Miembros Newsletter: August 2024

A Message from the Director

Mexic-Arte Museum Brings Artist Designed Banners to Republic Square

Claudia Aparicio Gamundi is recognized for designing the Republic Square Banners, Photo Credit: Maia Castillo
Ribbon Cutting Ceremony with Consul General Humberto Hernandez Haddad, Raasin McIntosh, VP of Active Urbanism, DAA & Sylvia Orozco, Photo Credit: Maia Castillo

August 3rd is now officially Republic Banner Day with the reading of the proclamation for the Republic Square Banner Project and the official Ribbon Cutting Ceremony. This event was held in conjunction with the 185 th Anniversary of the founding of Austin. The Downtown Austin Alliance and Mexic-Arte Museum celebrated the installation of seven beautiful new outdoor banners, designed by Austin artist Claudia Aparicio Gamundi, that detail the rich history and vibrant future of Republic Square and the 5th Street Mexican Heritage Corridor. It was a Family Day in the park with sunshine, art activities, refreshments and delicious cake. This collaboration aims to enhance the cultural appeal of downtown Austin.

The banners were beautifully designed by Claudia Aparcio Gamundi. Claudia is an artist and thinker who loves weaving stories through design, illustration, creative art direction and sound curation. The banners tell the story of Republic Square from prehistoric times to now.

The Children’s Ballet Folklorico of Austin performs, Photo Credit: Maia Castillo
Children coloring in the Banner Project Coloring Books, Photo Credit: Maia Castillo
Guests enjoying the beautiful cupcakes from Ross Cakes Bakes and Sweets, Photo Credit: Maia Castillo

The community was welcomed by Mexic-Arte Museum President Paul Saldana and Raasin McIntosh, VP of Active Urbanism, DAA. The Banner Project was sponsored by Mexic-Arte Museum, Downtown Austin Alliance Foundation, City of Austin Economic Development Department and the Parks and Recreation Department. The opening remarks were given by Consul General of Mexico Humberto Hernandez Haddad. Next Isabel Servantez, Curator of Mexic-Arte Museum highlighted historical facts illustrated in each of the banners. Luisa Perez read the City of Austin Proclamation declaring August 3, 2024 as Republic Square Banner Day. Everyone enjoyed performances by the Ballet Folklorico de Austin and Las Mañanitas by Mariachi Chavez y Amigos that honored the 185th Anniversary of Austin.

Video by: James San Miguel


Executive Director

Sylvia Orozco


Upcoming Events

Una Tardeada – La Vida, Obra y Legado de José Francisco Treviño / An Afternoon on The Life, Work and Legacy of José Francisco Treviño

José F. Treviño, Uno de los Quemados, 1974, Oil on canvas, 38″ x 30″

Date: Sunday, August 11, 2024
When: 2:00 pm – 4:30 pm
Panelists: Santa Barraza – Visual Artist and Scholar
Maria Herrera-Sobek – Professor Emerita, Chicano/a Studies Department, University of
California, Santa Barbara

Carey Rote – PhD in Art History, Professor, Texas A&M University, Corpus Christi;
Luis Guerra – Artist
Mary Jane Garza – Visual Artist and Writer

Where: Mexic-Arte Museum, 419 Congress, Austin, TX 78701
What Else: An Art Activity for the Family!
Reception to Follow
Refreshments & light snacks provided
Free Admission!

Parking: Please view our Visit page

Special Thanks to the José Francisco Treviño Family.

José Francisco Treviño (1941- 2022) was one of Austin’s most important artists and a contributor to the development of Chicano art. A public presentation focusing on Treviño’s work and contributions titled Una Tardeada – an afternoon program and presentation of the life and artwork of Jose Trevino, will take place on Sunday, August 11, 2024, at Mexic-Arte Museum.

The presentation will include a panel discussion with the art historians, Santa Barraza – Visual Artist and Scholar; Maria Herrera-Sobek – Professor Emerita, Chicano/a Studies Department, University of California, Santa Barbara; Cary Rote – PhD in Art History, Professor, Texas A&M University, Corpus Christi; Luis Guerra – Artist; Mary Jane Garza – Artist and Writer. Several of Treviño’s artwork will be on view, as well as a photo presentation. Admission is free and a reception will follow. This program is sponsored by an Elevate Grant from the City of Austin Economic Development Department Cultural Arts Division and made possible through the dedication of the Treviño Family. Mexic-Arte Museum is honored to assist in the presentation of this event.

Un Tardeada – La Vida y Obra de/ An Afternoon on the Life and Work of Jose Francisco Treviño, is an important project for Austin that will also have long-term benefits. The video and documentation will be archived and serve as material for research for art students, historians and art historians. There is a lack of high quality visual art materials of Chicano, Latino art for schools and university classes. This program will be a model project to document Chicano Latino art on the local level that would be accessible for research.

One of Austin’s most gifted and productive artists, José Treviño was also an art educator, teacher and mentor to many of Austin’s talented artists. Throughout his life, he produced hundreds of paintings, drawings, prints and sculptures. It is important for Austin and visitors to know his artwork, contributions and legacy, in addition to developing materials for art history.

