A Message from the Director
Mexic-Arte Museum Permanent Collection
The 5th Street Mexican American Heritage Corridor and District Cinco de Mayo Luncheon – An Inaugural Event
On May 5, 2023, the Cinco de Mayo Luncheon will gather downtown businesses and stakeholders to celebrate, promote, and learn about the Mexic-Arte Museum, the Cinco de Mayo historic event, and the 5th Street Mexican American Heritage Corridor and District.
Since 2010, Mexic-Arte Museum and supporters have worked to create, develop, and garner support for the 5th Street Mexican American Heritage Corridor. In 2011, Austin City Council passed Resolution No. 20110825-067, which directed the City Manager to partner with the Museum and other public and private entities to develop the 5th Street Mexican American Heritage Corridor. The goals of the resolution were to interconnect and enhance the downtown network of public parks and streets; celebrate and recognize the distinct history, culture, and identity of the place; introduce historic interpretive elements; and reinforce an authentic sense of place derived from the clearly documented Mexican American settlement history along the 5th Street Corridor. Travis County passed a second resolution to similar effect that year. In 2022, the City funded official signage and markers for 5th Street. The drawing by Fidencio Duran depicts Austin’s Mexico in the 1880s at what is today Republic Square.
Mexic-Arte Museum and stakeholders, including the Downtown Austin Alliance, are working to earn a Cultural Heritage District Designation for the 5th Street Mexican American Heritage Corridor. The District is defined by the geographic anchors of Republic Park on West 5th Street and Plaza Saltillo on East 5th Street. The area is full of and surrounded by significant historic, cultural, heritage and community sites, deserving of both preservation and active use. Cultural District status will preserve, develop, and highlight all the cultural assets and businesses along and around 5th Street Cultural Heritage District Designation will transform this downtown area into a beautiful and educational destination for tourists and the Austin community.
The Cinco de Mayo Luncheon is the first of its kind in Austin, and Mexic-Arte looks forward to making it a festive annual celebration of history and the Museum’s work in the community. 2023 marks the 39th year of Mexic-Arte. The afternoon, on top of celebrating history and the Museum’s programs, will have festive music, tasty cuisine, a silent auction and presentations from two distinguished historians.
Dr. Orozco will speak on The History of Mexican Americans in Austin. Dr. Cynthia E. Orozco is an award-winning best-selling author, public historian, and educator. She earned degrees at the University of Texas at Austin and UCLA. Orozco has been seen on C-SPAN, heard on National Public Radio, and been invited to the Smithsonian. Teaching first at the University of Texas at San Antonio and the University of New Mexico in Albuquerque she joined Eastern New Mexico University in Ruidoso where she recently received the ENMU-Ruidoso President’s Award for Teaching and Service. She is the author of No Mexicans, Women or Dogs Allowed: The Rise of the Mexican American Civil Rights Movement; Agent of Change: Adela Sloss-Vento: Mexican American Civil Rights Activist and Texas Feminist; and Pioneer of Mexican American Civil Rights: Alonso S. Perales.
Dr. de la Teja will present a talk on Cinco de Mayo. Jesús F. “Frank” de la Teja is Regents’ Professor Emeritus and University Distinguished Professor Emeritus of History at Texas State University in San Marcos, where he was also Supple Professor and director of the Center for the Study of the Southwest. He obtained the Ph.D. in Latin American history from the University of Texas at Austin, and between 1985 and 1991 he worked in the Archives and Records Division of the Texas General Land Office. He has published extensively on Spanish, Mexican, and Republic-era Texas, and has served on the board of directors, as president and as executive director of the Texas State Historical Association, and along with his wife established the Catarino and Evangelina Hernández Research Fellowship in support of research in Latino history in Texas.
Cinco de Mayo is celebrated with mariachi music and festivals throughout the Southwest of the US. The Battle is considered a symbol of Mexican resistance against French imperialism.
Americans and Mexicans in the US have been inspired by the Mexican victory and began celebrating with dances, parades, speeches in the late nineteenth century, including here in Austin in the 1880s.
