User Image

Emma S. Barrientos Mexican American Cultural Center

Emma S. Barrientos Mexican American Cultural Center
Primary (5 to 8 years old), Elementary (9 to 12 years old), Middle School (13 to 15 years old), High School (16 to 18 years old), Adults, Post-Secondary
Teacher/Educator, Museum Staff
Language Arts And English, Social Studies, Arts, Other

History of the Emma S. Barrientos Mexican American Cultural Center

The Emma S. Barrientos Mexican American Cultural Center is dedicated to the preservation, creation, presentation, and promotion of Mexican American cultural arts and heritage. The center is a tremendous resource for the community and visitors to learn and participate in classes and programs that will foster a meaningful understanding and appreciation of not only Mexican American but also Native American, Chicano, and other Latino cultures. The programs and education curriculum include the areas of visual art, theatre, dance, literature, music, multi-media, and the culinary arts.

The idea of establishing a cultural facility for Latino artists and the community emerged in the early 1970s.  Several Hispanic visionaries and artists approached the City of Austin to request support for the development of a Hispanic focused cultural arts facility.

Finally, in 1986, the City Council appointed a task force to determine the feasibility of building a Mexican American Cultural Center.  It was the first of various advisory groups created to provide guidance in the development of the center. Later, the City contracted the services of a major consulting team to conduct a formal and comprehensive location, market, financial feasibility and operations study.  The team’s recommendations supported establishment of a center.

In 1992, the center was part of the citywide bond package put before the voters.  The referendum did not pass.  By 1998, the community had regrouped and with the leadership provided by Hispanic elected officials and other leaders of the community, the 1999 bond package was approved by the voters. The following year, the City authorized a professional services agreement with CasaBella + Del Campo and Maru and Teodoro Gonzalez de Leon for architectural design and construction phase services. A Master Plan for the Mexican American Cultural Center was also developed with input from the community and from various Mexican American arts organizations. The long awaited ground breaking ceremony took place in November of 2005.  Construction of the Mexican American Cultural Center began in January of 2006, and the facility was completed in June of 2007.  The reality of the long-time dream was finalized on September 15, 2007 with a ribbon cutting ceremony attended by thousands from the community.  

Check out our digital programming on our website: www.maccaustin.org  

#esbmacc #ethnicstudies


Emma S. Barrientos Mexican American Cultural Center's collections

 

East Austin Murals

<p>This collection highlights the work of East Austin murals and muralists, with a focus on Mexican American and Latinx artists.  Many in the collection are in existence today while others have been removed though gentrification and community change. <br></p> <p>The collection also contains media articles about some of the murals, touching on dynamics of identity, the claiming of space, and gentrification.</p> <p>#ethnicstudies</p>
Emma S. Barrientos Mexican American Cultural Center
70
 

Latino Artist Access Program

<p>This collection is dedicated to the work of the Latino Artist Access Program at the Emma S. Barrientos Mexican American Cultural Center. </p>
Emma S. Barrientos Mexican American Cultural Center
1
 

Los Lowriders

<p>Lowriding culture is a specific type of car modification community originating among Chicanx youth in California, Texas and the South Western United States. This collection contains paper lowrider classes/activities for kids, as well as videos about the history and culture of lowriding, as well as photos of Lowriders that have presented their rolling works of art at events at the Emma S. Barrientos Mexican American Cultural Center here in Austin, Texas.</p> <p>#ethnicstudies</p>
Emma S. Barrientos Mexican American Cultural Center
20
 

"Veintiuno/21" by Ender Martos

<p><a href="https://www.endermartos.com/">Ender Martos</a>, an award winning Texan Venezuelan artist based in Austin, plans to jumpstart the long awaited 2021 with a cultural head rush. The visual artist will debut <a href="https://youtu.be/goqFeFL_zbY">“21 (Veintiuno)''</a>, a virtual exhibition of his celebrated optic art, along with his personal reflections on the theme of “diversity within diversity."</p> <p>Ender Martos is a fastly rising artist who has drawn comparisons with kinetic art masters such as Jesus Soto and Carlos Cruz-Diez. Ender mixes different media to create wall sculptures and massive installations that involve the viewer in sensorial experiences of movement and color. Ender’s work has been very well received by art collectors from many cities of the US and Mexico, including Miami, Chicago, Austin, Houston, Fort Worth and Mexico City. Ender is known for using intricate geometrical patterns and carefully placed color arrangements to celebrate the strength and beauty of cultural diversity.</p>
Emma S. Barrientos Mexican American Cultural Center
17
 

