SELECTIONS FROM THE CONTEMPORARY ART COLLECTION January 23–May 31, 2015 Main Gallery

The Official Mexican & Mexican American Fine Arts Museum of Texas

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SELECTIONS FROM THE CONTEMPORARY ART COLLECTION This exhibition marks the first time that the Museum will hold a permanent collection exhibition focused exclusively on its contemporary art collection. The works on display represent the concepts, techniques, and subject matter from the diverse Latino community.

Selections from the Contemporary Art Collection features an array of contemporary art, showcasing works by David “Shek” Vega, Adriana Corral, Miguel Aragon, Gil Rocha, and others (listed in the catalogue). The exhibition highlights a variety of mediums from installations to two-dimensional works. The works of art on display explore a range of topics from social commentary on global politics to contemporary issues pertaining to identity politics. Demonstrating elements of drama and suspense, for example, Gil Rocha’s Cartonado juxtaposes fantasy, humor, and everyday materials in a manner that displays the conceptual nature of the exhibition. Adriana Corral’s installation Voces de las Perdidas (Voices of the Lost Women) presents a unique inter-pretation of the ceramic tile: hanging body tags, composed of

soil from the site of the Campo Algodonero (cotton field) mur-ders in Ciudad Juárez, embodying the victims of femicide in Mexico. David “Shek” Vega’s piece celebrates the centennial of the Mexican Revolution; his interpretation demonstrates the artist’s detachment from his Mexican heritage and identity.

PERMANENT COLLECTION Over the past 30 years, the Mexic-Arte Museum has acquired works of art for its permanent collection through gift or do-nation, commission, and purchase. The permanent collection is composed of approximately 3,000 works of historic and contemporary Mexican, Latino, and Latin American art. The majority of collection items were created in the late 20th century and in the 21st century. Objects reflect many themes within the humanities including religious transformation in the Americas, social change in the U.S./Mexico borderlands region, immigration history, and the importance of popular art. The collection contains prints (serigraphs, lithographs, woodcuts, linocuts); paintings; photographs; drawings; sculp-tures, and masks from various states in Mexico.

David “Shek” Vega; Untitled; 2010; Mixed media, 8’ x 4’ panels, total size with painted border 10’ x 19’; Mexic-Arte Museum Collection; 2011.2.1a, b, c, d

MISSION STATEMENTMexic-Arte Museum is dedicated to cultural enrichment and education through the collection, preservation and presenta-tion of traditional and contemporary Mexican, Latino, and Latin American art and culture to promote dialogue and develop un-derstanding for visitors of all ages.

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ADRIANA CORRAL (b. 1983 in El Paso, Texas)

Voces de las Perdidas (Voices of the Lost Women), 2011

Ceramic body bag tags, soil from crime site; site-specific installation

Mexic-Arte Museum Collection 2015.1.1

Commission for the exhibition Voces de las Perdidas, Mexic-Arte Museum, 2011 with support from Clay Imports Artesanal and Michael Candelas

Voces de las Perdidas was created for the back gallery of the Mexic-Arte Museum and exhibited January 28 - March 27, 2011. The piece is a clay installation of over 800 tile pieces that represent the femicides in Mexico. The artist collaborated with local talavera importer Clay Imports Artesanal who commissioned authentic tile artisans in Dolores Hidalgo to make the hundreds of hanging tile pieces by hand. Fusing the traditional ceramic process with current events in Juarez, Mexico, Corral presents a unique interpretation of the clay tile as medium. The artist has recreated body bag tags, used for the deceased, in clay format adding soil collected from the site of the Campo Algodonero (cotton field) murders. Meant to illustrate the sheer volume of women’s deaths in Juarez, as well as the ongoing advocacy for femicide awareness, Corral’s tags are more than a simple tribute; they grapple with concepts such as the institutionalization of death, the acceptance of violence, and the categorical decimation of a population.

