Apart from the Screen It! program, Mexic-Arte hosts free annual summer camps. Students learn relief printing and screen printing and create mixed-media personal statement posters that reflect on a social justice issue of their choice. Students can learn how to express and interpret a stance on their chosen issue using visual language informed by various printmaking methods taught in this two-week camp. Partnering with the Austin Public Library, the posters created during the camp are exhibited at the Central Library in the heart of Austin further to amplify the reach of each youth’s message. The CYD program of Austin Public Health sponsored this program.
2024
Nuestro Mundo
- Date: July 8-12th
- Time: 10 am – 2 pm daily
- Location: Mendez Middle School Community Love Hub
- Date: August 5-9th
- Time: 10 am – 2 pm daily
- Location: Austin Public Library Southeast Branch
For the summer of 2024, two sessions of Nuestro Mundo (Our World) summer camp were conducted at the Mendez Middle School Community Love Hub and Austin Public Library Southeast. Nuestro Mundo ( focued on building and strengthening our communities through art and education. Led by museum art educators, participants will identify a change they wish to see in the world and create an infographic poster using silkscreen and linoleum printmaking.
Youth learned about art as a tool for activism and building community. Students reflected on causes they care about, changes they wish to see in the world and messages for their community. With the guidance of Teaching Artists, they created personal statement posters with screen printing and relief printing, sharing their causes and calls to action. Youth expressed their care for animals, school issues, environmental issues, gender inequality, the importance of rest and leisure, and more.
There was an art show reception for the summer camp youth August 10th, during the Lucha Literacy Pachanga at the Community Love Hub. At the reception, there were snacks, prizes, a screen printing activity, pencil bags, and more! DJ Hierba Malita played mindfulness music during the event. These events were free and open to the public! We hoped you joined to celebrate the young artists with the community.”
Creating Encuentros
- Date: Every Wednesday in July 10, 17, 24, 31
- Time: 2-3 pm
- Location: Mendez Middle School Community Love Hub
Creating Encuentros: Jr Printmaking camp took place at the Mendez Middle School Community Love Hub and at the George Morales Dove Springs Recreation Center. Youth ages 6-11 explored foam relief printing, stencils, symmetry, design, screen printing, wearable art, sticker design and more. Young artists demonstrated willingness and courage in creating art with new methods to share with their friends and family generously.
2023
Nuestra Lucha
For the summer of 2023, the Mexic-Arte Museum is excited to partner with George Morales Dove Springs Recreation Center to bring Nuestro Mundo (Our World) to their Boredom Busters camp. In Nuestro Mundo, students will focus on building and strengthening their community through art and education. Led by museum art educators participants will identify a change they wish to see in the world. Each student will create an infographic poster using silkscreen printing technology, an accessible process used by artists and activists to quickly reproduce images and information. The purpose of these posters will be to communicate to the public the necessity of social change in an area of importance to the students.
A reception for Nuestro Mundo was held on Sunday, September 17, from 12:00 to 5:00 PM at the Austin Central Library.
Screen printing activity, snacks, and music by DJ @hierbamalita
2022
Nuestra Lucha
The third Nuestra Lucha social justice summer camp occurred at Atkins High school. Attendees learned screen-printing basics as the medium to print their compositions which dealt with a social issue to raise awareness. These personal statement posters are exhibited in the “Teen Section” at the Central Austin Public Library for a whole year alongside reproduction prints from the Mexic-Arte Museum’s permanent collection. In September, the library held a reception with a DJ, snacks, and art activity lead by Jose Martinez for the students and their families.
2021
Nuestra Lucha
The second Nuestra Lucha social justice summer camp exhibited the youth’s statement posters at the Austin Central Library’s Teen Section. This is the first partnership with Mexic-Arte Museum’s education outreach programming and the Austin Public Library to showcase the rarely-seen gems that youth created with the help of our talented Teaching Artists. This exhibit, in particular, will show each youth piece alongside a social justice artwork from Mexic-Arte Museum’s permanent collection starting September 9th 2021, and exhibiting for an entire year!
2019
Nuestra Lucha
The first Nuestra Lucha social justice summer camp was held at the South East Branch of Austin Public Library. Their topics were original ideas assisted by Mexic Arte’s teaching staff under the prompt to create a personal statement poster they would use if they could only go to one march in their entire lives. They were taught relief printing, lino cutting, and screen printing and were encouraged to use one of each element in their designs.