Miembros Newsletter: January 2022

From the Director

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Please Join Us for the U.S. Latinx Art Forum’s Second “X as Intersection” Series – Resistance, Reaffirmation, and Resilience Co-hosted by Mexic-Arte Museum and LACMA

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The U.S. Latinx Art Forum (USLAF) will present of “X as Intersection: Latinx Artists in Conversation,”  the second of a three-part virtual public program series featuring virtual conversations with fellows from the inaugural cohort of the Latinx Artist Fellowship. The series will take place on  Saturday, February 5, 2022 at 1 PM CST with Resistance, Reaffirmation, and Resilience – a virtual event co-hosted by Mexic-Arte Museum in Austin, Texas and the Los Angeles County Museum of Art, and features artists: Adriana Corral, rafa esparza, Michael Menchaca, Delilah Montoya, and Celia Álvarez Muñoz. The conversation will be moderated by Sylvia Orozco, Cofounder and Executive Director, Mexic-Arte Museum, Austin and Rita Gonzalez, Terri and Michael Smooke Curator and Department Head of Contemporary Art, Los Angeles County Museum of Art. Details about the series and information on how to RSVP can be found by visiting http://uslaf.org/x-as-intersection.  

“I look forward to participating in this cross-generational dialogue, one that is nicely connected to Resistance, Reaffirmation, and Resilience,” said Rita Gonzalez, Terri and Michael Smooke Curator and Department Head of Contemporary Art, Los Angeles County Museum of Art. “We hope this conversation can serve as a platform to discuss some of the challenges that the artists have faced over the last two years.”

During the event, the artists will share their experiences and practices from a personal, historical and socio-political perspective of challenging institutional norms. The conversation also coincides with the exhibition “MX 21-Resistance, Reaffirmation & Resilience,” an exhibition at Mexic-Arte Museum which features work by Michael Menchaca and Delilah Montoya. 

“Latinx artists and Latinx cultural institutions are the communal voice of resistance that reaffirms our cultures, our being, our existence,  and ignites the resilience of our communities,” said Sylvia Orozco, Cofounder and Executive Director of Mexic-Arte Museum. “Through the Latinx Artist Fellowship Program, we gather as a national community to recognize the artistic contributions of the multigenerational cohort of Latinx visual artists who have worked for years to advance our community in the realms of social, political and economic justice.”   Mexic-Arte Museum is honored to be part of this important program.  

RSVP & Learn More About the Program!

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About the Latinx Artist Fellowship: Designed to address this systemic and longstanding lack of support, the Latinx Artist Fellowship will award $50,000 each to a multigenerational cohort of 15 Latinx visual artists each year for an initial commitment of five years. Administered by the U.S. Latinx Art Forum in collaboration with the New York Foundation for the Arts and supported by The Andrew W. Mellon Foundation and the Ford Foundation, this award is the first significant prize of its kind and celebrates the plurality and diversity of Latinx artists and aesthetics. For more information on the Latinx Artist Fellowship, visit mellon.org/latinx-artist-fellowship/.

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Executive Director

Sylvia Orozco

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Exhibits

MX 21-Resistance, Reaffirmation & Resilience Exhibition 

Come see MX21-Resistance, Reaffirmation & Resilience before it closes on Sunday, February 27^th. With MX21-Resistance, Reaffirmation & Resilience, Mexic-Arte Museum presents an exhibition and programs that parallel Mexico’s 2021 observance and commemoration of the fall of the Aztec capital Tenochtitlán, the invasion by Spain, and the independence of Mexico.

The exhibition MX 21-Resistance, Reaffirmation & Resilience is divided into three sections: Resistance, Reaffirmation, and Resilience. Resistance refers to the Original Peoples resisting the Spanish invasion and occupation of Mexico, which was really not “conquered.” Reaffirmation speaks to affirming the unique history and cultural diversity of our shared heritage. Resilience represents the on-going evolution of Mexicans, Mexican Americans, and other Latinx peoples, despite and because of struggles to achieve liberty, social justice, and plurality. Invited artists respond to these themes to help the public better understand and appreciate how Mexico’s history has impacted and inspired our shared U.S.- Mexico cultural history in the Americas, as Mexicans, Mexican Americans, and Latinx peoples.

Participating artists include Luis Abreux, Santa Barraza, Cande Aguilar, Angel Cabrales, Tomas Filsinger, Eduardo Garcia, Tita Griesbach, Mari Hernandez, Michael Menchaca, Delilah Montoya, Juan Navarrete, Yelaine Rodriguez, Sergio Sanchez Santamaria, Andy Villarreal, “Kill Joy”, and artwork from the Mexic-Arte Museum Permanent Collection.

The goal is to participate in Mexico’s remembrance, and at the same time, reflect on history and current reality here in the U.S., reclaiming and reaffirming shared heritage and experiences through the work of contemporary artists. Public programming includes lectures sponsored by Humanities Tx.MX21-Resistance, Reaffirmation & Resilience is accessible by visiting Mexic-Arte Museum in person and through the Mexic-Arte Museum website.