The Cinco de Mayo Luncheon supports Mexic-Arte Museum and promotes the development of the 5th Street Mexican American Heritage Corridor in the heart of downtown Austin. Mexic-Arte Museum, the anchor, pioneer, and steward of the Corridor is excited and proud to present this inaugural event.
Executive Director
Sylvia Orozco
Upcoming Events
Taste of Mexico, Austin’s Beloved Food Festival – Save the Date – May 3rd!
2023 Theme: Alimento para el alma / Food for the soul
Taste of Mexico will be on May 3rd at Fair Market to celebrate the artistry and culinary innovation of Austin and Mexico. This cultural celebration invites guests to sample creative cuisines from some of Austin’s most eclectic and exciting restaurants, food trucks, and beverage purveyors. This year’s theme for Taste of Mexico is Alimento para el alma/ Food for the soul; the vast variety of taste, color, and shapes that makeup the dishes of Mexico. Guests will also get to enjoy food demos, music by DJ ULoveI, Mariachi Chavez Inspiration, and more!
Proceeds from Taste of Mexico benefit Mexic-Arte Museum’s art education programs, including the nationally recognized Screen It! Program, which introduces youth to basic screen printing techniques and careers in the art field. Screen It! received the 2016 National Arts and Humanities Youth Program Award, a project of the President’s Committee on the Arts and the Humanities presented by Honorary Chairman, First Lady Michelle Obama.
Food has the ability to lift the spirit and bring communities together. Food traditions are often passed from one generation to the next, bringing us closer to our history and our families. Austin is home to people from many countries. Mexic-Arte Museum, located in Central Texas and situated so close to the state’s capital, has the opportunity to host people from all over the state, country, and world. These people bring a variety of tastes and food memories with them. In Alimento para el alma / Food for the soul we celebrate the variety of foods interpreted by different chefs/restaurants.
Tickets can be purchased at $65 for Museum Members, $70 for General Admission, and $85 VIP Access. VIP tickets include entrance at 5:30 pm and priority admission throughout the night. Please purchase tickets in advance; tickets will not be sold at the door.
Thank you to our Sponsors!
First Annual Cinco de Mayo Luncheon!
We invite you to join us for the inaugural Cinco de Mayo Luncheon!
The Cinco de Mayo Luncheon will gather downtown businesses and stakeholders to celebrate, promote and learn about the Mexic-Arte Museum, the Cinco de Mayo historic event, and the 5th Street Mexican American Heritage Corridor and District. Join us as we celebrate thirty-nine years in Austin with critically acclaimed exhibitions, an expanding art collection, exemplary education programs, exciting cultural events, and a growing permanent collection.
Taking place Friday, May 5 at the Thompson Hotel, this is the first event of its kind in Austin and promises to be a gathering full of festive music, tasty cuisine, and information sharing.
If you have questions, feel free to check out the event page or contact Development Coordinator Adrienne Brown at .
We look forward to seeing you at the Luncheon!
Thank you to our Sponsors!
May Changarrito Artist, Stephen Longoria
Stephen Longoria is a Texan currently living and working in Japan-town, San Jose, CA. His focuses include printmaking and silk screening, as well as woodworking, welding, and other forms of fabrication. Through screen printing, he showcases his illustrations and mixed media pieces. Keep up with Mexic-Arte Museum’s Instagram to learn more about Longoria, see when he will be at the Museum showing his artwork, and see when he will be interviewed by the Mexic-Arte Museum Curator of Exhibitions and Director of Programs, Isabel Servantez.
You can see Stephen’s work and learn more about him on his website: yalltxtees.com
Exhibitions
Expresiones de México, Arte de la Gente/Art of the People
Guests, artists, and donors at the opening reception of Expresiones de México, Arte de la Gente on April 14, 2023.
On April 14, 2023, Mexic-Arte Museum celebrated the opening of the exhibition Expresiones de México, Arte de la Gente. Opening comments were given by Sylvia Orozco, Mexic-Arte Museum’s Executive Director; Pablo Marentes González, the Consul General of Mexico in Austin, Texas; Paul Saldaña, Mexic-Arte Museum’s Board of Director’s President; Lulu Flores, Texas House of Representatives Member for district 51; and Isabel Servantez, Mexic-Arte Museum’s Curator of Exhibitions and Director of Programs. La Familia Chavez and DJ Hierba Malita provided live music throughout the evening.