An Austin native of mixed heritage, Mexican and Italian, José Treviño graduated from William B. Travis High School in Austin. He demonstrated his talent at a very young age, and by the time he attended high school, he was selling his artwork at the Country Store Gallery on Guadalupe Street. After high school graduation, his art teacher introduced him to Texas Education Agency where he was hired as an illustrator, a position he also held with Southwest Educational Laboratory in the 1970s, providing masterful illustrations for textbooks and other curriculum materials. His drawings and paintings were published and distributed through the Dissemination Center for Bilingual Education in Austin. Primarily a self-taught artist, he developed a personal style influenced by many different art movements throughout history. For several years he taught art at Austin Community College where he also painted a mural that no longer exists. He had his first solo exhibit at Lucha, League of United Chicano Artists, a Chicano cultural center in Austin. In 1979, his artwork, Uno de de los Quemados was used in the poster to promote the Conferencia Plastica Chicana at The University of Texas at Austin. José Treviño was a hardworking and prolific artist, exhibiting widely, and featured extensively in art publications.

Treviño’s work exemplifies the experience of the people living a dual cultural existence: Mexican and U.S. American, Chicano and Mexicano – life on the border where for many, there is no frontera. His work addresses past, present, and future struggles. In his work, searching, learning, and teaching are expressed through beautiful colors and ideas reflecting his spirit while grounded in his Chicano Mexicano roots, dissolving all borders and speaking to all of us about our humanity. Treviño’s contributions to the art world continue.

In 1999, Mexic-Arte Museum presented José Francisco Treviño – Raices Sin Fronteras – A Retrospective of his life works over forty years. The following are excerpts from the catalog. “As an artist, José Treviño has played a major role in the development of Chicano art in Austin and Texas. The artist writes, ‘As a practicing artist for forty years, I have witnessed the major contributions that both Latino and African American artists have made in this community. I feel that we, as people of color, have bridged some gaps and begun to express our rich and diversified cultures. I am proud and grateful to have been one of the ‘Raza’ founders of this creative force.’

In Sept. 2013 An Awakening/One Man Show was held at the Emma S. Barrientos Mexican American Cultural Center Main Gallery, and demonstrated not only a massive body of work, but his talent for producing in diverse media.

José F. Treviño worked in a variety of mediums including oil, watercolor, acrylic, wood, clay, and stone. Treviño created artwork about various subjects including representations of Chicano movement resistance, surrealistic portraits, and candid and intimate moments between people. José’s artwork has on many occasions focused on the daily life of Mexican American people. Uno de los Quemados is a self portrait of José F. Treviño. In the colorful and dynamic painting Treviño wears patches that say “H.A. Guerrero Carpet Cleaners” and “Treviño”. Treviño stares at the viewer while being engulfed in flames. The title of the painting, Uno de los Quemados literally translated means one of the burned, but symbolically may make reference to his burning passion for art and life. It also refers to the art collective, Los Quemados that Treviño formed with other Mexican American artists who felt excluded from exhibition spaces. The patches on Treviño’s shirt, valorizes and highlights his experience as a manual laborer, and gives access to viewers who may have connections to work like this.

Media Mixer: Jewelry Making with Lys Santamaria

  • When: Thursday, August 15th
  • Where: Mexic-Arte Museum, 419 Congress Ave, Austin, Texas, 78705
  • Time: 6:00 pm – 9:00 pm
  • Admission: $15 General, $10 Members (Use Membership Code)
  • Parking: Frost Bank Tower  – $10 parking for visitors after 5PM (4th and Brazos St.)
  • All ages welcome

Join us for an Artist workshop/encuentro with Changarrito Artist, Lys Santamaria! Guests will be able to enjoy drinks, small bites, and a gallery tour with the artist while creating Jewelry & learning about Beadwork!

Lys Santamaria is a Contemporary Bead and Mosaic Artist celebrated for her meticulous craftsmanship, transforming tiny beads and glass into vibrant jewelry, sculptures, and public art. Her art is a vehicle for sharing her unique voice as a Latina, woman, and immigrant, offering viewers a reflection of their own experiences and, hopefully, solace to those who share her experiences. Lys aims to foster connections, evoke joy, and provoke contemplation through her creations, crafting narratives that resonate with shared emotions and contributing to a more inclusive, loving, and interconnected world.

Immerse yourself in the art of encuentros as we gather to share stories, memories, and dreams through the vibrant language of color. In this interactive bracelet-making experience, you’ll connect with fellow participants in a celebration of heritage and shared experiences, discovering the transformative power of gifting. Explore the depth of connections as you craft a custom bracelet infused with the spirit of encuentros—a symbol of unity, resilience, and the beauty of shared moments. Join us in this fusion of artistry and sharing, where every bracelet is not just a creation but also a meaningful gift, a symbol of the bonds we forge in this collective journey of discovery.

Get Excited for Viva la Vida 2024!

Mexic-Arte Museum’s 41st Annual Viva La Vida Festival and Parade is Austin’s largest and longest-running Día de los Muertos (Day of the Dead) event. Co-presented by Mexic-Arte Museum and the City of Austin, this year’s festival will take place on Saturday, October 26 at 4th Street and Congress Avenue. The festivities begin with a Grand Procession at noon. Festival activities run until 6 p.m. Participants can enjoy the Education Pavilion with hands-on art activities, traditional foods, local artists and artisan booths, a low-rider exhibition, and live performances throughout the day.