XX Timeline at the Crossroads XX

<p><strong>XX Timeline at the Crossroads XX</strong></p> <p><strong>by Diana Molina</strong></p> <p><strong></strong><br>Exposed to a wide spectrum of diverse settings, Diana Molina’s socio-environmental portrayals touch on the deep connections linked to regional and international bonds, and ultimately personal identity.   In a retrospective  of journeys across boundaries,  selections from her collections depict women,  and, the environmental relationships to which she is rooted.  Viewing the reflective surface of intimate journeys, her photography, artwork and research speak to a lived experience at the crossroads.</p> <p></p> <p>“My work examines the spectrum of elements that inhabit my world. In various forms and mediums I observe the human experience with a lens focused on the environmental framework we inhabit. The artworks feature the result of the interwoven relationship between people, land, and culture and bring to light perspectives from the road less traveled.  I illustrate the borders of my homeland and those I cross, not only in the literal sense of a governmental division of territory, but also by the influence of ideologies, customs, politics, economics and views of life.”</p> <p>#mexico #ethnicstudies #border #women #latinx #feministart</p> <p></p>
Emma S. Barrientos Mexican American Cultural Center
82
 

Books of Time with the Emma S. Barrientos Mexican American Cultural Center

<p>In this collection, students will rethink their own communities and what people, places, and things are important to them and their neighbors.  They will create "Books of Time," with pop-up art pages that consider the past, present, and future.  Students will explore how they might change their spaces to improve the quality of life for those around them.  Explore the lessons in order by moving through the collection from left to right.  </p> <p>#esbmacc  #ethnicstudies</p>
Emma S. Barrientos Mexican American Cultural Center
35
 

Emma S. Barrientos Mexican American Cultural Center Caminos Teen Leadership Program

<p>This collection presents works by our Caminos Teen Leadership Program.  Caminos is an immersive; one year long paid internship empowering Austin-area Teens to carve their own path in the creative arts. Students work alongside ESB-MACC professionals on a variety of community oriented activities, projects, and exhibitions.</p> <p>#ethnicstudies</p>
Emma S. Barrientos Mexican American Cultural Center
15
 

"The Art of the Bull" by Manuel Miranda

<p><strong><em>"The Art of the Bull"</em></strong> a virtual art exhibit by <a href="https://www.manuelmiranda-art.com/">Manuel Miranda</a> - with The Emma S. Barrientos Mexican American Cultural Center - Austin, Texas, January 2022. </p>
Emma S. Barrientos Mexican American Cultural Center
43
 

"ENTROPY" by Mery Godigna Collet

<p>Entropy is an exhibition of recent works by Venezuelan artist Mery Godigna Collet.</p> <p>Across four decades, Mery Godigna Collet has been revealing the artist’s ability to transform deep research into profoundly moving works of art. Godigna Collet uses art as a tool to confront complex social issues, which she then synthesizes into concepts for the viewers. </p> <p>Her works of art utilize a multitude of diverse materials and she works in different media from installations, paintings, sculptures, photography, and video. She challenges her viewers by consistently modifying and utilizing new techniques and unconventional materials so one can confront the ways humans survive, cope, and deal violence or by inviting one to deeper contemplation and self-introspection.</p> <p>Godigna Collet's exhibit will be on display at the Emma S. Barrientos Mexican American Cultural Center from April 9th - June 22nd, 2022. Check website for <a href="https://www.austintexas.gov/department/emma-s-barrientos-mexican-american-cultural-center" target="_blank">gallery hours</a>. </p>
Emma S. Barrientos Mexican American Cultural Center
15