Gilberto Rocha (b. 1982 in Laredo, Texas); Cartonado, 2007; Cardboard and child’s bicycle, 8’ x 4’ x 4’’; Mex-ic-Arte Museum Collection 2014.15.1; Photo by Sixto-Juan Zavala

HOW DOES A WORK OF ART MAKE IT INTO A MUSEUM’S PERMANENT COLLECTION? A permanent collection is comprised of the artwork owned by a museum, which is usually much larger than what we see on display. At any given time, museums display only a portion of their collections. This is often because exhibition requires much more space than stor-age; it is impractical for the entire collection to be on display at one time. The Museum staff creates exhibits with diferent themes and selects artworks that exemplify these concepts.

Accessioning is the formal, legal process of accepting an ob-ject into a museum collection. Art objects may be acquired at any time through donation, purchase, or trade. To officially accession an object into a museum’s collection is to make a permanent obligation to care for it. Therefore, several issues must be considered in this decision, such as: Is the object rel-evant to the museum’s mission and its scope of collecting, as defined by its governing body? Does the owner of an object have legal title to the object and therefore the right to transfer it? Is the object encumbered by any donor restrictions?

Objects may be examined by a conservator and treated for any pre-existing damage. The object is then cataloged by a collections registrar or other specialist with knowledge of the object’s importance and history. Provenance is the history of an object from the time it was made. Research into an object’s provenance allows curators to make an informed decision about accessioning it and how and when to display it.

WHAT IS “CONTEMPORARY” ART?The terms “modern” and “contemporary” are used interchange-ably in everyday speech, but there are key distinctions between these movements in art history. The term modern art gen-erally references art produced after the Impressionists (circa 1880) until the term “postmodern” was used in the 1970’s. The century-long span of modern art encompasses hundreds of art movements, from Cubism to Pop Art. Contemporary art picks up where modern art left off, in the 1970’s, and continues to pres-ent day. Contemporary art is art that has been and continues to be created during our lifetimes. This information is incorporat-ed into the label when exhibited (See example on left).

Contemporary art also carries the connotation of being more socially, economically, and politically conscious than the art of any previous era. When speaking about contemporary art from the last 45 years, it is often in connection with a response to po-litical issues such as feminism, multiculturalism, globalization, and other topics of the moment.

WHAT IS A MUSEUM LABEL?Label: Written words used alone or with illustration in museum exhibitions to provide information for visitors, presented as text on exhibit graphic panels or computer screens. Known to visitors as captions, descriptions, titles, blurbs, explanations, placards, plaques, legends, cards, la-bels and “those little words on the wall”.1

Name: The artist’s name (birth year, birth [place)

Year: Year that the work of art was completed

Title: Title of the work of art

Medium: The materials used to create the work or art

Size: The dimensions of the work of art

Accession Number: A control number, unique to an object, whose purpose is identification, not description.2

Provenance: The history of ownership of a work of art including the specific geographic location of origin. How an object came to be part of a museum’s collection.3

Caption label: In addition to the identifying section of a label, some pieces include a caption that provides back-ground information on the piece and identifies the “big idea” behind a piece.4

Adriana Corral (b. 1983 in El Paso, Texas); Voces de las Perdidas (Voices of the Lost Women), 2011; Ceramic body bag tags, soil from crime site; site-specific installation; Mexic-Arte Museum Collection 2015.1.1; Photo by Virgil Solis

1 Serrell, Beverly. Exhibit Labels: An Interpretive Approach. Walnut Creek: Alta Mira, 1996. 239.

2, 3 Buck, Rebecca A., and Jean Allman Gilmore. The New Museum Registration Meth-ods. Washington, DC: American Association of Museums, 1998. 359+.