Viva la Vida 2019, Photo Credit: Chris Caselli
Salvador Colin, Quetzalcoatl, 2014 Serigraph on cotton paper, 26.75” x 20”

Join us in the Special Section of the Procession: Quetzalcoatl

Quetzalcoatl is the feathered serpent god that came into existence around the Olmec period (1400-400 BC) and is believed to be one of the creators of the world. On a lone journey to the underworld he collected the bones of the dead in order to give birth to humanity. Quetzalcoatl represents the connection and cycle of both life and death, endings and renewal. 

Viva la Vida is one of the oldest Día de los Muertos parades and festivals in the state and is the largest celebration of its kind in Austin, attended by over 20,000 people. Participate in this Special Section by wearing feathers, masks, assemblages, fans, and drums in this year’s Viva la Vida parade! Come together with your friends as a comparsa (masked company of street dancers) or join on your own!

Find Out How to Participate Below!

Festival

  • Music by Austin Lowriding
  • Information Booth
  • Aztec Dancers
  • Ballet Folklorico
  • Costume Contest

Sign up to Volunteer!

  • Making Marigold Flower Crowns
  • Making Monarch Butterfly Mask
  • Decorating Paper Sugar Skulls
  • Coloring Ofrendas
  • Plus More!

Sign up to Join the Parade!

The Parade brings together a vibrant and varied mix of the traditional, contemporary, and Austin “weird”. The Procession – including costumes, props, live music, dancers, and floats – marches down historic 6th Street and culminates at E. 4th Street and Congress Avenue.

Sign up to be a Vendor!

Viva la Vida features over 20 Día de los Muertos inspired artists, artisans, vendors, and makers! Visit the Muertos Mercado for the perfect addition to your Día de los Muertos altar or the perfect gift for a friend.


News

Lead to Live by Amado Castillo III at Mexic-Arte Museum Named in “The 10 Best Mexican-Inspired Murals in the U.S.

Amado Castillo III and his son Amado Castillo IV with the completed Lead to Live mural, Photo Credit: Sylvia Orozco

TimeOut named Lead to Live by Amado Castillo III and his son Amado Castillo IV, one of the best Mexican-inspired murals in the U.S. The article states that they are among the “Mexican artists [who] challenge the status quo, remind people of who they are and inspire people to dream of what they could be.” Mexic-Arte Museum is proud to host this beautiful mural. Come check out Lead to Live and other current murals on the 5th Street facing wall of Mexic-Arte Museum.

View the full article here.

Mural by Amado Castillo & Son in Austin, Texas at Mexic-Arte Museum, Video by: Amado Castillo

About the Mural

The Mural Lead to Live depicts a tri-colored background reminiscent of the Mexican flag. On the left green section an ever-growing Austin skyline is shown with prominent construction cranes that take up as much space as each iconic building.

Under the skyline a group of mustangs gallop freely representing the animalistic nature of freedom and liberation from a city that never ceases to demand more for its growth. In the middle white portion of the flag is the main subject largely illustrated from a bold black and white photo from local public historic archives. Influential East Austin Chicano activist, a major figure in Austin politics, and a founder of the local Brown Berets; Paul Hernandez holds a megaphone with a statement taken from signs held by the youth during the police brutality and murder of José “Joe” Campos Torres marches in downtown Austin of 1977 that reads “Los muertos no hablan it is up to us”. This statement comes out of Paul’s megaphone and simultaneously is carried by becoming the statement of a protest sign held by current marginalized people like the elderly and androgynous indigenous faces. Holding a starkly lit monochromatic American flag, this group together with the sound waves and text coming out of Paul’s megaphone are breaking a large chain that comes from the background and into the bottom right corner of the foreground. Lastly on the top right corner is a contemporary interpretation of the United Farm Workers logo originally created by Cesar Chavez and his cousin Manuel. This new take is less obvious but still has a now realistic black eagle spreading its wings over and out of the bounds of a white circular shape like a worm’s eye view of an eagle flying under the sun.

This mural coincides with the current 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 like Amado Castillo III and his 19 year old son Amado Castillo IV.  Amado IV is part of the future generation of local Chicano artists.  The mural makes a statement that the future relies on the past just as much as the past relies on the present to carry on the message and work that can never yield against never ending oppressive forces.

Oakwood Cemetery Chapel Virtual Exhibition

Isabel Servantez, the Curator of Exhibitions and Director of Programs and Sebastian Salvador Barajas, the Mexic-Arte Museum 2024 Spring Curatorial Intern contributed to the most recent virtual exhibition for the Austin Oakwood cemetery, Unificar Tejano Social Organizations, with their original essay, “Latino/a/x/e Terms, Their Definitions, and Personal Accounts of Them.” Their essay examines some of the identifying terms associated with Latinidad (Latin American people and culture) and gives first-hand accounts of claiming and interacting with these terms.

You can see the full exhibition here: Unicar Tejano Social Organizations.


Exhibitions

Creating Encuentros: Changarrito 2012-2024 – Ending Soon!

Date: Friday, August 23
Time: 6:00-9:00pm
Where: Mexic-Arte Museum, 419 Congress Ave, Austin, TX 78701
Parking: Please see the Museum’s Visit webpage
Admission: Free for Museum Members. Become a Mexic-Arte Museum Member!$10 for non-members*
$25 Special Discount on Full Year Individual Memberships at the door only!
*Tickets can only be purchased in person at the Museum Store desk. No online ticket purchasing.

