A Message from the Director
Changarrito – An International Platform Marks Twelve Years at Mexic-Arte
One of the most exciting things that I truly enjoy about my work in the arts is meeting artists and discovering creative projects. The Changarrito Project is one of the most creative projects that I have encountered, not just for its inventiveness but also for ability to capture the essence of what artists want and need.
I want to thank and recognize the people who have made this international platform for artistic expression, Changarrito, possible in Mexico, other countries, and here in Austin, Texas. First – Maximo Gonzalez is the visionary, artist, and creator of Changarrito who, inspired by the informal commerce in Mexico, came up with the idea.
Next, Ivan Buenader teamed up with Maximo to put the Changarrito into action and later added the literary program, Letritas. Later independent curator, Leslie Moody Castro, brought the Changarrito to Austin and started programming artists’ exhibits. This is how I learned about the Changarrito. I remember the day when I first had my first encounter at Co-lab and saw the Changarrito – it was a great experience. With time, Leslie told me she would be returning to Mexico and I asked ‘what will you do with the Changarrito? What about leaving it here in Austin, and Mexic-Arte can program it?’ Both Maximo and Leslie agreed.
That was 2012. Claudia Zapata, now Dr. Zapata, became the first Changarrito curator, selecting artists and creating the overall vision for the program at Mexic-Arte Museum. The program would focus on emerging Latinx artists, both local and regional. Two years later, for the exhibit in 2014, Mexic-Arte Museum commissioned the artist Claudia Aparicio Gamundi to create the drawings and a zine of How the Changarrito Came to Austin.
Other curators would continue the program, including Rebecca Gomez, Dr. George Vargas, and Isabel Servantez for the past two years and counting. We thank all the curators for their work and for continuing the vision of the Changarrito.
I also want to recognize Isabel Servantez and Luisa Fernanda Perez who co-curated this exhibition, Creating Encuentros: Changarrito 2012-2024 at Mexic-Arte Museum
On June 22, Mexic-Arte presented the panel discussion, An Encounter with Changarrito: A Conversation. This marked a point in history where the main artists and curators that have made this project possible are gathered at the Museum. Joining us for the panel about the history of the Changarrito art cart residency was its founder and artist, Máximo González, early administrator Iván Buenader, curator Leslie Moody Castro, its first Mexic-Arte Museum Curator Dr. Claudia Zapata, and current Mexic-Arte and Changarrito curator Isabel Servantez.
The conversation was moderated by current Mexic-Arte Museum Changarrito art cart residency curator and Mexic-Arte Museum Curator of Exhibitions and Director of Programs, Isabel Servantez. During the conversation the history of the Changarrito art cart residency was explained, a number of questions of the inner workings of the residency were answered, and a discussion on the spirit and future of the program took place by the panelists. I congratulate you all for your work, and thank you for your gift of the Changarrito – a platform that has impacted the lives of so many artists – and Mexic-Arte Museum. Thank you!
If you missed this historic event, below please find the link to the recording.
Mexic-Arte Attends the Pueblos Magicos Exhibit in San Antonio
Mexic-Arte Museum Director and Staff Members were invited by the Consul General of Mexico in Austin Humberto Hernandez to attend the Pueblos Magicos exhibition on June 28 th at the Henry B. Gonzalez Convention Center in San Antonio. The event included the ribbon-cutting ceremony, a tour of the market. Pueblos Magicos are towns recognized by the Mexican government for their “magical” qualities, whether that be their astonishing beauty, rich history, or extraordinary legends. The Mexic-Arte team enjoyed visiting and learning about the many Pueblos Magicos in Mexico including their history, cuisine, arts and attractions.
Executive Director
Sylvia Orozco
Upcoming Events
Republic Square Banner Project Ribbon Cutting Ceremony & Family Day in the Park
Date: Saturday, August 3rd
Time: 10am – 12pm
Address: 5th Street & Guadalupe
All ages welcome! FREE for everyone!
Activities: Coloring books and screen-printing
Refreshments: Coffee from Rosen’s Bagels, Cupcakes from Ross Cake’s Bakes and Sweets, and Aguas Fresca’s
Performances: Mariachi Chavez y Amigos and the Ballet Folklorico
Join Mexic-Arte and the Downtown Austin Alliance on August 3rd from 10am to 12pm at Republic Square for the unveiling of seven beautiful new outdoor banners celebrating the rich history and vibrant future of Republic Square and the 5th Street Mexican Heritage Corridor!
