A Message from the Director
We Thank You! For 2024 Another Great Year
We thank you, our friends, and supporters who made possible all the great events and programs in 2024 at Mexic-Arte Museum. The community’s invaluable support makes possible interesting exhibitions, exciting cultural events, and artistic education programs. Your contributions have allowed us to serve the growing number of visitors, students and families throughout the year. We invite you to make your end of the year donation to Mexic-Arte Museum. We truly appreciate you and your support!
A Glance at Mexic-Arte Throughout the Year
January 2024
Welcome Spring 2024 Interns
February 2024
Presenting the Totally Cool Totally Art Annual Exhibition
March 2024
Presenting Mix ‘n’ Mash: Celebrating Austin
Executive Director
Sylvia Orozco
Exhibitions
Mix ‘n’ Mash: Ecos del Pasado/Echoes of the Past
Mexic-Arte Museum is pleased to announce a call for entries for the annual Mix ‘n’ Mash Exhibition and Art Sale, which will open on Friday, January 31, 2025. Artists are able to pick up a gessobord for the exhibition and sale starting on Wednesday, December 11th, 2024. Completed Gessobords are to be returned to Mexic-Arte Museum by Sunday, January 22nd, 2025 at 5:00 PM.
This year’s Mix ‘n’ Mash theme, Ecos del pasado/ Echoes of the Past, is inspired by the beauty and intricacies of nostalgia; these pieces should reflect a diverse range of perspectives, techniques, and creative expressions. From your favorite childhood show, a special moment shared with a loved one, a dish, a specific smell, a trip, a place, a restaurant that does not exist any more, or even a natural landscape, we encourage you to explore and express the unique ways nostalgia manifests in your own life or in the lives of those around you. What memories, moments, or feelings does nostalgia evoke for you?
Nostalgia allows us to reconnect with who we once were, offering both reflection and renewal. In your art, we hope you will capture the beauty of this emotional tapestry—inviting others to relive the echoes of their own pasts, even as they look forward to the future.
Not only does Mix ‘n’ Mash celebrate creativity, but it also serves a greater purpose. Proceeds from the sale of these remarkable pieces directly support the museum’s exhibition programming for children and adults.
We are inviting artists to create one work of art on a 12” x 12” eco-friendly and archival quality Gessobord generously donated by Ampersand.
HOW DO I PARTICIPATE?
- Starting December 11th, 2025, Artists may pick up ONE Gessobord at the Mexic-Arte Museum on Monday – Thursday 10 AM-6 PM; Friday – Saturday 10 AM-5 PM; and Sunday 12 PM-5 PM
- A credit card will be kept on file when you pick up your Gessobord. If you do not return your Gessobord, $25 will be charged to the credit card on file.
- Every artist is free to create a work of art in any style (including figurative, conceptual, abstract, surreal, popular, etc.) and media (painting, printmaking, photography, and more) that depicts their individual theme. Any theme may be used, but artists who choose the Ecos del pasado/ Echoes of the Past theme will be featured in a special section.
- Board numbers are assigned, please check the back of your board for your number.
- Before returning your board, fill out the registration form that is attached to the back of your board and the online form. Artists must complete both digital and hardcopy forms to be compensated.
- We ask that all completed submissions be delivered to the Museum by January 22, 2025 (late submissions will be accepted, but may not be included in the opening reception).
About the Opening Reception on January 31, 2025:
- The Mix ‘n’ Mash Exhibit and Art Sale
- Cocktails, music, and great fun!
- The public is encouraged to purchase one or more panels to create their own diptychs, triptychs, and more.
- We encourage the public to dress from your favorite era of fashion! Bring out your bell bottoms, high waters, and double knit top polyester!
WHAT DO I GET FOR PARTICIPATING?
- The boards will be sold for $150 a piece unless otherwise determined by Mexic-Arte. Artists can choose to receive a 40% commission from each board sold, and the boards will remain available for purchase while they are on display in the Mix ‘n’ Mash exhibition. At the close of the exhibition any unsold boards and future sales will be considered donations to the Museum. These donations are tax deductible. Several boards may be purchased by the Museum and added to the permanent collection.
- As a participating artist, you will receive a one-year Individual Level Membership to Mexic-Arte Museum. Membership benefits include free admission to all exhibitions and select events, invitations to Member Preview opening receptions, subscription to the Museum E-Newsletter, and 10% off Museum Store purchases.
- You will also receive two complimentary tickets for you and a guest to attend the opening night party on Friday, January 31, from 6:00 – 9:00 pm. There will be a $10 admission fee for the public, and the event will be free for members.