Antojitos:  Licha’s Cantina y Paletas from Que Monita’s Ice Cream
Refreshments provided!
Closing Reception Tianguis! – Come and experience an essence of Changarrito culture as we host a tianguis (market) during the reception with seven artists selling their artwork throughout the museum. Those artists include Faustinus Deraet, April Garcia, Ariana Gomez, Esteban Guerra, Julio C. Martiez, Fabiana Munoz Olmo, and Angel Ortega.

Join Us For the Closing Reception/Membership Party!

It is HOT outside, Austin! Swing by the Museum on August 23rd for a paleta, free for members, and last chance to soak in our exhibition, Creating Encuentros: Changarrito 2012 – 2024.

Not a member? Not a problem! We will have discounted memberships available at the door, and all are welcome to join.

Creating Encuentros: Changarrito 2012-2024, April 12 – August 25, 2024

If you find yourself walking through the streets of Mexico, you will inevitably encounter a changarrito, a food cart, or a locally run shop. Changarritos, enticing with the smell of antojitos and the persistent beckoning of vendors, are difficult to ignore. These carts exist freely, usually outside of the controls, supervision, or instruction of formal institutions. More than just a business, changarritos are an integral part of Mexican culture, communities, and families. 

In 2005, artist Máximo González initiated a Changarrito cart as a possible platform for artists to present their art to the people without having to be accepted by traditional art spaces or official curatorship, blurring the boundaries between established galleries and tianguis (informal street markets). Changarritos offer opportunities to artists and those interested in purchasing art, either to collect, use, or give away to a loved one. More so, the program creates the possibility to develop art as an encuentro, a profoundly personal and collective moment of connection between the artists and the public.

Since its inception in Mexico City, the Changarrito has made appearances in twenty-two cities, brought to Austin by Leslie Moody Castro and becoming active at the Mexic-Arte Museum in 2012. Since the program’s implementation, dozens of artists have used it to display their art and interact with the public on 5th Street and Congress Avenue. In 2020, with the rise of COVID-19, the Changarrito residency introduced a digital component called changarreando. Now, more people than ever are able to learn about and engage with the monthly Changarrito resident artists thanks to the Changarrito art cart residency, which has resumed its in-person component while continuing with its digital feature.

The artworks in this exhibition are part of Mexic-Arte’s permanent collection, acquired during the residencies of Changarrito artists from 2012 to 2024. This year, Mexic-Arte celebrates the history and legacy of this program through the artwork of over a hundred artists, many from Texas. Accompanying the display of artworks, Mexic-Arte has commissioned a sound piece by Lisa Salidvar (Mexico City), an interactive artwork by Gil Rocha (Laredo, Texas), a hand-painted exhibition sign by Alán Serna (San Antonio, Texas), and a mural by Stephen Longoria, (San Diego, California), titled Tejas Forever. Additionally, Mexic-Arte will host a variety of encuentros taking place during the span of the exhibition, which will include Family Days, Media Mixers, a panel discussion, and pop-up art sales in the Mexic-Arte store.

Through the Changarrito residency, Mexic-Arte has cultivated a platform for artists to share their artwork and foster community. We invite you to reflect on the history of Changarrito at Mexic-Arte and engage with artists, staff, and the larger community to create your own encuentros.

Learn more about the artists and program here!


August 2024 Changarrito Artist Ariana Gomez!

Ariana Gomez, Rootedness, Photography, 2022

You’re invited to Mexic-Arte Museum’s Changarrito Instagram Live event on August 15th with artist Ariana Gomez, taking place virtually through the Museum’s Instagram account @mexic_arte! Isabel Servantez, Mexic-Arte Museum’s Curator of Exhibitions and Director Of Programs, will facilitate the virtual event with a series of questions directed at the artist including a Q&A taking place during the last 20 minutes of the event. 

Ariana Gomez will present her work on the Changarrito cart at Mexic-Arte Museum on August 17th, 18th, 24th & 25th from 12-3PM.

About the Artist

Originally from Austin, TX Ariana Gomez received her BFA from the Rochester Institute of Technology in 2010. She has spent the last twelve years in New York City working commercially as a digital tech on photoshoots as well as a studio manager for a still life photographer. Recently, Gomez returned home to pursue a graduate degree from The University of Texas at Austin in their Studio Art Program focusing on photography and just completed her first year.

Her current project is in-progress as she navigates the direction and feeling. Gomez is exploring the idea of home as a myth or idealization that exists solely in thought. The idea of home is a strong one, embedded in each of our psyches as something idealistic – a place we long for, or strive towards, or rally behind in our cultural, spiritual, or political identities. Often, it becomes our entire identity, taken over by our need to create a space that is all our own. So then, what happens to the self when the idea of home is connected to a sense of identity and inevitably the myth comes into question?

Gomez has been exploring aspects of her identity through photography for the last five years. It began with a project titled The Blue of Distance (an homage to Rebecca Solnit’s essay of the same name) in which she delved into the death of her father, a figure in her life she didn’t quite understand until after she lost him. She began to personify his identity through the Texas landscape, searching and dredging the hot earth for a glimpse of him. In this search, her own sense of identity came into question, and she started turning over the desert landscape for the smallest glimpse of herself. This project culminated in a single handmade artist’s book – a small memorial and reminder of her father, that desert mirage.

Gomez now explores the land, the earth, and her memories to understand where and what she considers to be home. It was only upon returning to the place of her birth, that she realized home is an idealization and amalgamation of every single memory and experience we choose to cling to. Home exists as a myth does; powerful, repeated, collective affirmation. Ariana Gomez’s photographs exist within this liminal realm. She questions the idea that home, as landscape, exists in reality. Rather, it exists in the space between reality and abstraction.