About Expresiones de México, Arte de la Gente / Art of the People:
Following the revolution in the 1920s, Mexico’s leaders sought to define and promote Mexico’s culture and art to its people and the world. This campaign included looking to artists from regions all over Mexico. The search for a neatly defined Mexican art form is a difficult task to take on. The vast number of Mexican artists, both past and present, produce a wide variety of artworks. Their artworks also come in a great assortment of styles, subjects, and mediums. To this day, artists from all over Mexico master and share their practices with their communities and the world.
With Expresiones de México, Arte de la Gente / Art of the People Mexic-Arte, Museum presents an impressive collection of artworks created by many artists utilizing techniques and skills passed down through generations.
This collection has been compiled over the course of the nearly forty years of Mexic-Arte Museum’s history. This exhibition will give light to some of the key master artists in Mexico that have made this art so sought after by people around the world. Expresiones de México, Arte de la Gente / Art of the People includes artwork from pivotal artists, including Irene Aguilar, Josefina Aguilar, Juan Orta Castillo, Luis Manuel Morales Gamez, Irma García Blanco, Tiburcio Soteno Hernández, Ángel Santos Juárez, Sergio Lejarazu, Felipe Linares, Herón Martínez Mendoza, Teodora Blanco Núñez, Gorky González Quiñones, Guadalupe García Ríos, Sergio Sánchez Santamariá, anonymous artists, and more.
This exhibition features artwork by master printmaker, Sergio Sánchez Santamaría with his work Los Chinelos, Portfolio of 11 linocuts. Chinelos are traditional costumed dancers popular in the Mexican state of Morelos. The tradition arose from the blending of indigenous and Catholic traditions, most notably Carnival, with its permission to be masked and mock public figures.
The artworks in this exhibition represent generous donations by significant donors, including Patricia and Carmine DeVivi, Robert Hollingsworth, Bruce Hupp, Ed Jordan, Joyce and David Moss, Priscilla Murr, Juan Antonio Sandoval Jr., David Wilkinson, Marilyn Wood, and others. Donations from valued collectors evidence the continued role of Mexic-Arte Museum as an entrusted steward of art in Austin for nearly four decades.
The artwork in Expresiones de México, Arte de la Gente / Art of the People spans the gamut of tradition, technique, beauty, and time and Mexic-Arte Museum welcomes the community to share in the enjoyment, discovery, and appreciation of these incredible artworks and traditions.
Mexic-Arte Museum thanks all of the donors, artists, and staff for their support in presenting Expresiones de México, Arte de la Gente / Art of the People and invites the public to experience this exhibition.
Expresiones de México, Arte de la Gente / Art of the People is on view until August 20, 2023.
April Changarrito Artist, Alejandra
On April 27, 2023 at 5:00 pm, Mexic-Arte Museum Curator of Exhibitions and Director of Programs Isabel Servantez interviewed Alejandra Gonzalez Zertuche, as part of the monthly Changarrito art cart residency on Mexic-Arte’s Instagram Live. Servantez and Zertuche covered a range of topics in their discussion.
If you missed the interview, you can watch it here.
About The Artist
Alejandra Gonzalez Zertuche (b. 1997 in Coahuila, Mx.) immigrated to central Texas, then she relocated to the East Coast in 2022. Alejandra is a figurative painter who draws inspiration from her Mexican heritage and familial stories. Her work is part of the Texas State University permanent collection, and she was a part of the Student Juried Exhibition show, where her work was selected best in show (2022). Her work has also been shown nationally in galleries. Alejandra received her BFA in Studio Art with a painting concentration from Texas State University (2022).
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 have the opportunity to 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. For each Changarrito artist, the Museum acquires a work of art for its permanent collection.