Mix ‘n’ Mash Las Flores – La Vida Exhibition

Now through February 6, 2022
ANNEX GALLERY

Mexic-Arte Museum hosted an opening reception for the current exhibition, Mix ‘n’ Mash Las Flores – La Vida. Mix ‘n’ Mash on Friday, December 10, 2021 along with an exhibition Art Sale, Las Flores – La Vida. The exhibition will be on view now through February 6, 2022. This group exhibition displays artworks from over 200 local and regional artists created on quality panels donated by Ampersand Art Supply. Special thanks to Elaine Salazar and Ampersand for supporting Mexic-Arte Museum since 2009, and Dana Brown for the pop-up demo and activity table. The art sale not only increases awareness about the visual arts and art collecting in the community, but also provides funding for the Museum’s exhibitions, supports educational programming for children and adults, and sustains upkeep and care of the permanent collection; this year’s theme is flowers and life. We want to thank all visitors, featured DJ, Y2K, drink sponsor Milestone Brands LLC, tamales by Curra’s Grill, churros by La Mexicana Bakery, and ice cream by La Costeñita for making the event unforgettable!

2021 Theme: Las Flores – La Vida

Flowers have had a significant role in the myths of Mexican people since pre-Hispanic times to the present. The symbolic meaning of flowers is prominent throughout ancient Mesoamerican thought and practice. Flowers could represent anything from beauty and creation to death and destruction. Offerings of flowers were placed on the statues of deities. Flowers were an important feature in many ceremonies. Much of the ancient symbolism and some of the actual practices of arranging and using flowers have continued to the present day in Mexico.

Flowers in Ancient Mexico

“In ancient Mexico, flora represented life, death, gods, creation, man, language, song and art, friendship, lordship, the captive in war, the war itself, the heaven, Earth, and a calendrical sign. It accompanied one from conception and birth until burial. Obviously, the flower was one of the basic elements in pre-Hispanic symbolic communication. Like the quetzal feather and jade bead, it was synonymous with “precious.”” Doris Heyden,  Mythology and Symbolism of Flora in pre-Hispanic Mexico (1983).

Changarrito with Eliana Miranda Instagram Takeover and Live Recorded Interview

Mexic-Arte Museum hosted Changarrito Instagram Live with Artist Eliana Miranda on Thursday, January 28th from 5:00 pm – 5:45 pm ct via the Museum’s Instagram account @mexic_arte! Isabel Servantez, Mexic-Arte Museum’s Curator Of Exhibitions and Director of Programs, facilitated the live interview with a series of questions directed at the artist including a Q&A which took place during the last 20 minutes of the event. 

Changarrito Cart on January 29th and January 30th

Eliana Miranda was at the Mexic-Arte Museum featuring her artwork on the Changarrito cart right outside the Museum’s entrance on January 29th and 30th from 12pm – 3pm where people were able to meet the artist and buy artwork in person!

About the Artist: 

Eliana Miranda is a visual artist who currently lives and makes paintings in Dallas. In 2010, she completed her BA from Hamilton College in Clinton, New York.  She obtained her MA in 2012 and an MFA in 2015 from the University of Dallas. In 2018 she became a resident artist at the Goldmark Cultural Center where she is a curator for the John H. Milde Gallery and the director for the Norman Brown Gallery.  She’s been in numerous exhibitions including Latino Americans 500 Years of History at the Idaho State University, Contemporaneous Commentary: Voices in the Current Sociopolitical Atmosphere at the Wichita State University, Intersections at the Texas Woman’s University, and the AMOA Biennial 600: Justice• Equality• Race• Identity at the Amarillo Museum of Art. 

Miranda’s work is an exploration of current human migration issues. She investigates environmental and socio/political impact of the displacement of people. By interpreting these topics through her own visual vocabulary, she hopes to open these issues to a wider discussion. 

Artist Statement 

“My work explores human migration that results from ecological disasters such as floods, hurricanes, tornadoes, wildfires, and earthquakes. I draw inspiration from images and stories of climate migrants found in media outlets such as newspapers, journals, and internet articles as a way to memorialize the consequences of modifying the environment to fit the needs of society. 

When highlighting the complexity of human climate migration, drawing and painting become key. I use color and the sketched line as mechanisms for underlining the ramifications of our ecological footprint and the transitory nature of human life. I use patterns to underscore the risk of losing culture in the process. My purpose is to continue to tell these stories through my own visual vocabulary as a way of drawing attention and sparking conversation about this dire and pressing issue.”

Collections

Danza de los Vaqueros

Goodbye Amber, Registrar Associate!

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Hey everyone! I’ve had the pleasure of interning and working full-time at Mexic-Arte since 2018 as Registrar Associate. It’s been a truly rewarding experience and I’m very grateful for the opportunities I’ve been given. Sadly, I’ll be saying goodbye to my Mexic-Arte Colleagues and moving on to be an Exhibit Registrar at the California Academy of Sciences in San Francisco, CA. I’ve loved helping in the Collections department, and preserving and sharing the culture for the public. Most of all, I’ve loved working with a small passionate staff that does great things. Sincerely, Amber Amezquita.

Welcome Aidan Aguirre

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Aidan Aguirre was born in Corpus Christi, Texas and grew up in Sinton, Texas. He now resides in Austin, Texas, where he relocated to obtain his B.A. in Sociology and Women’s and Gender Studies at the University of Texas at Austin. Raised in a richly creative environment since his youth, Aidan cut his teeth in copywriting, social media community management, and editorial journalism/interview technique within start-up companies and nonprofits. Outside of work, Aidan serves as editor-in-chief of Shared Frequencies Radio, a community powered radio station and blog based in Austin, Texas and Madrid, Spain. In his free time, he enjoys dancing (enthusiastically) to techno, riding his bike around town, and getting lost in the shelves at Half-Priced Books.