Artist’s Statement

“My mother speaks of plants. To her, we are created with roots that snake down into the deep dark earth inserting themselves like veins into our hearts, into our souls. For her, this is truly home. We all have a soul home. And hers has never been Texas.

My mother was uprooted. Her soul home is Puerto Rico, the place she only remembers as a small child when everything is towering, and colors are the most vivid. Her roots tore as she boarded a plane at eight years old, never to come back. She speaks of unlived lives in the lush watery world where she last thrived.

My father spoke of God. To him, Texas was God’s country and there could be no other place in the world more important. Texas was his soul home. He died here, having fully rooted himself into the semi-arid soil.

I speak of juxtapositions, and insertion. My mother and father now occupy parallel existences of time while I insert myself into their memories, dredging the hot earth for a glimpse of their life together. I used to spend my time only looking for my father. However, in searching for my father in the desert landscape, I found my mother attempting to ground herself within this foreign earth. She tries and fails every day to root herself into the densely packed soil of my father’s landscape, her children’s landscape, her perceived home. Through this discovery, I have subconsciously linked the three of us together through place, through time, through memory; a trinity of searching. Thinking on my mother’s abstraction of home, I have come to understand her as water – flowing freely and abundantly within my life. As water, she is stable yet powerful, quiet yet thunderous. Immersed in water, she is whole and calm. I’ve come to see my father like the aftermath of a rainstorm on drought choked lands. But my mother is the eye of that storm; the one who grounded us and created a life within the chaos. Their balance is the guiding force for all my image making decisions and it’s almost impossible to find one without the other.

As inserted observer, where do I fit in? What is my place in this vast sea of memory between two juxtaposed landscapes and where do my roots extend? Through the process of searching, I explore these questions with photography and situate myself within the two landscapes as a bridge. We are three – past, present and future; a trinity of faith in the earth, in home, in identity. Only in this triad will I be able to understand my parent’s relationship to their rooted homes, and the myth that can stem from my version of home. Home is the idealization of the very real land I search for every day. It is the identity I tie myself to in order to root myself into the earth. It is the diluted memory that flows through the tendrils of my mind, searching for the soil that I can call home.”

You can see artwork by Ariana here.

July 2024 Changarrito Artist Rafael Blando!

Rafael Blando at the Changarrito Cart, Photo Credit: Sylvia Orozco

The Changarrito artist for July 2024, Rafael Blando, presented their work on the Changarrito cart at Mexic-Arte Museum on July 20th, 21st, 27th & 28th. You can see their conversation with Mexic-Arte Curator Isabel Servantez on Instagram here.

About the Artist

Rafael Blando is a photographer that for the past twelve years has visited and photographed more than thirty countries. Nowadays he explores the visual language through appropriation and re-contextualization of diverse objects found in journeys and flea markets. He uses photography and a commercial scanner as his main medium for this exploration, along with the intervention of currency paper. His photographs are included in several private collections like ITESM Campus Laguna and Regional Museum of la Laguna. He was born in Mexico City in 1982. He received an Electronic Systems Engineering degree from Monterrey Institute of Technology & Superior Studies; during that time he took an extracurricular photography workshop. In 2019 he studied the postgraduate degree for the Professionalization of Contemporary Arts Practices (DIPPRACC) at the Visual Arts Center in Autonomous University of Coahuila. In 2022 he participated in Fotoseptember Festival organized by “Centro de la Imagen” with the exhibition “Sedimentation of waste”. In 2021 he was selected at the Tijuana Triennial: I. Pictoric International Art and exhibited along 142 artists from 13 countries at Cultural Center of Tijuana (CECUT). In 2018 he was invited to a solo exhibit in Foto-Coahuila and Julio Torri International Arts Festival with the work titled “Horizons”. He has exhibited his work in museums like the Coin Museum from the Bank of Mexico (2019) in Torreon, Mexico; Ex Convent of Carmen (2012) in Guadalajara, México and the Regional Museum of la Laguna (2011) in Torreon, Mexico. In 2017 he was nominated to “Lunas del Auditorio” by his collaboration with “My land” documentary. From 2015 to 2017 he published illustrated travel chronicles in “Siglo Nuevo” magazine from “El Siglo de Torreon” newspaper.

You can see artwork by Rafael here.

About Changarrito Program

Changarrito is an art vending cart conceptualized by artist Maximo Gonzalez as an alternative to the official gallery selection presented by the Mexican cultural authorities. True to the Mexic-Arte Museum’s mission, the Changarrito and Changarreando are dedicated to the presentation and promotion of contemporary Latinx and Latin American art.

Participate in this year’s Día de los Muertos Community Ofrenda

Ofrenda de la Comunidad 2023, Photo Credit: Maia Castillo

This year, Mexic-Arte Museum will be celebrating the tradition of ofrenda creation in honor and remembrance of loved ones that have passed away. Mexic-Arte Museum invites you to join us in this tradition by bringing framed pictures of your loved ones to be presented on a community ofrenda that will be on display during Día de los Muertos. If you would like to participate, please bring your photographs in by Sunday, September 20, 2024. On the back of the frame, please include a name and contact number that the museum can reach you at in reference to your photograph.

