Sep. 18, 2020 @ 10:00 am – Nov. 22, 2020 @ 5:00 pm
About
Mexic-Arte Museum proudly presents ELA (Emerging Latinx Artists) 25: Intersección: Choque & Alivio, Intersection: Shock & Relief, (formally known as YLA, Young Latinx Artists) which celebrates the last twenty five years of exhibitions featuring emerging Latinx artists. This exhibition showcases artists converging at the crossroads of aesthetic interests and cultural history. The exhibition aims to discover shared life experiences, a (s)mashup or crash (choque) at intersecting lanes of similarities and differences as expressed in the artistically diverse artworks. In reaction to this historical era of identity politics and civic unrest, these artists respond in a visual dialogue, drawing from their cultural experience and sociopolitical consciousness. This year’s exhibition is curated by Dr. George Vargas, Curator and Director of Programs at Mexic-Arte Museum.
Mero Muro Murals
This year as part of our El Mero Muro program, Mexic-Arte commissioned three women artists to create two new murals, as part of the ELA25 exhibition. Local artists Niz and Sade Lawson collaborated on a mural that celebrates the Latinx and Black experience of America, while calling for equality, unity, creative change, and voting rights. El Paso artist Christin Apodaca painted the second mural that addresses the COVID epidemic and its great impact on the Latinx community in Austin. The two murals are located on the Museum’s exterior wall on 5th St. at Congress Avenue.
Online Opening Reception
As we travel down our path in life to fulfill our destiny, we converge at intersections to dialogue with these artists who reveal their inner thoughts about the human condition, as artists have done previously when confronted by a shockwave of confusion and distress. Art makes social commentary that both documents our history and shapes our consciousness of reality. Art answers the age-old philosophical question concerning the meaning of life, especially during this difficult period: Who are we? In response to our escalating predicament, the arts are experiencing a transformation, as artists are at intersections entertaining and instructing the people in their time of need looking for meaning in their lives. Thus, we intersect at the ELA25 crossroads, seeking release from anxiety to (re)discover our humanity through art and to invite a feeling of reassurance and interconnectedness with each other in an ever-changing global community.
Featured Artists
Christin Apodaca, El Paso, El Mero Muro muralist. Yareth Fernandez, Austin, YLA24 , Hatziel Flores, Dallas, YLA21, Michael Anthony Garcia, Austin, YLA18 curator, Suzy Gonzalez, San Antonio, YLA19 , Jellyfish Collective, El Paso, YLA17, Sade Lawson, Austin, El Mero Muro muralist, Alejandro Macias, Brownsville, YLA23, Michael Menchaca, San Antonio, YLA16 , Ashley Mireles, San Antonio, YLA22, Hope Mora, Pecos, TX, YLA20 , Niz, Austin, YLA17, El Mero Muro muralist, Jose Villalobos, San Antonio, YLA22.
Selected artists are Texas-based. They have participated in previous YLA exhibitions (YLA16 – YLA24) and have created new artworks that speak to the exhibition concept.
Gallery Guide
2020
ELA 25
Videos
ELA 25 Artist Talk Series!
The Mexic-Arte Museum hosted the ELA 25 Artist Talk video series from October to November 2020 via Facebook Live and Zoom. The Artist Talk series showcases all ELA 25 artists, their artistic journey and gives viewers a glimpse of their artwork displayed at the Mexic-Arte Museum during the duration of the exhibition!