Mexican Art Exhibit

A walk through the most recently opened exhibit at the Smithsonian Museum of the American Indian lets you imagine you' ve traveled through Mexico's 31 states in an afternoon. "Great Masters of Mexican Folk Art," an exhibit of works by contemporary and traditional Mexican artists, opened in late July and will be on display through March 2003 at the Bowling Green museum. Through the works of 181 living artists, you can glimpse the rich tradition of arte popular that has been a part of Mexican life and culture for 2,000 years.

More than 500 pieces -- representing every state and 19 indigenous cultures -- are on display.  Museum curators selected 44 historic objects from the museum's own collection to complement the exhibit and represent the pre-Columbian cultures that continue to inspire the work of these contemporary artists.

The exhibit boasts beautifully crafted clay creations -- from a cerulean wash basin made in Oaxaca, painted with fish and large enough to hold a bathing baby elephant, to an ochre-colored statue of two dancing dogs small enough to hold in your hand from the state of Colima.   From Guanajuato, delightful alebrijes -- supernatural creatures with dragons tails, wings, tongues, and claws made of paper and painted in deep, vibrant colors are at once playful and macabre, and capture the ways Mexicans celebrate birth and death.  And from the Maya of Chiapas, intricate woven fabrics based on units of 20 the foundation of ancient Mayan mathematics unite the present and the distant past.  Also on display are pieces made of wood, stone, metal, and leather raw materials prominent in Mexican art.

Sponsored by Banamex Citigroup, the exhibit is intended to sustain and promote Mexican folk art.  Banamex hopes the project will nurture the creation of art and result in community-level economic development. The art on display in the museum comes from Mexico s countryside, from working class city neighborhoods, and from numerous enclaves of indigenous people.

The exhibit is bilingual, with all printed material available in Spanish and English. Public programs, including music, dance, film and video, and workshops with artists, accompany the exhibit.  A day of activities is planned for November 2, 2002 to celebrate the Day of the Dead.  Activities will include an art workshop with clay sculptor Carlomagno Pedro Martínez.

Visit the National Museum of the American Indian website for  more information on the museum, the Great Masters of Mexican Folk Art exhibit, or other exhibits on display or soon to come.