The Downtown Austin Alliance and the Mexic-Arte Museum have partnered to create and install seven banners showcasing the rich history and vibrant future of Republic Square and the 5th Street Mexican Heritage Corridor. This collaboration aims to enhance the cultural appeal of Downtown Austin. Republic Square has been a significant site in Austin for hundreds of years, from its origins as Hemphill Square, one of the city’s four original public squares, in 1839 to its role in the Mexican and Mexican American community. The square has hosted key events in Texas history, city celebrations and daily commerce, continuing today as a vibrant community gathering space that bridges Austin’s past and present.
The artwork featured on the banners were created by Claudia Aparicio Gamund and the project was funded by a heritage grant awarded by the Austin Economic Development Department.
Una Tardeada – La Vida, Obra y Legado de José Francisco Treviño / An Afternoon on The Life, Work and Legacy of José Francisco Treviño
Date: Sunday, August 11, 2024
When: 2:00 p.m. – 4:30 p.m.
Where: Mexic-Arte Museum, 419 Congress, Austin, TX 78701
Free Admission
José Francisco Treviño (1941- 2022) was one of Austin’s most important artists and acontributor 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 the City of Austin Economic Development Department Cultural Arts Division and made possible through the dedication of Modesta and Marisol Trevino. Mexic-Arte Museum is honored to assist in the presentation of this event.
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.
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 retail booths, a low-rider exhibition, and live performances throughout the day.
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. Come celebrate with us 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.
Exhibitions
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!
Sonidos de México by Lisa Saldivar Fills the Galleries
Commissioned by the Mexic-Arte Museum Artist’s description: “As Mexican Americans, we assimilate over generations to our immediate surroundings. In the process of assimilation, we gain acceptance by this new world, but sometimes at the cost of an internal erasure from the world we come from.
This audio piece is a collection of everyday sounds that emerge from the streets of México. The sounds were recorded over the course of eight years and have been strung together, sometimes overlapping, to form a soothing yet nostalgic melody of memories. The sounds of walking through a tianguis, a radio in the distance, dancers zapateando en el parque, the hum of beats present on every corner, roosters crowing.
They are memories that maybe we don’t remember consciously but live within our ancestral unconscious and form part of who we are regardless of the physical space we inhabit.”
You can listen to Lisa’s sound artwork here.
Lisa Saldivar, Sonidos de México, 2024, Audio collected on the streets of México, Commissioned by the Mexic-Arte Museum.
July 2024 Changarrito Artist Rafael Blando!
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.
Artist’s Statement
“I’m currently interested in the construction of the image and the latency of its meaning. I find special interest in concepts like national identity and collective memory and how both relate within hegemonic discourses present in the iconography of what we use as an exchange value. Besides photography I’m interested in the pictorial possibilities of new visual languages to me, like engraving, drawing, collage and the intervention of paper currency. My work operates within the interstices located between the visual language and what we appoint as reality; it is inside these hollow spaces where I intertwine approximations to reality and where the first traces of identity form. I was born in Mexico City; I spent my childhood in South Central Mexico (Guadalajara) then I emigrated North (Torreon) in my adolescence. Due to economic and social circumstances I emigrated further north to work, and ever since I have labored in U.S.A. within Mexican territory; with all the benefits and conflicts that this entails. My personal journey has been a clash between two ideologies, North versus South, that intent to mediate in the formation of one identity; my work is the by-product of that conciliation.”
You can see artwork by Rafael here.
June 2024 Changarrito Artist Crisa Valadez!
The Changarrito artist for June 2024, Crisa Valadez, presented their work on the Changarrito cart at Mexic-Arte Museum on June 22nd, 23rd, 26th and 27th. You can see their conversation with Mexic-Arte Curator Isabel Servantez on Instagram here.
About the Artist
Crisa Valadez is an artist, writer, and curator based in San Antonio, TX. She currently works for the City of San Antonio Arts & Culture Department and is extremely passionate about art and nonprofit work, having worked and volunteered with several local organizations such as the Texas Public Radio, the McNay Art Museum, Centro San Antonio, Gemini Ink, and more from a young age. She is best known for her curatorial work as the co-founder and former co-director of MOTHERLING, a women-run DIY gallery collective dedicated to highlighting underrepresented and up-and-coming artists. She previously attended Pratt Institute for Creative Writing and is currently a student at Our Lady of the Lake University, completing her Bachelor’s Degree in Visual Arts & New Media. Sacred Spaces was an exhibition originally conceived for her 2021 Exhibition Seminar.