Best wishes to Mexic-Arte Community, Isabel Servantez, Curator of Exhibitions and Director of Programs

Curator Isabel Servantez at the Banner Project Ribbon Cutting Ceremony

My name is Isabel Servantez. I have had the pleasure and privilege of being the Curator of Exhibitions and Director of Programs for Mexic-Arte Museum since December 2021. I will soon be leaving for the next chapter in my career. Since beginning my tenure at Mexic-Arte, I have worked with an incredible group of people on amazing exhibitions, projects, and events. This curatorial position at Mexic-Arte has been the first full curatorial role in my career and my colleagues here have taught me so much about how to be a better curator, art historian, team member, and leader. Along the way they have offered me their friendship as well and I am forever changed for the better by them, both professionally and most importantly, personally.

I have been fortunate to meet, speak, and work with fantastic artists from across Austin and Texas. With each of these artist interactions my passion for working in the arts has been renewed and I feel lucky to have met each of them. 

And lastly, but not least, I have been embraced by the warm and welcoming Mexic-Arte Museum community. I feel truly fortunate to have had the opportunity to work towards exhibitions, projects, and programs for the people that visit Mexic-Arte, attend our events, interact with our staff, and call the museum, like I now do, a second home. 

I want to thank everyone so much for creating space for me in your community. It is appreciated beyond measure. 

All the very best,
Isabel Alexander Servantez III
Curator of Exhibitions and Director of Programs, Mexic-Arte Museum


Collections


Changarrito Artist Features Michael Anthony and Savannah Diaz


As the current exhibition Creating Encuentros: Changarrito 2012-2024 is on display, Mexic-Arte Museum highlights a few of the featured artists. These artists were part of the Changarrito Project, in which Mexic-Arte picks an artist each month to create a platform for their art and sell their work on the selected weekends at the museum from our “changarrito,” or little cart.

Michael Anthony Garcia, Towers I, Mixed media on wood panel, 12″ x 12″, 2013

Michael Anthony García was the Changarrito artist for April 2012. He is a multidisciplinary artist & independent curator. García, claiming both Mexican and US citizenship, is based in Austin, Texas, and predominantly focuses his practice around photography/ video, sculpture/ installation and performance. He is a founding member of Los Outsiders curatorial collective and has curated large-scale exhibitions of international artists, in and out of the US.  Notably, he has had solo curatorial projects for Mexic-arte Museum, Texas State University Galleries, the gallery at the Austin Central Public Library and Fusebox Festival. He participated in the 2011 Texas Biennial and has won awards both for his curatorial and 3D work. He co-hosts an intersectional conversation podcast named El Puente and is publisher for POCa Madre Magazine. García has premiered work for The Utah Museum of Contemporary Art, Experimental Action Performance Art Biennale in Houston, The Contemporary Austin, SoundSpace at The Blanton Museum of Art, El Museo de la Ciudad de México, and ThreeWalls in Chicago. García states, “My practice manifests itself through performance, sculpture, installation, photography, video and the blurred areas between them, engaging via my own personal stories and experiences navigating the human condition. Much of my work explores my layers of identity, how they shape me and affect my perception of/ by the world, in a political expression of Latinx Futurism founded in emotion, and utopian projection. Collaging objects, ideas and stories, I approach my work as practices (much like yoga or meditation) through which I can embody (perhaps in futility) an emotional positivity, “going through the motions” and “faking it till I make it.” This parallels the way our bodies react positively and release endorphins when we force a smile and acts as a way to project hope into the world with humility and humor to improve myself and in turn the world.

Savannah Diaz, Debajo el Mar, Acrylic on canvas, 36″ x 24″, 2019

Savannah Diaz was the Changarrito artist for March 2020. She is a visual artist whose works center on themes of her childhood and maternal energies. Born and raised in a largely Latinx community in Miami, Florida, her work is informed by and focused on revisiting memories of growing up in a Cuban-American household. Since 2017, Savannah has been exploring different mediums including wood work, wax sculpture, and digital collage. She is currently focusing on painting. Diaz states, “My work is centered on revisiting my childhood; paintings of personal myths, inherited traditions, and memories of growing up in a Cuban-American household in Miami, Florida. My works often feature femme beings existing in familiar spaces; they are my mothers, tias, friends and neighbors, painted in the likeness of divine figures revered in my community. Having moved away from my childhood home, I use color, pattern, and texture to preserve the vividness of my memories.”

Come see Garcia’s and Diaz’s work, along with over a hundred other artists, in our current exhibition, Creating Encuentros: Changarrito 2012-2024, from now to August 25, 2024!


Education


Summer 2024 Intern Highlight

Get to know more about the wonderful interns at Mexic-Arte Museum! For this month we are interviewing three interns who are part of the second cohort participating in the Latino Museum Internship Expansion Project. Through the Latino Museum Internship Expansion Project, Mexic-Arte supports museum-based undergraduate internship programs designed to advance individuals’ careers in studying American Latinx life, art, history, and culture.  We thank the Institute of Museum and Library Services for supporting this initiative. 

Graphic Design Intern – Ximena Ochoa

Graphic Design Intern – Ximena Ochoa

Hola! My name is Ximena Ochoa, I’m a rising junior at UT Austin majoring in Design. I decided to apply for Mexic-Arte’s Latino Museum Internship Expansion Project as I was already familiar with the work Mexic-Arte does for Austin’s Latino community. I grew up coming here for the Viva La Vida parade and festival, as it was a way for my parents to teach me about our culture and heritage, and for my brother and I experience a piece of what life was like for them back home in Mexico. Now being in college, I wanted to be able to give back and contribute to further that work to help inspire other Mexican Americans like me to take pride in our culture.

