his son Amado Castillo IV outside Mexic-Arte. This mural coincided with the exhibition “Chicano/a Art, Movimiento y Más en Austen, Tejas 1960s to 1980s” focusing on the Chicano artists from the past and uses present local Chicano artists.

Workshop #3 with Kill Joy

Feb. 28, 2022 – Mar. 3, 2022

The 3rd amArte workshop was taught by local artist Killjoy at the Texas Empowerment Academy. Students worked with real linoleum blocks and oil-based block printing inks on a real print press to realize their social justice-inspired compositions that would get printed as often as they wished and on quality print paper, t-shirts, tote bags, holographic vinyl sticker sheets, and more.

Workshop #2 with José Tomás Garcia

Feb. 16, 2022 – Feb. 23, 2022

The 2nd amArte workshop was taught by José Tomás Garcia, and held at William B. Travis High School for Ms. Chong-Sing’s advanced art classes. The workshop had students reflect on self-assigning value to physical objects (primarily 2D), which as a society, we deem worthless.

Workshop #1 with Mariana Nuño-Ruiz

Dec. 12, 2021 – Dec. 12, 2021

The 1st amArte workshop was led by local chef Mariana Nuño-Ruiz at Del Valle High School. The workshop aimed at spotlighting the power to create coalition, empathy, hope, health, prosperity, and peace between cultures via nourishment.