You can see Crisa’s artwork 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
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 8, 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.
Collections
Changarrito Artist Features Cynthia Jane Treviño and Juan Carlos Escobedo
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.
Cynthia Jane Treviño was the Changarrito artist for March 2021. She is an artist, educator and Tejana from San Antonio, Texas. Cynthia holds a BFA in Visual Art Studies and MA in Art Education from the University of Texas at Austin. She has taught in schools and organizations throughout Texas, Oregon, The Gambia (West Africa) and Santiago, Chile. Cynthia has exhibited at Newspace Center for Photography, Mexic-Arte Museum, The Movement Gallery, The Parish and Centro Cultural Aztlan. “My interest in photography began as a child, browsing through my father’s photo albums. I was especially fascinated by images of my grandparents and great grandparents. Even if we had never met or I was too young to remember, I still felt a spiritual connection to them. These photographs played a significant influence on my artwork. I developed a passion for traveling and exploring my ancestry. My work is a mix of travel and street photography. I enjoy documenting people and places of diverse cultures. I like to explore Chicana/Tejana studies, family history, ancestor worship and women’s empowerment. I work in both digital and film mediums in addition to cyanotypes, collage and mixed media. I’m also an experienced art educator and have taught children of all ages. I hope that my photographs will be passed down and continue to inspire the next generation.”
Juan Carlos Escobedo was the Changarrito artist for September 2022. He explores his identity as a brown, Mexican American raised in a low-socioeconomic community along the US/Mexico border. His work addresses residual class and race shame that arises from living in a predominantly white structured United States which favors light-skinned individuals and middle-class and above socioeconomic classes. He addresses this through the HouseMan Adventures and the x J.ESC apparel.
He also addresses his experience as a queer brown male through the Emoji Tarot cards and Fruity Men digital collages. Escobedo received his BFA from New Mexico State University and MFA from Massachusetts College of Art and Design. His work has recently been exhibited in San Antonio at Blue Star Contemporary, Centro de Artes, and The Southwest School of Art; in Boston at MassArt X SOWA; and in Darmstadt Germany at Darmstädter Sezession for The World Heritage Festival. His work has been recognized through awards and grants, including a Collective Futures Fund Grant from Tufts University Art Galleries: Andy Warhol Foundation for the Visual Arts as a consultant; an Actos de Confianza Grant from the National Association of Latino Arts and Cultures; a Luminaria Artist Foundation Professional Development Grant; and a residency with Casa Lü in Mexico City, Mexico.
“My work explores my identity as a bordertown brown person from a lower-class background in a predominantly “white” structured world. I have chosen to display selected works from “The Houseman” Series, “Cardboard by J.ESC”, and the “Repisitas” Series. These series explore my background as a lower-class Mexican-American, residual class/race shame, psychological homelessness, and liminality (depending on the works discussed). The common thing that all of these objects and images have is my commitment to cardboard as a material for making. This originated in graduate school, which was a predominantly white, middle class(and above) institution located in Boston, MA—a stark difference from the very brown, Spanish speaking border town of El Paso, TX. I began using this material because of its availability, practicality, and zero cost. As I used it more, people reacted by overly questioning its presence, encouraged me to eradicate its brown identity, or were simply offended by it. Something that peers using “traditional” materials were not scrutinized for. Similarly, during my time as a grad student, my identity as a poor brown person was met with similar reactions to the cardboard—my citizenship was questioned, I was encouraged to diminish my “brownness”, and people felt uncomfortable discussing my socio-economic background. This put my identity into perspective and forced me to dissect the implications of my presence in spaces that were not originally aimed at people with my background. As a result, I felt more determined to use this material. Not only because it is a viable making substance, but because its identity is charged with preconceived perceptions and physical characteristics similar to mine. It is important for me to use it as an actual and implied structure for my art. This is because the perceptions of the material parallel the phenomena I discuss in my work. Finally, it forces the audience and myself to analyze perceptions of brownness and accept the richness of this identity.”
Come see Treviño’s and Escobedo’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
Nuestro Estilo – Summer Camp Strut at Austin Central Library
Andrea Calderon with participants at Nuestro Estilo Camp, Photo Credit: Jasmine Chock
On June 15 Nuestro Estilo Camp Participants showcased the huipiles they made during the camp in the Austin Central Library art gallery. During the camp, participants of a wide range of ages learned about the cultural significance of a huipil, how to draft a design and made their own creations that they proudly showcased in the fashion show. Andrea Calderon of Colectivo In Situ planned and facilitated the camp and taught participants of the significance of huipiles through bringing their own huipiles to show during the camp.