4 Beverly. Exhibit Labels: An Interpretive Approach. 25-33.

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EXHIBITION CATALOGUE MIGUEL ARAGÓN (b. 1978 in Ciudad Juárez, México)Noticias/News Stories, 2012Cast concrete and newspapers, Varied dimensionsMexic-Arte Museum Collection 2015.2.1Gift of the ArtistExhibited in Miguel Aragon: Fractured Memories, Assembled Trauma, Mexic-Arte Museum, 2012

FEDERICO ARCHULETA (b. 1967 in El Paso, Texas)Cantiflas, 2014Acrylic paint on plaster of paris, 40” x 11” x 18”Temporary Loan from ArtistProposed Acquisition by Community

DAPHNE ARTHUR (b. 1984 in Caracas, Venezuela)El Juego del Tra Tra Tra, 2009Wall: canvas, wax, latex, oil paint, wire mesh, fur, plastic, white cloth, nails, 53” x 54 ½” x 31”Floor: wire mesh, matte medium, fur, enamel, oil paint, spray paint, nails, belts, 29” x 55” x 67”Mexic-Arte Museum Collection 2014.16.2Gift of the ArtistExhibited in Young Latina Artists 19: Y Que?, Mexic-Arte Museum, 2014

CHUY BENITEZ (b. 1983 in El Paso, Texas)Family Chrome Shop, Auto Chrome Plating Co., Harrisburg, Houston, TX, 2007From the Series “Leaders of Houston Cultura”Ultrachrome Print, 16 ½” x 36”Mexic-Arte Museum Collection 2015.15.1Gift of the ArtistExhibited in YLA 12: Embracing Chaos, 2007

JUAN CARLOS CÁZARES (b. 1976 in Queretaro, México)The Border, 2014Oil on canvas, 36” x 48”Mexic-Arte Museum Collection, 2014.14.2Gift of Rafael Franco

MERY GODIGNA COLLET (b. 1959 in Caracas, Venezuela)Sweet Oil, 2012Crude Oil in back of 3 super imposed layers of vinyl and fibers from cane of sugar plant, 118 ½” x 39 ¼” Mexic-Arte Museum Collection 2015.11.1Gift of the Artist

ADRIANA CORRAL (b. 1983 in El Paso, Texas)Voces de las Perdidas (Voices of the Lost Women), 2011Ceramic body bag tags, soil from crime site; site-specific installationMexic-Arte Museum Collection 2015.1.1Commission for the exhibition Voces de las Perdidas, Mexic-Arte Museum, 2011 with support from Clay Imports Artesanal and Michael Candelas

BOBBY DIXON (b. 1973 in Portsmouth, Virginia)Temperatures (Diptych), 1996 Mixed media on canvas, 72” x 60”Mexic-Arte Museum Collection 2015.13.1bGift of the ArtistExhibited in the 2nd Annual Young Latino Artists, 1996

BOBBY DIXON (b. 1973 in Portsmouth, Virginia)Construction Sign, 1996 Mixed media, 43” x 91”Mexic-Arte Museum Collection 2015.13.2Gift of the ArtistExhibited in the 2nd Annual Young Latino Artists, 1996

FIDENCIO DURAN (b. 1961 in Maxwell, Texas)Goddess of Liberty, 1996Acrylic on Canvas, Framed 37” x 61”/Unframed 36” x 60”Mexic-Arte Museum Collection 2015.21.1Gift of Bickerstaff Health Delgado Acosta LLP

SANTIAGO FORERO (b. 1979 in Bogotá, Colombia)Housewife, 2008Digital Print, 36” x 44”Mexic-Arte Museum Collection 2015.20.1Exhibited in Tarp≠lona, Young Latino Artists 14, Mexic-Arte Museum, 2009

EDUARDO XAVIER GARCIA (b. 1975 in Chicago, Illinois)Me A Cuer Do Cuan Do, 2011Mixed media, digital audio player, speakers, silicon, frame, Varied dimensions, 7” x 17” x 16”Mexic-Arte Museum Collection 2012.2.1Gift of the Artist

DIEGO HUERTA (1976, Monterrey, Nuevo León, México)31K Portraits for Peace (Balloon Vendor), 2012Vinyl photograph, 48” x 72 ¼”Mexic-Arte Museum Collection 2015.7.1Commission for the exhibition, 31K Portraits for Peace, Mexic-Arte Museum, 2012

