Lulu Flores, President, Board of Directors

Begin your fall season by joining Mexic-Arte Museum and enjoying exciting art!

Take a stroll down Congress Avenue and enjoy wonderful art and fabulous shopping at Mexic-Arte Museum! There’s no better way to treat your family and friends than by visiting a museum. Where else can you get an education while having fun doing it? And where else can you find exclusive and exquisite gifts than at a museum store?

Mexic-Arte Museum is offering one of the most exciting exhibits of contemporary art for your enjoyment this fall – the Mexican Report. Mexico and our heritage here in the US offer us a wealth of cultural expressions. Mexic-Arte Museum, the Official Mexican and Mexican American Fine Art Museum of Texas is proud to present many of these fine exhibits here in Austin.

The Museum Board and Staff have been busy this year working on our building space program study with consultant M. Goodwin and Associates. Together, we have been putting the final touches on our vision for the future of our museum. It’s been an exciting process analyzing the artistic and cultural needs of our community and how we can build a state of the art museum that will satisfy these needs. Once we have this blueprint, we can begin the hard work of making our dreams a reality. We look forward to your help in making our dreams for our community and the State of Texas come true.

Finally, the Board has been busy building a stronger Board of Directors. We are happy to announce the addition of four new board members: Ray Bonilla (Attorney at Ray, Wood & Bonilla, L.L.P.), Dr. Rosalinda Hernandez (Associate Superintendent of High Schools, AISD), Duff Stewart (CFO, GSD&M) and Annabelle Arteaga Ph.D. (Consultant, Dell). Mexic-Arte Museum welcomes them as we look forward to adding new board members this fall. We have much to accomplish, and we are thrilled to have their expertise and enthusiasm at Mexic-Arte. We will have our annual board retreat this September and will be establishing our goals for the coming year. Please let me know if you have any ideas of how we can make Mexic-Arte Museum better serve our community.

Lulu Flores, President, Board of Directors

Sylvia Orozco, Executive Director

This spring season brought the opening and rare presentation of two beautiful and important exhibitions, The Parícutin Drawings of Dr. Atl and “Mardonio Magaña: A Sense of Tradition. Both were jewels of Mexican twentieth century art. Dr. Atl’s exhibition included ninety-nine charcoal and pencil drawings of the Parícutin volcano that erupted in 1943 to 1952 in Michoacan, Mexico. The Mardonio Magaña exhibit was the first-ever retrospective organized by the Museo Estudio Diego Rivera to be presented in the United States.

The summer began with the exciting 9th Annual Young Latino Artists’ Exhibition showing the work of thirteen young artists from five cities in Texas. Each year brings new ideas and fresh images; this year was no exception.

In July the Museum featured the original paintings used to produce the popular Mexican calendars. Mexican Calendar Legends is a traveling exhibition organized by the Museo Soumaya, Mexico City. We are grateful to Soumaya Slim de Romero, Director of the Museo Soumaya and her professional staff for sharing this important history of the Mexican graphic arts with our community.

This fall we open with the Mexican Report featuring the newest work being produced in Mexico organized by the Instituto de Mexico and the Blue Star Contemporary Art Center in San Antonio. The presentation in Austin will be the first site of the national tour.

Because of Mexic-Arte Museum’s relationship with Mexican museums and cultural institutions over many years, we are fortunate to present these exhibits showing work of the highest quality. We invite everyone to take advantage of these lifetime opportunities and cultural experiences.

Sylvia Orozco, Executive Director

Museum Hosts Dinner for Nuevo León Governor

Over 200 guests joined Mexic-Arte Museum to kick off the 19th Exhibition Season with Selections of the PIn March 2004, Mexic-Arte Museum hosted a dinner for The Honorable José Natividad González Parás, Governor of the Mexican State of Nuevo Leon, and local Hispanic business leaders. Gov. González discussed the importance of interchanging and fortifying the cultural, economic and commercial relations between Nuevo Leon and Texas. During an intense tour of San Antonio and Austin, Gov. González and Texas Gov. Perry established a joint commitment to combating issues in the areas of education, infrastructure, health and public security. This agreement will also include the states of Tamaulipas and Coahuila. The dinner was generously sponsored by CIMA Strategies.

Gov. José Natividad González Parás

Congrats To Our 2004 Graduates

Mexic-Arte Museum would like to congratulate Museum Educator Herlinda Zamora on receiving her Master of Arts degree in Art Education from the University of Texas at Austin. Special thanks to Veronica Elsa Bernal, Public Relations Department Intern, upon the completion of her Mexic-Arte Museum Internship and Bachelor of Science degree in Environmental Studies from Texas State University in San Marcos, Texas.

Museum Contributes to Austin’s number 1 “City for Hispanic Living” Ranking

The City of Austin has been ranked #1 in the United States’ “Top 10 Cities for Hispanics to Live In” list published in the August 2004 issue of Hispanic Magazine. Mexic-Arte Museum was among a few artistic organizations mentioned in the article adding to Austin’s “Hispanic coolness.” Rankings were determined by the census, latest real estate values, crime statistics, salaries, employment rates and entertainment varieties.