Chicano/a Art Humanities Lecture Series #9: Dr. Emilio Zamora – The Chicano Art Movement in Austin, Texas
On April 26, 2023, Dr. Emilio Zamora gave a presentation on Facebook live entitled The Chicano Art Movement in Austin, Texas. In his presentation, Dr. Zamora examined the history of the Chicano art movement in Texas within its local regional and national context, paying particular attention to Austin’s Chicano cultural arts centers: La Peña Gallery, Mexic-Arte Museum, and the Emma S. Barrientos Mexican American Cultural Center. He also focused on the 2022 exhibition, “Chicano/a Art, Movimiento y Mas en Austin, Tejas, 1960 to 1980,” as a valuable retrospective that informs the history of the arts movement with important visual and documentary materials as well as presentations by artists, activists and art historians and their interchanges with the public.
Dr. Emilio Zamora is the Clyde Rabb Littlefield Chair in Texas History at the University of Texas at Austin, a Fellow of the George W. Littlefield Professorship in American History, Department of History, and an affiliate with the Center for Mexican American Studies and the Lozano Long Institute of Latin American Studies at the same institution. He writes and teaches on the history of Mexicans in the United States, Texas history and oral history, and focuses on the working class and transnational experiences of Mexicans in Texas during the twentieth century. Zamora has prepared or collaborated in the production of eleven books, including three single-authored books, a translated and edited WWI diary by José de la Luz Saenz, a translated and edited 2 volume work by Alonso Perales, three co-edited anthologies, a co-edited eBook, and two Texas history texts. He has received seven book awards, a best-article prize, a Fulbright García-Robles fellowship with a one-year residency at the University of Guanajuato, Mexico, and an additional twelve scholarly and thirteen professional service recognitions. Zamora’s latest awards include: the 2017 Scholar of the Year Award from the National Association for Chicana and Chicano Studies (NACCS), the 2017 NACCS Tejas Foco Premio Estrella de Aztlán Lifetime Achievement Award, the 2019 Ruth A. Allen Pioneer in Texas Working Class History Award from the Texas Center for Working-Class Studies, Collin College, the 2021 Roy Rosenzweig Distinguished Service Award from the Organization of American Historians, and the 2023 William C. Powers Jr. Lifetime Service Award from the University of Texas at Austin.
He holds a Ph.D. from The University of Texas at Austin in U.S. History, specializing on Mexicans in the United States, a Master’s degree from Texas A&I University in Kingsville in U.S. History, Latin American Literature, Education, and a Bachelor’s degree from Texas A&I University in Kingsville in U.S. History, Spanish, Education.
Dr. Zamora’s full presentation is available for viewing here.
Mexic-Arte Museum would like to thank the National Endowment for the Humanities for their support of the Humanities Lecture Series.
Collections
Sergio Sánchez Santamaría in the Permanent Collection
The Mexic-Arte Museum is proud to announce new additions to the Permanent Collection from artist Sergio Sánchez Santamaría. The artist, along with his family, Isidro Sánchez and Nora Santamaría, generously donated one of the Chinelo suits that Santamaría has worn for the Chinelo Dance, which is named Señor Chinelo. The other acquisition is Santamaría’s special edition linoleum cut print, Chinelo and Sneaker, in partnership with Coronado Studio and Mexic-Arte Museum.
Sergio Sánchez Santamaría (b. 1976), born in Tlayacapan, Morelos, Mexico, is a painter, muralist, printmaker, scratchboard artist, and teacher. Santamaría grew up in Tacubaya, part of Mexico City. He received his Bachelor of Plastic Arts from Escuela Nacional de Pintura, Escultura, Y Grabado, a.k.a. La Esmerelda, in Mexico City. Santamaría was a student of Adolfo Mexiac, Alberto Beltrán, Jesus Avarez Amaya, and Leo Acosta. Talking about his early creative career, he has said, “I began the profession of engraving in 1997 at Taller de Grafica Popular because of my curiosity to learn to engrave and my admiration for masters such as Barry Moser, Leopoldo Méndez, MC Escher, Lyn Ward, Käthe Kollwitz, and Franz Masserel.”