My main project throughout my internship has been to create illustrations for a Dia de los Muertos themed ABCs coloring book to be used for Viva La Vida this year. It’s been really fun to get to draw so many different things and to learn more about my culture throughout the process, and it’s really exciting that I get to work on something for an event that I’ve been going to for so long.

This is the first time I’ve been able to apply my design skills in a professional setting and I’ve already learned so much. I’ve been able to gain so many skills that I know I’ll carry with me long into my career, such as how to react to feedback and apply it to my work and how to present my work and process to clients; I’ve gained a deeper understanding of what the day-to-day of a professional designer looks like, and what areas I’m lacking in that I need to work on during my remaining time in my degree.

It feels very full circle to get to intern here after coming here for so many years and to get to contribute to the work that Mexic-Arte does, I’m super grateful to have had the opportunity to intern here alongside such a supportive supervisor and passionate staff, and for this to have been my first intern experience! I’m super excited to see everything I worked on this summer come to life over the next few months.

Development Intern: Isabella Lester

Development Intern: Isabelle Perez

I am Isabella Lester, I am going to be a senior at Emory University, and I am majoring in Business and Art History. I applied to Mexic-Arte’s Latino Museum Internship Expansion Project because of the close mentorship that the program offers in an innovative and diverse setting. 

My favorite project has been measuring and analyzing the community support for a Cultural Heritage District designation of the 5th Street Mexican American Heritage Corridor, which highlights the cultural organizations and business along 5th St. Mexic-Arte’s internship program has allowed me to experience the inner-workings of a cultural institution, especially one so ingrained in its community. As a Development Intern, my work this summer has furthered my understanding of how museums can economically and socially uplift its constituents. Ultimately, interning at Mexic-Arte has strengthened my pursuit for a career in the arts!

Digital Media Intern – Frank Hou

Digital Media Intern – Hou

My name is Frank, I attend The University of Texas at Austin and major in computer science. I applied to this internship because of my passion for art and the opportunity to work with a respected cultural institution. With this internship I get to have the opportunity to gain hands-on experience, collaborate with professionals, and contribute to projects that celebrate and preserve Latino culture.

My favorite project has been the interactive map project on WordPress, where I created a detailed map for the Mexican Culture Corridor. I labeled locations and provided detailed information for users to interact with. This project was particularly beneficial as it allowed me to enhance my JavaScript skills, customizing a WordPress plugin to improve the website’s functionality.

This internship has significantly advanced my career by providing hands-on experience in UI/UX design and coding for WordPress websites, ensuring their functionality and user-friendliness. Additionally, managing the database has taught me efficient data cleaning and maintenance techniques. I am looking forward to leveraging my skills in web development and UI/UX design to create engaging and user-friendly digital experiences. I am excited about working on innovative projects that combine technology and creativity. Additionally, I aim to continue expanding my technical expertise, particularly in JavaScript and database management, and to contribute to projects that have a meaningful impact on communities. 

Another Successful Family Day – Soft Sculptures with Artist April Garcia

Participants showing their soft sculptures at the end of the workshop, Photo Credit: Luisa F. Perez
April Garcia and workshop attendee posing with soft sculptures, Photo Credit: Richard Greene

During our last Family Day of the summer on Sunday, July 14th, Changarrito artist April Garcia led an activity where families, community members, and museum visitors gathered to learn about soft sculpture and create an art pin of their own. The small gestures of kindness that were fostered from sharing stories, creations, and discoveries truly embodied the spirit of Changarrito and Encuentros. We thank H-E-B, our family day sponsors, for their continuous support. Join us for more Family Day activities coming later this fall!

About the Artist:

April Garcia b. 1978 San Benito, TX, is an interdisciplinary artist living in Austin, Texas. Drawing inspiration from the visual language embedded in her fabric art, Garcia’s work explores themes of cultural identity and personal narratives. Through her exploration of textiles, she delves into the intricacies of introspection and vulnerability, utilizing mediums such as soft sculpture, site-specific installations, wearable creations, videos, performances, and self-portraits.

You can find April’s work in our current exhibition Creating Encuentros: Changarrito 2012-2024.

Summer Programs in Dove Springs

Dove Springs youth posing with their artwork, Photo Credit: Alé Moreno

Dove Springs youth have been learning all about relief printmaking, screen printing, community and design this summer! 

Creating Encuentros Jr. Printmaking Camp
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 generously share with their friends and family.

Nuestro Mundo (Our World) Summer Camp

Nuestro Mundo Summer Camp at Austin Public Street Library Southeast, Photo Credit: Jasmine Chock
Nuestro Mundo Summer Camp at Mendez Middle School, Photo Credit: Jasmine Chock

Two sessions of Nuestro Mundo (Our World) summer camp were conducted at the Mendez Middle School Community Love Hub and Austin Public Library Southeast. 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. 

You’re Invited to the Nuestro Mundo Reception!

When: Saturday, August 10th, from 1-4pm
Where: Mendez Middle School Community Love Hub

Free and open to the community!
Refreshments, screen printing, art, music, and more!