Celebrate Austin Museum Day on Sunday, September 12th

For the seventh year in a row, the Austin Museum Partnership is hosting Austin Museum Day—a free, city-wide rediscovery of Austin museums on Sunday, September 12, 2004. Treat the entire family to a captivating Sunday full of events offered by Austin-area museums and educational institutions that explore the worlds of science, history and art. Participating museums will offer free admission and special activities for all ages. Mexic-Arte Museum will provide a free lecture on Mexican Report. Also, the Museum Store will host a special presentation and demonstration by Elvis and Arturo Castillo, Oaxacan alebrije artists. The Austin Museum Partnership (AMP) is a consortium of Austin-area museums organized in 1998 to promote collaborations for the mutual benefit of the public and the museums. The alliance includes art and science museums, historic sites, nature habitats and preserves, the University of Texas library and art repositories, a children’s museum and a Presidential library and museum.

Time Warner Cable Sponsors Mexican Calendar Legends

Organized by the magnificent Museo Soumaya in Mexico City, Time Warner Cable-Austin proudly sponsored the arrival of Mexican Calendar Legends.

“Time Warner Cable is very proud to sponsor this important exhibit. Mexican Calendar Legends is an exhibit that appeals to a wide audience from across Central Texas, inspiring all with a unique insight into Mexico’s rich culture and history,” said Lidia Agraz, Vice-President of Public Affairs for Time Warner Cable-Austin. Time Warner Cable–Austin serves more than 300,000 homes in Central Texas and employs about 1,000 plus Central Texans. It is a major corporate contributor to many community non-profit organizations, and provides financial support, community volunteers and on-air promotion of charitable events and organizations through public service announcements. Over 60 original paintings are exhibited from the vast Museo Soumaya/Galas de México Collection. Artists include the masters of the Mexican calendar genre Jorge González Camarena, Jesús de la Helguera, Josep Renau, and many others.

Lidia Graciela Agraz, Vice President of Public and Government Affairs for Time Warner Cable Austin, addresses the audience at the Mexican Calendar Legends opening reception

During the past months, Mexic-Arte Museum has been working diligently with M. Goodwin and Associates on the building program. This study is funded by a generous grant from The Houston Endowment.

The study will include space need requirements and functional descriptions for the front entry lobby, museum store, permanent collection and temporary exhibition galleries, library, offices, a special events room and support spaces. A cost estimate will also be developed.

Working with consultants, the Facility Committee, under the leadership of Carl Gromatzky of Barnes, Gromatzky, Korarek Architects, is doing an incredible job in assessing the needs of the Museum. Other members helping in the study include Terry Ortiz, Carlos Martinez, Lulu Flores, and Sylvia Orozco. M. Goodwin and Associates also has conducted extensive interviews with Mexic-Arte Museum staff members that concentrate in the different areas including education, membership, public relations, library and the museum store.

The building program study will be completed in the fall of 2004 and will be used to develop the next step of architectural renderings.

Meet the Board Members

Ray Bonilla joined Ray, Wood, & Bonilla, L.L.P. in 1998. Specializing in state and local taxation and administrative law, he represents businesses and individuals before the Texas State Comptroller’s Office, and other state agencies. Bonilla also is actively involved in the Firm’s school finance practice taking a lead role on issues relating to the State Comptroller’s Property Value Study. He is an honors graduate from the University of Texas at Austin and is active in a variety of community and professional organizations.

Rosalinda Hernandez, Ph.D. is the Associate Superintendent of High Schools at the Austin Independent School District. She has served in the educational field for nearly 30 years. Throughout her career, Hernandez has received numerous honors and has participated in many professional and civic organizations throughout the State of Texas. She is a graduate from the University of Texas at Austin.

Duff M. Stewart serves as the Executive President, Chief Operating Officer, and Group Account Director for GSD&M Advertising in Austin, Texas. He is a two-time winner of the New York American Marketing Association’s prestigious EFFIE Award. The advertising industry’s preeminent award is the only national award that honors creative achievement in meeting and exceeding advertising objectives. His expertise includes developing long-term brand strategies, marketing, and advertising plans. Stewart is a graduate of the University of Texas at Austin.

Main Gallery
Seven Worlds
January 21, 2005 - February 20, 2005

In the world of ceramics, Mexico occupies a prominent place and is known for its tradition, pallete and imagery. Siete Mundos presents the work of fifteen artists who currently live in the State of Veracruz.

In this universe of Veracruz ceramics, “seven” of the many possible worlds have been given a privileged place…. seven days of the week, seven the Biblical lapse of creation, seven musical notes, seven worlds that are: sculpture, utilitarian items, miniatures, installation, relief, collaborative works, and objects. They are not merely conceptual categories; they are worlds of ceramics and they are worlds of the maker.