ÁNGEL LEIVA (b. 1941 in Tucumán, Argentina)Solos en la Multitud (Alone in the Crowd), 2014With two poems selected for this work, En la Casa Vacia and CartasMixed media on paper, 11 1/8” x 11 ¾”Gift of the ArtistMexic-Arte Museum Collection 2015.16.1a

DAVID MEDALLA (b. 1942 in Manila, Philippines)“The Letter “I” in Front of the Genie de la Bastille, Paris”, The Secret History of the Mondrian Fan Club, 1996Hand-painted artist proof, 56 5/8” x 43 7/8”Mexic-Arte Museum Collection 2015.4.1Gift of the Artist from the exhibition Voices (1997), a two person exhibition with Regina Vater, January 30 to March 8, 1997 at Mexic-Arte Museum

DIANA MOLINA (b. 1958 in El Paso, Texas)Serape Carta Blanca, 2012Collage of recycled paper, 25” x 46 ¾” Mexic-Arte Museum Collection 2014.14.1Gift of Rafael Franco

DELILAH MONTOYA (b. 1955 in Fort Worth, Texas)Mi Amor Me Ha Dado Recuerdos Para Ti, 2012Gesso board with artist book, 12” x 12”Mexic-Arte Museum Collection 2015.10.1Gift of Dr. Cynthia E. Orozco, who purchased the donated work of the artist as part of the Mix ‘n’ Mash 2012 exhibition.

MARCELA MORÁN (b. 1970 in Laredo, Texas) Audiencia, 2008 Video RecordingMexic-Arte Museum Collection 2015.19.1Gift of the Artist

RANDY MUNIZ (b. 1986 in Houston, Texas) Ape Dos Mil, 2008Charcoal drawing mounted on board, 14’ x 4’Mexic-Arte Museum Collection 2015.9.1Gift of the ArtistExhibited in the Young Latino Artists 14: TARP ‡ lona

SYLVIA OROZCO (b. 1954 in Mercedes, Texas)Legal migrants illegal migrantsalien migrants flow on the Borderwetting the country with sweat.Border Patrol guards themigratory stream looking forDeportable aliens ignoring the status.A proportion of all leaveCargando sueños,esperanzas aspiraciones,exported C.O.D., 1983Acrylic, spray paint on canvas, 36 ¾” x 47 ¾”Mexic-Arte Museum Collection 2015.17.1Promised to Mexic-Arte Museum by Sylvia Orozco

CRUZ ORTIZ (b. 1972 in Houston, Texas)Untitled (from the Urban Transmission Series), 2001Mixed media installation, Various dimensionsMexic-Arte Museum Collection 2015.8.1Gift of the ArtistExhibited in Traces of Culture, 6th Annual Young Latino Artist, Mexic-Arte Museum, 2001

RICARDO PANIAGUA (b. 1981 in Dallas, Texas)Singularity, 2013Lacquer on MDO Panel, 47” diameterMexic-Arte Museum Collection 2015.5.1Gift of the ArtistExhibited in Young Latino Artists 18/Con Juntos, Mexic-Arte Museum, 2013

PURO CHINGÓN COLLECTIVE CLAUDIA APARICIO-GAMUNDI (b. 1984 in Monterrey, Mexico)Niño/Niña Alien Plush Doll, 2014Hand-sewn & screenprinted on canvas, 18 ¼” x 11” x 3”Edition of 10 Mexic-Arte Museum Collection 2014.17.4Gift of the Artist

PURO CHINGÓN COLLECTIVECLAUDIA ZAPATA (b. 1984 in Waco, Texas)Mapache Bear Plush Doll by Claudia Zapata, 2014 Hand-sewn & screenprinted on canvas, 19 5/6” x 10 ½” x 3”Edition of 10 Mexic-Arte Museum Collection 2014.17.5Gift of the Artist