A Fashion Show attendee said they loved that we were able to teach our designers about the history and significance of the huipil while also allowing our designer’s to get creative and do what came to mind! Participants made huipiles with imagery of nopales, dogs, cheetahs, flowers, rainbows, clouds and more of many colors and techniques such as embroidery, printmaking and applique.
Thank you to Librarians Frida Garcia and Cristina Casas and Central Library Staff who helped plan and facilitate bringing this camp and fashion show to life and provided the work space for camp.
Thank you to Leighla Molina for assisting with the camp and bringing indigenous huipiles to showcase and teach participants about.
Thank you to teaching artists Lydia Giangregorio and Alé Moreno and Education Intern Fabiana Muñoz for educating and assisting all participants in creating their special huipiles and making their visions come to life.
Thank you to Andrea Calderon for sharing resources and information about huipiles, planning and facilitating the camp and creating community throughout
Thank you to Austin Public Health Office of Violence Prevention and Texas Commission on the Arts for providing the funds to support this camp.
Mero Muro Summer Programs
The students at Burnet Middle School got a headstart on their summer with our Summer Programs for El Mero Muro: Murals in School. They had the chance to reimagine a famous artwork in their image, incorporating imagery that reflects their student and school identity while learning about muralism and creating art on a bigger scale. Burnet will finish this mural once school starts in the Fall, so make sure to check back here for the big reveal!
Mexic-Arte Shares Art at the Bullock Museum
Mexic-Arte shares art at the Bullock Museum’s Evening for Educators event this month! Education Associate Richard Greene and Education Intern Fabiana Muñoz-Olmo screen-printed imagery from our current exhibit Creating Encuentros: Changarrito 2012-2024, the El Mero Muro murals on 5th Street, and other Latinx iconography.
We also have summer program activities lined up with Austin Parks and Recreation in July, so keep an eye out for photos from those and updates on their creations from those events! If you are interested in having Mexic-Arte bring youth artmaking activities to your summer program or community center, please contact for more information.
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.
Special Events & Marketing Intern – Giovanna McLean
My name is Giovanna McLean. I attend the University of Texas at Austin and am majoring in marketing with a minor in finance. I applied to Mexic-Arte’s Internship program as I thought it would be a great experience to learn more about what a marketing position entails in a creative and diverse field. I have always loved art growing up, but I had never really had the chance to immerse myself in the art community professionally, so being able to intern at a museum has been such a great learning experience! I also really admired Mexic-arte’s dedication to supporting the Latinx community, being from Mexico myself! I have loved being able to work on a press release for our upcoming banner reveal event and am excited about the opportunity to help run it when the date comes. I have also found learning more about how to upkeep a website by using WordPress to be quite interesting. This internship is benefiting my career by giving me insight into what it takes to have events come to fruition and ensure they run smoothly. Additionally, I’ve had the chance to experience the many different parts that come with being in a marketing role, such as managing the website, having content for social media, and helping out with newsletters.
Collections Intern: Isabelle Perez
I am Isabelle Perez and I attend Texas State University where I am majoring in both Art History and Anthropology. I applied to the Mexic-Arte Museum Latino Museum Internship Expansion Project because I was inspired the Mexic-Arte mission, in providing learning opportunities and a sense of community. I want to nurture my professional skills within the Mexic-Arte Collections department because of the unique experiences that provide me with insight into how the Collections department functions. As of lately, I have been working on accessioning various objects from the Changarrito collection and I hope to keep encountering more opportunities to research, catalog, and enhance the collection in my day-to-day tasks. I have really enjoyed learning about the proper accession attachments for each object depending on its condition and texture, reviewing the provenance, description, and other identity details for the objects in the Changarrito collection, and familiarizing myself with the objects on display and in the collection.
This internship is benefitting my career by providing me with the opportunity to explore the museum field, I can connect with people who have similar interests or goals as me and mentors with experience that are able to offer advice and feedback on career questions, or my current work. The Collections internship is also challenging me to understand the tasks and learning opportunities that I take on each day at the museum, which contribute to my professional growth, abilities, and skills.