Thank you for considering this unique collaborative opportunity, we hope that you will join us!
Mix ‘n’ Mash: Ecos del Pasado/Echoes of the Past Opening Reception
Date: Friday, January 31, 2025
When: 6:00 pm – 9:00 pm
Where: Mexic-Arte Museum, 419 Congress, Austin, TX 78701
Live DJ: DJ Apanda
Antojitos & Refreshments!
Embrace nostalgia and come dressed as your favorite decade!
Admission: Free for Museum Members. Become a Mexic-Arte Museum Member! $10 for non-members
Parking: Please see the Museum’s Visit webpage
$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.
You’re invited to the opening reception of the Mix ‘n’ Mash Exhibit and Art Sale on January 31, 2025! Join us for a night of creativity, excitement, and celebration featuring an eclectic mix of art, food, cocktails, and great music. The evening will be filled with fun and an opportunity to explore and purchase unique art pieces. Please note that if you buy a board you can pick it up at the end of the exhibition.
Ecos del pasado/Echoes of the Past
This year’s Mix ‘n’ Mash theme, Ecos del pasado/Echoes of the Past, is inspired by the beauty and intricacies of nostalgia; these pieces should reflect a diverse range of perspectives, techniques, and creative expressions. From your favorite childhood TV show, a special moment shared with a loved one, a dish, a specific smell, a trip, a place, a restaurant that does not exist any more, or even a natural landscape. We encourage you to explore and express the unique ways nostalgia manifests in your own life or in the lives of those around you. What memories, moments, or feelings does nostalgia evoke for you?
Nostalgia allows us to reconnect with who we once were, offering both reflection and renewal. In your art, we hope you will capture the beauty of this emotional tapestry—inviting others to relive the echoes of their own pasts, even as they look forward to the future.
Not only does Mix ‘n’ Mash celebrate creativity, but it also serves a greater purpose. All proceeds from the sale of these remarkable pieces directly support the museum’s exhibition programming for children and adults.
December Changarrito Artist, Christine Suggs
Thank you to the last 2024 Changarrito resident artist, Christine Suggs! Christine was at the Mexic-Arte Museum featuring their artwork on the Changarrito cart right outside the Museum’s entrance in December. Mexic-Arte Museum’s Curator Luisa Fernanda Perez interviewed Christine and discussed some of their works and future projects. View the conversation here.
About the Artist
Christine Suggs is a comic artist and designer living in Dallas, TX with their wonderful partner, dog, and cat. Their debut book, ¡AY MIJA! is a YA graphic novel about spending their summers in Mexico as a teen and was released in spring 2023 from Little Brown Young Readers. Christine’s work has been featured in the Washington Post, Lean In, Central Market, and the It Gets Better Project.
Artist Statement
“I am half-Mexican, and as such, always felt in-between worlds: I was too white, too Mexican, and never enough. My book, “¡AY, MIJA! My Bilingual Summer in Mexico” crystallizes these feelings into a graphic novel memoir about teenage Christine on a trip to stay with their grandparents. They struggle with language, their queerness and how it relates to their Catholic upbringing, and the weird but wonderful feeling of a family that you can’t fully communicate with. I seek to explore the intersectionality of my experiences through creating comics and illustrations about gender, race, language, fatness, and inequality.”
Listen to Mexic-Arte Museum’s Changarrito Instagram Live Interview with artist Christine Suggs here!
Check out Christine’s work: 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 is dedicated to the presentation and promotion of contemporary Latinx and Latin American art. Artists sell their art on the Changarrito cart in front of the Museum (or an offsite location, as a representative for the Museum during various Austin festivals). It expands the reach of the artist by presenting their gallery online, while allowing the option to sell merch over Instagram and receive 100% of the sale.
November Changarrito Artist, Juan Zavala Castro
Mexic-Arte Museum’s Changarrito Instagram Live event took place on November 21st at 5:00pm with Juan Zavala Castro taking place virtually through the Museum’s Instagram account @mexic_arte! Luisa Fernanda Perez, Mexic-Arte Museum’s Curator of Exhibitions and Director of Programs, facilitated the virtual event with a series of questions directed at the artist including a Q&A.
Juan Zavala Castro presented his work on the Changarrito cart at Mexic-Arte Museum on November 10th, 16th and 17th from 12-3pm.
About the Artist
Juan Zavala Castro is a multidisciplinary artist working in San Antonio, Texas. Born and raised in Coahuila, Mexico until the age of 12, much of his work reflects his past and observes a now distant cultural connection. Juan is now the Education and Public Programs Manager at the Contemporary at Blue Star and has worked in Arts Education for the past nine years.