Santamaría’s prints on display highlight the Chinelo tradition and contemporary ideas. The Chinelo dance is a traditional cultural expression in which people dress in very colourful highly decorated dresses, and masks with long black mustaches and beards. The origin of the dance goes back to the Carnival that was celebrated only among the wealthy Spaniards of the Colonial Era; in the mid-19th century, a group of young people from Tlayacapan, in the current state of Morelos, tired of being excluded from the Carnival festivities, organized a fun protest through the streets of the town disguised in old clothes, their face covered so as not to be recognized and to mock the Spaniards. They began to yell, whistle, and jump up and down. This protest was so successful that the following year it was organized again. Chinelos still dance to the rhythm of music down the streets of the villages. Traditionally, the Chinelo dance has only included men, although that is beginning to change. The ensemble consists of an embroidered hat, scarves, a Chinelo mask, a simple white suit with horizontal applications of blue fabric, an esclavina (cape-like garment), and black shoes or boots.
Santamaría comes from a family line of Chinelo dancers. It takes Santamaría up to a year to complete the Chinelo ensemble; only three individuals in Santamaría ‘s hometown know how to create this attire. For the suit that Santamaría and his family donated, Señor Chinelo, his mother, Nora Santamaría, created the textiles; the hat, main white textile, and the esclavina. He embroidered the hat, created the Chinelo mask, and painted the esclavina. Santamaría uses his work to teach the younger generations of the importance of the Chinelo dance. We are grateful to receive a donation that highlights and uplifts the Chinelo tradition.
The special edition linoleum cut print, made in partnership with Santamaría, Coronado Studio and Mexic-Arte, Chinelo and Sneaker, was a great creative collaboration between artist and institutions. The print is a continuation of Santamaría’s portfolio of linoluem cut prints,“Los Chinelos” Carpeta de 11 Linoleos, that is part of the Mexic-Arte Museum Permanent Collection. On April 15th, Mexic-Arte hosted a talk and demonstration at Coronado Studio with Santamaría. He explained his philosophy of printmaking and his process of how he approaches printing. Come visit Expresiones de Mexico – Arte de la Gente/Arte of the People til August 20th, 2023, where you can see Sergio Sánchez Santamaría’s Señor Chinelo, special edition print Chinelo and Sneaker, and his portfolio “Los Chinelos” Carpeta de 11 Linoleos. The special edition print is available for purchase for $150, exclusively at Coronado Studio.
Education
amArte April – Sergio Sánchez Santamaría at Crockett
amArte held the workshop “Expresiones Grabadas,” led by master artist Sergio Sánchez Santamaría, at Crockett High School from April 10th–14th. Ms. Erin Lane’s advanced art classes were able to reflect on design motifs and elements found in diverse arte popular styles from across Mexico and the value of easy reproduction of an image through the linocut printmaking medium.
Sergio Sánchez Santamaría; painter, muralist, printmaker, scratchboard artist, and teacher, was born in Tlayacapan, Morelos, Mexico and grew up in Tacubaya, which is part of Mexico City. He received his Bachelor of Fine Arts degree from the Escuela Nacional de Pintura, Escultura, y Grabado, a.k.a. La Esmeralda, in Mexico City. He was a student of Adolfo Mexiac, Alberto Beltrán, Jesus Ávarez Amaya, and Leo Acosta.
amArte is Mexic-Arte Museum’s new education outreach program funded by Austin Public Health’s Office of Violence Prevention. amArte coordinates with local master artists to plan and execute unique workshops at high schools in the east Austin area. One workshop is held per month, explaining how amArte is Mexic-Arte’s way to keep being an asset to the community as gentrification grows and makes that an incremental challenge each year.
Screen It! in Manor Schools
This spring, we brought our award-winning Screen It! program to Manor ISD! 5th and 6th grade students at seven Manor Elementary Schools have been learning how to screen print from professional teaching artists. Students are working on screen printing t-shirts with alebrije designs while learning about careers in art and design from the artists working with them. We will have a virtual juried exhibition of the student artists’ shirts once all participating students have completed their projects. A selected student artist from each school will be awarded a screen printing kit to learn more about screen printing.