Education Intern – Fabiana Muñoz
My name is Fabiana Muñoz, I attend the University of Texas at Austin and I am on track for a Studio Art BFA. I applied to the Mexic-Arte Museum Latino Internship Expansion Project because I had worked with the Museum previously on creative and curatorial projects and had really enjoyed collaborating with the Mexic-Arte team. Having worked with Mexic-Arte in the past, I understood the museum’s importance and role in the larger Austin community as a center for promoting Latinx art and culture and empowering artists and communities through education and outreach initiatives. Being a Latinx studio artist and museum worker, I thought the Education Internship would be a great opportunity to learn about museum outreach and public programming.
My favorite project so far has been the Nuestro Estilo summer camp at the Austin Public Library. Not only was this program fun and well received by students, but it was a program that was increasingly accessible to the community having been multi-generational, free of cost, and multilingual. As someone who envisions themselves working within museum spaces, this internship has benefited my career by allowing me insight into the inner workings of a non-profit museum that coordinates public programs to support artists and art education with a focus on cultural consciousness. I am excited to continue supporting and working with the Mexic-Arte Museum after my internship.
Media Mixer: Self Portraits Taught by Gerardo E. Silguero – Another Successful Workshop!
On June 19th Changarrito Artist, Gerardo E. Silguero taught a self portraits class at Mexic-Arte Museum as part of the summer programming! Guests enjoyed drinks from Bawi and Live Oak brewery and charcuterie boards from H-E-B while creating beautiful portraits.
During this encuentro participants delved into their own psyche, exploring themes of self-perception, emotions, and vulnerabilities through the art of self-portraiture. This introspection was deeply personal and revealing, offering a window into our inner world.
The workshop was perfect for anyone curious about oil pastels and eager to capture more than just their own likeness. Silguero guided participants through every step, from basic techniques to expressive application and art theory.
Gerardo E. Silguero (1st Gen Mexican-American, b. 1994) is an interdisciplinary artist from the US/Mexico border city of Brownsville, Texas. His work challenges our perceptions of beauty, identity, and colonialism. His work has been exhibited internationally across the USA and Mexico. Silguero’s work is in the collections of the Mexic-Arte Museum, Austin, Texas; La Peña Gallery, Austin, Texas; among other institutions and private collections. Silguero received his BA from St. Edward’s University in Design and Art.
You’re Invited! Join us at the Upcoming Family Day Art Activity July 14 – Soft Sculpture Art Pins with April Garcia
- When: Sunday, July 14th
- Where: Mexic-Arte Museum, 419 Congress Ave, Austin, Texas, 78701
- Time: 1:00 pm – 4:00 pm
- Free Admission
- All Materials and Supplies Provided
- All Ages Welcome
In this workshop inspired by the soft sculpture style and process of Changarrito artist April Garcia, participants will not only craft their own unique soft sculpture art pins but will also have the opportunity to share them with someone else. This act of giving adds an extra layer of meaning to our creations, embodying the spirit of community and connection that defines the Changarrito experience.
As you embark on your artistic journey, we encourage you to consider themes of love, family, and environmental consciousness. How can your soft sculpture art pin express appreciation for the planet, celebrate the bonds of family, or spread messages of love and kindness? Let these thoughts guide your creative process as you select materials and design your pin.
Throughout the workshop, we encourage you to engage in dialogue with your fellow participants, sharing ideas and insights about the significance of your creations. Reflect on the values of generosity and mindfulness as you craft your soft sculpture art pin, knowing that it will soon be passed on to someone else to cherish.
In the spirit of Changarrito, let’s create, share, and spread love and positivity through our soft sculpture art pins. Together, we can inspire meaningful connections and make a difference, one small gesture of kindness at a time.
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.
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 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!
Join Us For A Summer Membership Party!
Date: Friday, August 23
Time: 6:00-9:00pm
Where: Mexic-Arte Museum, 419 Congress Ave, Austin, TX 78701
Snacks: Antojitos y Paletas
Refreshments
Shop Changarrito Artists at the Mini Mercado!
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.
Take the 5th St Survey And Shape the Cultural District!
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!
Store
Shop the Mexic-Arte Museum Store!
Check out the merch from our current exhibition, Creating Encuentors: Changarrito 2012-2024
Thank You to Our Sponsors
Learn more about the Mexic-Arte Museum
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, Gente Chicana/SOYmos Chicano Fund & Greater Milwaukee Foundation, 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, Humanities Texas, 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, Delia Sifuentes, 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