Artist’s Statement
“My work is a self-reflection of culture, doubt and instinct. I make work intuitively, without knowing the end result. As the work develops, I create a narrative through symbolism referencing masterworks, past experiences, and my own identity.”
Collections
Path to the Altar: Community Ofrendas Features Mary J. Andrade
In honor of the current exhibition, Path to the Altar: Community Ofrendas, the Mexic-Arte Museum would like to highlight one of our pieces from the Permanent Collections that will be on display. These particular pieces are a photograph series by Mary J. Andrade depicting the Kakchiquel Indigenous people of Guatemala’s of flying giant barriletes.
One of the most colorful and original ceremonies within the popular traditions of Guatemala is the giant barriletes (kites) that fly in Sacatepéquez for All Souls’ Day and All Saints’ Day in the month of November. Immense barriletes soar through the air from the cemetery of this Kakchiquel Indigenous population. However, they are not simple kites full of color as seen from the tourist’s perspective; instead, they have deep cosmogonic significance. According to a popular legend of the municipality, every November 1st, evil spirits invade cemeteries to disturb the good souls that rested in the enclosures. Such discomfort caused the souls of the dead to wander through the streets and homes of Sacatepéquez. The solution, recommended by the community guides, was to force the intruders to retreat by lifting pieces of paper against the wind, as it was believed that the impact of the wind against the paper would drive them away. The locals then made the objects that became barriletes. It is said that the evil spirits were finally driven away, leaving the other souls to rest in peace. The barriletes are a combination of art, tradition, and color, through which messages of unity, love, and faith are transmitted, as well as showing respect for customs and Mother Earth.
Andrade is a native of Ecuador. She established her residence in the United States in 1967. She received her B.A. in Journalism from the University of Guayaquil, Ecuador, and specialized in photography in the United States. Andrade began researching Día de los Muertos ceremonies in 1987 in Janitzio, Michoacán. Each year until 2016, Andrade gathered information and took photographs of customs from different states. Through observation and study, she learned the subtle differences in these traditions among the various states, and above all, she discovered a deep respect for these age-old practices. Andrade has received multiple awards for her work, including photographs and several books, which include “Through the Eyes of the Soul, Day of the Dead in Mexico,” published in 2000, and “Day of the Dead, A Passion for Life,” published in 2007. In addition, Andrade acted as Cultural Advisor for the Disney Pixar 2017 Academy Award-winning film Coco.You can see these photographs by Mary J. Andrade and so many more wonderful pieces from our Permanent Collection in, Path to the Altar: Community Ofrendas, from September 27th, 2024 – January 5th, 2025!
Education
Tour Mexic-Arte Museum!
Thanks to the generous support of HEB and The Downtown Austin Alliance, we are pleased to offer free admission and guided tours at 1:00 pm every Sunday! Our guided tours are a fantastic way for visitors of all ages to connect with traditional and contemporary Mexican, Latinx, and Chicanx art. These tours provide a deeper understanding of the vibrant art and culture on display. Don’t miss this opportunity to learn about the history, symbolism, and cultural significance of Path to the Altar: Community Ofrendas before the exhibition closes on January 5, 2025.
We’d like to extend our heartfelt thanks to the following groups who recently visited the museum:
- Texas School for the Deaf
- Vista Ridge High School AP Spanish 4 & 5
In addition to our Sunday tours, the Mexic-Arte Museum offers guided tours Monday through Friday, from 10:30 AM to 4:00 PM. These tours provide in-depth insight into our exhibitions, offering a unique opportunity to engage with the rich artistic traditions of Mexico and Latinx communities. Enhance your experience with hands-on activities designed to foster creativity and deepen your understanding of the exhibition. These activities are available for an additional fee.
Tour Pricing & Options
Standard Tour Fee: $75, plus regular museum admission.
Group Size: We can accommodate up to 25 visitors per tour.
Fall 2024 Intern Closing Reception
This past Friday, December 13th, the Mexic-Arte Museum celebrated the successful completion of the third cohort of interns from the Latino Museum Internship Expansion Project!
This season’s cohort was an integral part of the development of many special events such as The Viva La Vida parade and Muertos Mercado, as well as the installation of our Nacimiento exhibit and the realization of the ABCDia de Los Muertos Coloring Book. Thank you to all our wonderful interns, Aldo, Peyton, Shivangi, Georgina, Adelina, Sofia and Marienne.
At the closing reception, interns shared presentations about their time at the Mexic-Arte Museum, highlighting the projects they worked on, the mentors who guided them, and the impact the internship had on their personal and professional growth. After the presentations, staff and interns came together to enjoy lunch and exchange stories, reflecting on their experiences and looking ahead to future opportunities.