Artists: Leonor Anaya, Alfonso Avila, Joel Bautista Rojo, Margarita Cházaro, Constantino Méndez, Artemio Mendoza, Elsa Naveda, Marta Ovalle, Tomás Owen, Gustavo Pérez, Maite Rodríguez, Viviana Romo, Rocío Sagaón, Valentina Sandoval, Georges Vinaver

A Sizzlin’ Good Time at the 5th Taste of Mexico

Millions of taste buds rejoiced as Mexic-Arte Museum presented a night of Mexican cuisine, music, and fun during the 5th Annual Taste of Mexico. Festivities were lead by Honorary Chair David Bull, Driskill Grill Executive Chef and 2003 recipient of Food & Wine Magazine’s prestigious Best New Chef Award. Party-goers enjoyed a palette-pleasing evening alongside thirty area restaurants while Austin’s Ojo Del Sol served up a winning recipe of Latin Rock. Special thanks to HEB and Downtown Austin Alliance. Additional support was provided by Bank of America, Velocity Credit Union, Carlos 'N Charlie's, and the Law Office of John P. McWilliams. Special thanks to 2004 Media Sponsors: News 8 Austin/Time Warner, Jammin’ 105.9 KFMK-FM, La Invasora 107.7 FM KINV, El Mundo newspaper and Austin American-Statesman. Special thanks to our participating restaurants: Amy's Ice Cream, Austex Mex Cafe, Azul Tequila, Canirac, Carmelita's, Casa Loma Tex-Mex y Cantina, Cuba Libre, El Buen Sabor, El Lago Tortillas, El Mercado, Fiesta Mart, The Flan Company, Garibaldi's, Hula Hut, Joe's Bakery, La Mexicana Bakery, Las Palmas, Marta's Desserts, Maudie's Cafe, Nuevo Leon, Pastorcito Oveja Negra, Rosie's Tamale House, Ruta Maya, Tacodeli, and Wildwood Art Cafe. Special thanks to everyone who served on the 2004 Taste of Mexico Event and Silent Auction Committees for their wonderful support.

The Carmelita from Carmelita's Restaurant

No. 9: The Annual Young Latino Artists Exhibition Opening Reception

Several hundred guests packed Mexic-Arte Museum for the opening reception of No. 9: The Annual Young Latino Artists Exhibition on Friday, May 21, 2004. The Main Gallery was filled by the organic groove of Latin House extraordinaire DJ Trey Lopez. No. 9 showcases experimental work by emerging artists Jorge Alegria, Alejandro Almanza, Jerry Cabrera, Miguel Castro, Ricardo Dorado, George López, Xochitl Paredes, Selina Silvas, Enoch Ríos, Gil Rocha, Matthew Rodríguez, Sergio Rodríguez, and Joanna Armijo Zamárron. This year, the exhibit was curated by past participants encouraging promotion within their respective local art communities.

YLA No. 9 Opening Reception

’Legends’ Opens to Rave Reviews

Mexican Calendar Legends and Serie XI received a warm welcome on Friday, July 16, 2004. Attendees stood in awe as live models brought the artwork to life. Guests enjoyed delicious Mexican cuisine provided by El Sol y La Luna and Copa Bar & Grill. The traditional sounds of Valor Latino entertained nearly 300 patrons throughout the evening.

Fernando Romero, Sylvia Orozco, Soumaya Slim de Romero, Director of Museo Soumaya, Herlinda Zamora, Andrés Vera Martínez, and Jason Rivera

Museum Patron Pam Reese presents check to Sylvia Orozco

Mexic-Arte Museum has been awarded $25,000 from local arts supporters Pam & Michael Reese for the educational programming of Mexico in Excellence: 21st Century. A special committee will spearhead programs planned to include free school tours, after-school art classes, and teacher workshops & resource guide. Mexico in Excellence: 21st Century will be a valuable learning experience for all Austin communities. The exhibit will contain works representing 30 centuries’ worth of Mexican culture. The showcase will consist of pre-Columbian, colonial, modern, and contemporary art from Mexico. Thank you Pam and Michael!

Allen Elementary After School Print Project

Continuing its quest to educate Austin communities and beyond regarding the importance of art and culture in the Latino community, Mexic-Arte Museum thanks Applied Materials, Inc. for their generous support of $7,500 to host after-school art classes at five different local schools. “Creative thought is not extra-curricular to life–it is core to a successful personal and professional life. Applied Materials is interested in supporting creativity through the arts in Austin, especially projects that allow children and their families who might not otherwise have the opportunity, to experience the benefits of high-quality art in all its disciplines. We are excited to partner with Mexic-Arte Museum in its After-School Art Classes in area elementary schools this year, “ states Sue Blankenburg, Arts & Culture Sector Head for Community Affairs at Applied Materials, Inc. Applied Materials is the world’s largest producer of equipment and services for the semiconductor industry. Thank you Applied Materials!