Come see all youth artwork from Nuestro Mundo at the Mendez Community Love Hub on Saturday, August 10, 2024! There will be an art show reception for the summer camp youth during the Lucha Literacy Pachanga at the Community Love Hub. At the art show there will be snacks, prizes, screen printing activity, pencil bags and more! DJ Hierba Malita will play mindfulness music during the event. At the Lucha LIteracy Pachanga, there will be live lucha libre, film screenings, back to school community resources, family mental health resources, snacks, and more. These events are free and open to the public! We hope you will join to celebrate the young artists with the community.

Ceci H, Stop The Pink Tax, Serigraphy and Relief printmaking on paper, 2024

Thank you to teaching artists Meredith Agerton-Diebold, Monica Bushong Kaelyn Huang, Andrea Montilva Pilonieta, and Alé Moreno, and Summer Education Intern: Fabiana Muñoz for their hard work and dedication in teaching summer camp and for sharing their art practices with these young artists!

Thank you to Austin Public Library Southeast, the Mendez Community Love Hub and George Morales Dove Springs Recreation Center for partnering with us to host summer camp! 

Thank you to AISD School Board District 2 Trustee Ofelia Zapata for her hard work in creating the Mendez Middle School Community Love Hub and allowing us to bring our programs to the community. These programs are supported through Austin Public Health Community Youth Development.

Teaching Artists Screen Print at the Bob Bullock Museum Family Day Carros y Cultura

On July 7, teaching artists Alé Moreno and Monica Bushong shared their screen printing skills with the families at Bob Bullock Museum! Visitors printed lowrider cars onto stickers, tote bags and bandanas.


Development

Support Viva La Vida 2024 with a Sponsorship Today!

It is almost time for Mexic-Arte Museum’s famous Viva La Vida Festival and Parade celebration in honor of Day of the Dead! The theme of the 41st Viva la Vida Procession will be the Quetzalcoatl, a symbol of rebirth and renewal.

We have sponsorships for this event between $500 and $10,000, so everyone has the opportunity to get involved! This is a phenomenal community event that draws thousands to downtown each year. We hope you will join us!

View the Sponsorship Packet here!

Take the 5th St Survey And Shape the Cultural District!

Photo Credit: Sylvia Orozco

Since 2010, Mexic-Arte Museum and its supporters have worked to create, develop, and garner support for the 5th Street Mexican American Heritage Corridor. The goal of the Corridor is to interconnect and enhance the downtown network of public parks and streets, attract tourism and economic development, celebrate and recognize the distinct history, culture, and identity of the place, introduce historic interpretation elements, and reinforce an authentic sense of place.

Cultural district designation will open the area up to public investment, facilitating future events and development. It would also promote downtown Austin, and 5th Street in particular, as a tourist destination. Recognizing the rich cultural fabric of this area will help tourists and locals alike to further appreciate what Austin has to offer. A cultural district would celebrate this historic area’s impact on today.

Take our survey here to make your voice heard!

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Operations, Exhibition and Art Education Programs Support: Alpha Ready Mix Cement, Ampersand Art Supply, Applied Materials, Arriba Abajo, Austin Convention Center, Austin Independent School District Creative Classrooms, Austin Lowriding, Austin Saltillo Sister Cities Association, Peter M. Baez, Michael Best, the Brown Foundation, Brown Distributing Company, Capital Printing, CC West Printing, Chase Bank, Chez Zee, Christina Corona, Center for Mexican American Studies – UT, City of Austin Departments: Cultural Arts Division; Economic Development; Health Department; Community Youth Development Program; Parks & Recreation; Public Works; and Special Events; Housing Authority of the COA, Clay Imports, Consulate General of Mexico in Austin, Coca-Cola Southwest Beverages, Erwin Cuellar, Libby & Congressman Lloyd Doggett, Downtown Austin Alliance, Dr. Karen Davalos, Dulce Vida, Endeavor Real Estate Group, Facebook, Fenix Post Tension, Inc., Fonda San Miguel, Ford Foundation, Frost Bank, Frutiva, Tom Gilliland, GoDaddy, GTOPs Capacity, Juan J Gutierrez, Charlotte Hage Dalbey, Jennifer Hage Bond, Patricia Hage Hirsh, Robin Suzanne Hage, H-E-B, H-E-B Tournament of Champions, Hendler Flores Law, IBC Bank, IBM, Institute of Museum & Library Services, Ed Jordan, JP’s Peace Love & Happiness Foundation, LALO Tequila, La Voz, Linbeck, LMN/Page, Ann McEldowney, Bettina & Travis Mathis, Mellon Foundation, Miguel Lara Productions, Graves Dougherty Hearon Moody, Gloria Moore, Timothy Morris, National Endowment for The Arts, National Endowment for the Humanities, National Philanthropic Trust, Nettie & M.K. Hage Family, Laurel Prats, Gloria Reyna, Elizabeth Rogers, Juan Antonio Sandoval Jr., Paul Saldaña, Saldaña, Public Relations, Rosa Santis & Pedro SS Services, Serie Print Project, Siete, Silcone Labs, Siller Preffered Services, Sonrisas Dental Center, Spurs, State Farm – Alejandra de la Torre, Susto Mezcal, Ingrid and James Taylor, Texas Commission of the Arts, Texas Gas Service, Texas Tribune, Thompson Austin, Tito’s Handmade Vodka, UFCU, Univision 62, Univision Radio, Warfield Center, Waterloo Greenway, Lola Wright Foundation, Jerome Zamora, Jane & Manuel Zuniga, and Mark Zuniga, 3M – Austin