Thank you so much to all our partners at Manor ISD, including Blake Manor, Bluebonnet Trail, Decker, Lagos, Oak Meadows, Pioneer Crossing, Presidential Meadows, and ShadowGlen, for collaborating with us in our Screen It! Alebrije project. Mexic-Arte Museum’s Screen It! program focuses on serving underserved communities by encouraging retention rates in school and providing students with printmaking techniques.
This would have not been possible without our generous sponsor Applied Materials, as well as our amazing team of teaching artists. On behalf of the Mexic-Arte team, les damos las gracias.
If you or your school is interested in learning more about the Screen It! Program, please contact
Free Summer Camp! – Nuestro Estilo at Austin Central Library
Are you looking for something interesting to do this summer? Do you want to learn a new skill? Are you interested in art, community and fashion?
During the summer of 2023 the Mexic-Arte Museum in partnership with Austin Central Library will offer the camp: Nuestro Estilo/Our Style.
In Nuestro Estilo/Our Style, we will explore Mexican identity through traditional garments. Every participant will design and create their own stamp and print upcycled clothing with the design. This is a great workshop to learn more about traditional indigenous textiles and styling.
At the end of this workshop we will showcase your designs in a fashion show!
Nuestro Estilo is open to ages 11 to 99+. Our camp will run for 5 days from July 17 to July 21 from 10:00 am – 2:00 pm with a snack break. This camp will be hosted at the Austin Central Library.
Sign up through the QR Code or this link. This is a free workshop!
If you have questions about this camp, contact Education Associate, José Martinez-
Nuestro Estilo is generously funded by The Office of Violence Prevention.
H-E-B Domingos en Familia
Come join us on April 30th from 1:00 – 4:00 p.m. for our annual family day! That Sunday, Huichol (Wixárika) artist Casimiro de la Cruz will lead a workshop where you will get to create an indigenous traditional yarn design called ojo de Dios (eye of God). The ojos de Dios are the reflection of the cosmovision of the Huichol culture and continue to be an essential aspect of their culture.
Casimiro De La Cruz López comes from a village near the ceremonial center of Santa Catarina in the Huichol Sierra, where he spends much of his time helping his father, who has been the elected spiritual leader of their community for many years.
Come enjoy our exhibition Expresiones de México, Arte de la Gente / Art of the People, and learn more about this incredible tradition.
¡Te esperamos!
We thank H-E-B , our family day sponsors, for their continuous support.
Store
Shop the Mexic-Arte Museum Store!
New tote alert! You can now purchase this tote, inspired by Mexic-Arte’s Expresiones de México, Arte de la Gente / Art of the People exhibition, online or in-person at the store.
Thank You to Our Generous Sponsors!
This project is supported in part by the City of Austin Economic Development Department.
Learn more about the Mexic-Arte Museum
Exhibition and Art Education Programs Support: Ampersand Art Supply, Applied Materials, Austin Convention Center, Austin Independent School District Creative Classrooms, Austin Lowriding, Michael Best, Brown Distributing Company, CC West Printing, 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, Erwin Cuellar, Libby & Lloyd Doggett, Endeavor Real Estate Group, Facebook, Fenix Post Tension, Inc., Fonda San Miguel, Ford Foundation, Gente Chicana/SOYmos Chicano Fund, Tom Gilliland, GoDaddy, Greater Milwakee Foundation, Juan J Gutierrez and Rosa K Gutierrez, Charlotter 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, JP Peace Love & Happiness Foundation, Ann McEldowney, Bettina & Travis Mathis, Andrew W. Mellon Foundation, Mindpop, National Philanthropic Trust, Nettie & M.K. Hage Family, Rambler Sparkling Water, Elizabeth Rogers, Juan Antonio Sandoval Jr., Rosa Santis & Pedro SS Services, Serie Print Project, Delia Sifuentes, Silcone Labs, Spurs, Susto Mezcal, Ingrid and James Taylor, The Texas Tribune, Tito’s Handmade Vodka, Texas Gas Service, Toyota Honda Hyundia – Round Rock, Tribeza, Univision 62, Univision Radio, Warfield Center, Lola Wright Foundation, Jane & Manuel Zuniga, and Mark Zuniga.