PURO CHINGÓN COLLECTIVEJAMES HUIZAR (b. 1984 in Pleasanton, Texas)Texas Eagle Plush Doll by James Huizar, 2014 Hand-sewn & screenprinted on canvas, 18” x 10.5” x 4 ¾”Edition of 10Mexic-Arte Museum Collection 2014.17.6Gift of the Artist

ARTURO RIVERA (b. 1945 in México City)Air, 2003Charcoal and sanguine drawing on paper, 56 ½” x 39 ½”Long term loan from the artist

GILBERTO ROCHA (b. 1982 in Laredo, Texas)Cartonado, 2007Cardboard, child’s bicycle, and transistor radio, 8’ x 4’ x 4’Mexic-Arte Museum Collection 2014.15.1Gift of the ArtistExhibited in 14th Annual Young Latino Artist Exhibition, Mexic-Arte Museum, 2008

PAUL VALADEZ (b. 1965 in San Francisco, California)El Corazon Duele, 2006Acrylic on masonite, 23 7/8” x 24 7/8”Mexic-Arte Museum Collection 2015.14.1Gift of the ArtistExhibited in the 2009 Texas Biennial

(RAFAEL) VARGAS-SUAREZ UNIVERSAL (b. 1972 in México City) 101 Years Prefabricated, 1995Mixed media on paper, 34” x 31 ¼”Mexic-Arte Museum Collection 2015.6.1Gift of the Artist

(RAFAEL) VARGAS-SUAREZ UNIVERSAL (b. 1972 in México City)Astronomical Unit, 1996-97Black & red: Oil on wood, 25 1/8” x 17 ¾”White & red board: 46.125” x 16.125” Black and Beige board: 22.75” x 17.75” Mexic-Arte Museum Collection 2015.6.3a, b, cGift of Sylvia Orozco

REGINA VATER (b. 1943 in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil)Dead Cargo, 1991Wood, concrete and feathers, 6” x 11” x 35’Mexic-Arte Museum Collection 2015.3.2Gift of the ArtistExhibited in Counter Colon-ialismo, Mexic-Arte Museum, 1992

DAVID “SHEK” VEGA (b. 1981 in San Antonio, Texas)Untitled, 2010Mixed media, 8’ x 4’ panels, total size with painted border 10’ x 19’ Mexic-Arte Museum Collection 2011.2.1a, b, c, dCommission for the exhibition, Promises of Independence & Revolution: Artists Interpreting México

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THANK YOU TO THE ARTISTS AND PATRONS

As the capital of Texas, home to various universities, and as a city with close ties to Mexico, the Austin community has al-ways provided the Museum with a consistent flow of talented artists and opportunities. Many of the artists have generously contributed their artworks. They have also assisted in selec-tion, curated exhibitions, and have created artworks through commissions. We acknowledge and thank the artists and pa-trons for the donations that have made this collection possible.

Important collections are built piece by piece. Together as a community, we are creating a collection with the pioneering works that serve to teach about our culture and heritage for generations to come.

Cover Art:

Top Left: Ricardo Paniagua; Singularity; 2013; Lacquer on MDO Panel, 47”; Mexic-Arte Museum Collection

Top Right: Daphne Arthur; El Juego del Tra Tra Tra (detail); 2009; Wall: canvas, wax, latex, oil paint, wire mesh, fur, plastic, white cloth, nails, 53” x 54 ½” x 31”; Floor: wire mesh, matte medium, fur, enamel, oil paint, spray paint, nails, belts, 29” x 55” x 67”; Mexic-Arte Museum Collection

Bottom Left: David “Shek” Vega; Untitled (detail); 2010; Mixed media, 8’ x 4’ panels, total size with painted border 10ft. x 19ft; Mexic-Arte Museum Collection

Bottom Right: Gilberto Rocha; Cartonado; 2007; Cardboard, child’s bicycle, and tran-sistor radio, 8’ x 4’ x 4’; Mexic-Arte Museum Collection

Alice Kleberg Reynolds Foundation