Through the Latino Museum Internship Expansion Project, Mexic-Arte is pleased to offer internship programs designed to advance individuals’ careers in studying American Latinx life, art, history, and culture. The Museum aims to train the next generation of museum professionals by offering career opportunities that equip individuals with the necessary skills to thrive as members of the arts professional workforce, creating a new generation of Latinx leadership in Central Texas and beyond.
Available internship departments include Collections, Curatorial, Development, Digital Media, Education, Graphic Design, Preparator, and Special Events & Marketing.
Spring Internships run for ten weeks with a minimum commitment of 10 hours per week during office hours (Monday-Thursday 9 am-6 pm and Friday 9 am-5 pm), at a rate of $22/h. The deadline for applications is February 7th, 2025. We strongly encourage applications from students who identify as members of underrepresented groups in the museum field and the arts.
To apply, please visit the Internship page on our website. Join a community of interns to gain professional skills and learn about museum practices!
Screen It! Fall 2024
This fall our teaching artists have taught screen printing to students at Covington Middle School, KIPP Austin Brave High School, George Morales Dove Springs Recreation Center, Travis Early College High School, and Widén Elementary. This fall, students learned about Día de los Muertos traditions and celebrations and reflected on their own personal traditions and celebrations to create designs to screen print onto t-shirts or tote bags. Students also took inspiration from elements of the Viva la vida Parade, the current exhibition- Path to the Altar: Community Ofrendas, and artwork in our collection. We are very proud of the work that the students have accomplished in learning how to screen print, create original designs, and make artwork to express themselves proudly.
Thank you to Austin Public Health Community Youth Development and Office of Violence Prevention for funding these projects. Thank you to the art teachers at these schools for welcoming our program and for collaborating with us in teaching these classes. Thank you to Mexic-Arte Museum Teaching Artists who have generously shared their practices and encouraged these students to excel in screen printing and design: Marietta Aburto de la Fuente, Meredith Agerton-Diebold, Monica Bushong, Kaelyn Huang, Angel Ortega, Alé Moreno, and Andrea Pilonieta.
Development
Thank you for Supporting Mexic-Arte Museum!
To our 2023-2024 sponsors, we have one thing to say – THANK YOU! You have made possible a wonderful year of exhibitions, events, and educational programming. We are honored to receive the level of community support that we do, and we are so thankful to the foundations, businesses, and individuals who choose to invest in their community institutions. Every dollar that comes into Mexic-Arte goes towards our mission – enriching the community for visitors of all ages.
To those sponsors who have returned, welcome back! To those who gave for the first time this year, we’re glad to have you! To those who will join the Mexic-Arte family as a 2024-2025 sponsor, we can’t wait to meet you!
Interested in becoming apart of the Mexic-Arte family and staying connected to Austin’s art scene? Join as a member and receive exclusive benefits from Museum store discounts to free admission to special events! Become a member below or come see us in person. We are very excited to welcome you to the family!
For any membership or corporate sponsorship questions, email our Development Coordinator, Alyssa Sanchez at .
Store
Shop the Mexic-Arte Museum Store!
Shop our Holiday Day Collection! Find the perfect gift for your loved ones!
Thank You to Our Sponsors
Learn more about the Mexic-Arte Museum
Operations, Exhibition and Art Education Programs Support: Air Garage, Alpha Ready Mix Cement, Ampersand Art Supply, Applied Materials, Arriba Abajo, Austin Convention Center, Austin Creative Reuse, 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, Chase Bank, Chez Zee, Juan & Martha Cortera, 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; 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, Fenix Post Tension, Inc., Fonda San Miguel, Ford Foundation, Frost Bank, Frutiva, Tom Gilliland, Juan J Gutierrez, Charlotte Hage Dalbey, Bob & Marisa O’Dell, 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, 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, Nettie & M.K. Hage Family, Pastrana & Garcia Injury Law, Laurel Prats, Gloria Reyna, Red River Rising, Elizabeth Rogers, Paul Saldaña, Saldaña Public Relations, Serie Print Project, Siete, Silcone Labs, Siller Preffered Services, Sonrisas Dental Center, Spurs, State Farm, Susto Mezcal, Ingrid and James Taylor, Texas Commission of the Arts, Texas Gas Service, Texas Tribune, Thompson Austin, UFCU, Univision, Warfield Center, Lola Wright Foundation, Jerome Zamora, Jane & Manuel Zuniga, and Mark Zuniga, 3M – Austin