The AFFA What's Up - January 18-31, 2010

AFFA NEWS

AFFA MEMBERSHIP PARTY

Sunday, February 14

Mexic-Arte Museum
419 Congress Avenue
Austin, Texas

Enjoy Mexic-Arte Museum's exhibition, Imagining Mexico: Expressions in Popular Culture, featuring artwork from the collections of members of Austin Friends of Folk Art, as well as music, dancing, food, spirits, and good company!

All for the price of your food contribution (A-G = Appetizer; H-M = Dessert; N-Z = Salad).

Help AFFA stay vital: renew your membership and bring your friends to share the wonders of folk art! Invitation with more details coming soon! For more information about the party, please contact Merry Wheaton at mcwheaton@austin.rr.com.

WANT TO LIST YOUR EVENT IN THE AFFA WHAT'S UP?

Please send all listing requests to alexandra@alumni.cmu.edu and be sure to include a graphic you'd like to use (one that looks good small, as you see throughout the e-newsletter) and a brief description of the event. Note that the next What's Up will go out on Monday, February 1. To have your event listed in the next What's Up, please send your requests to Alexandra no later than Sunday, January 31. Thank you!

BUSINESS MEMBERS NEWS

IMAGINING MEXICO: EXPRESSIONS IN POPULAR CULTURE

Selections from Austin Collections at

Mexic-Arte Museum

Austin, Texas

Opening Reception
Friday, January 29, 6-9 PM
Free for Mexic-Arte Members / $10 for Non-Members

Live music by Raúl Orduña y Los Trovadores, traditional and contemporary Mexican cuisine compliments of Guero's
Taco Bar and Iron Cactus.

To inaugurate the 2010 Celebration of the Centennial of Mexico's Revolution and the Bicentennial of Mexico's Independence, Mexic-Arte Museum presents this exhibition to showcase popular art incorporating symbols - such as the nagual, the Mexican flag, the Virgin of Guadalupe, and the revolutionary - that illustrate the vibrant and textured identity of the nation of Mexico. The artwork comes from various collections including those belonging to many members of Austin Friends of Folk Art. The exhibit is also sponsored in part by AFFA.

The Back Gallery features Photographs of the Revolution by Agustín Víctor Casasola, one of the early Mexican masters of photojournalism who captured the turbulent political era in Mexico between the turn of the century and the 1930s.

Free Family Days on Sundays. For more information contact (512) 480-9373 or info@mexic-artemuseum.org or visit www.mexic-artemuseum.org.

WILD WOOD ART CAFE
TOUR TO MEXICO
10 days on beautiful Lake Patzcuaro! Wonderful villa, private cook, Monarch butterflies, beautiful folk art, great guide, and wine-thirty daily. Contact Joan Griffith at (512) 797-9559 - a few spots are still available. For more information about Wild Wood Art Cafe visit www.wildwoodartcafe.com.

COSAS IN BOERNE, TEXAS

LOVE LIFE: Chocolate, Hearts, and New Trees of Life from Metepec
Sat., February 13, 5-8 PM

Of course we have to celebrate Valentine's Day, so bring your sweetheart on and enjoy some authentic Mexican chocolate, a little wine and check out the new trees of life from Metepec as well as lots of other new folk art and accessories from the COSAS January trip.

SALVADOR VAZQUEZ: Symbolism of Tonala, Works on Canvas
February and March

Salvador had not painted on canvas in over 40 years until COSAS asked him to this past summer. He has created a series of small canvases exclusively for COSAS with images of Tonala Nahual symbolism used by him and Jorge Wilmot decades ago. This is the first time these images have been represented together in a group in years. And, Salvador has written an interpretation of each painting on the back of each piece.

For more information visit www.cosasonline.com.

IN THE COMMUNITY

DECORATIVE ARTS AT HISTORIC MO-RANCH

Hunt, Texas

February 15-17

Learn the arts of Monterey Furnishings, San Jose Tiles, and Ornamental Ironwork. Cost is $230 for tuition, double occupancy hotel room for 2 nights and five meals. Single occupancy is available for a total cost of $311. Conference check-in begins at 4 p.m. Monday, followed by dinner at 6 p.m. The first presentation starts at 7:30 p.m. Please register online at www.moranch.com.

REFLECTIONS: NEW WORK FROM SERGIO RODRIGUEZ

Mexican American Cultural Center (MACC)

Austin, Texas

Opening Reception
Saturday, January 30, 6 PM

Reflections is a personal exploration of Rodriguez’s experience growing up in the border town of Eagle Pass. Not having visited his place of birth in 22 years, Rodriguez made a special trip back to Eagle Pass, re-immersing himself in the U.S.-Mexico border culture in order to inspire the work for this particular show. For more information, call (512) 478-6222 or visit www.maccaustin.com.

¡VIVA MÉXICO! — HEROES AND ARTISANS

Mingei International Museum
Balboa Park, California

Opening Sunday, February 28

Celebrateing the 200th anniversary of Mexican independence (1810), the 100th of the Mexican revolution (1910) and the folk art that colorfully and vitally expresses the nation’s spirit. Just as the heroes of independence and the revolution were great artisans in crafting the nation’s constitution, laws and
institutions, so are its many artisans also cultural heroes, vibrantly perpetuating Mexico’s historical memory and its distinctive, exuberant and vital artistic tradition. For more information visit www.mingei.org.