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      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
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      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

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      The Emma S. Barrinetos Mexican American Cultural Center Youth Exhibit, Figúralo 2022

      <p>2022 Youth Exhibit, <em>Figúralo</em></p> <p> </p> <p> </p> <p> </p> <p> </p> <p> </p> <p> </p> <p>The Emma S. Barrientos Mexican American Cultural Center (ESB-MACC) in affiliation with the Smithsonian Institute are excited to present the 2022 <em>Figúralo</em><em>, Youth Exhibit</em>, <em>Figúralo</em><em> 2022 </em>will showcase the exploration of artistic mediums through figurines, figurative images and figurative narratives.  <em>Figúralo, 2022 </em> showcases the creative and original works from the young artist community in Austin, TX. For all Figúralo questions, please contact lori.navarrete@austintexas.gov.</p> <p> #maccedu #macceducation #esbmacceducation #maccaustin #macc #esbmacc</p>
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      Tiempo MACCnífico: Celebrating Space, Place, and Community

      <p><strong>Exhibit Statement: </strong></p> <p>The Mexican American Cultural Center (MACC) opened in 2007 however, the idea for a center to celebrate Mexican American arts and cultural heritage developed in the turbulent 1970s as Mexican Americans were fighting for civil rights and first-class citizenship throughout the United States. The need for a cultural center rose out of the marginalization and exclusion of Mexican American cultural heritage in mainstream schooling as well as social and institutional racism that denied Mexican Americans access to equal learning facilities as well as arts and performance spaces. Funding for the construction of the first stage of the facility in 1998 and for the construction of Phase 1A which was completed in 2010. In 2011, The MACC was renamed after Emma Serrato Barrientos, a community leader and activist, for all her years of service in establishing the center which is now called the Emma S. Barrientos Mexican American Cultural Center (ESB-MACC). </p> <p>Since its opening, the center has worked to fulfill its mission dedicated to “the preservation, creation, presentation, and promotion of the cultural arts of Mexican Americans and Latino cultures” by exhibiting local, national, and international artists and through developing educational programs focused on visual and performing arts. The ESB-MACC continued the work of its founders to increase representation for Mexican American and Latinx artists by establishing the Latino Artist Access Program, and through the support of countless community collaborations. The ESB-MACC faced one of its greatest challenges during the COVID-19 pandemic. Just weeks after the staff were forced to leave the ESB-MACC suddenly in March 2020, they presented digital programming to continued serving the Austin community through digital, hybrid, and in-person formats. In December 2022 a new stage of the MACC will begin as it closes its physical location at 600 River Street to undergo a renovation and expansion of the facility, creating a new period in this <em>MACC</em>nificent history. </p> <p>#esbmacc #macc #esbmaccedu #maccedu #macceduexhibits </p>
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      "Sendas de mi Vida" by Blas E. Lopez

      <p>San Antonio based artist, Blas E. Lopez, opens his latest exhibit at the Emma S. Barrientos Mexican American Cultural Center on July 2nd, 2022. </p> <p>"<em>Many, many years ago, my beloved maternal grandfather, Don Manuel Diaz, a master carpenter, and an artist in his own right, saw an innate talent in his young grandson, and set out to nurture that talent. That gentle soul wore pinstripe overalls with an overabundance of pockets. I vividly remember him fishing a pencil out of one pocket, and a small pocket knife out of another. He would tear open the brown paper sack, in which my mother had packed his lunch, flatten it, sharpen the pencil, handing it to me, and saying, “Here, son, draw that tree, dog, horse" (whatever subject that was around). </em></p> <p><em>He put that pencil in my hand so many decades ago, and to this day I’ve yet to put that pencil, or brush down. Thank you, papa grande!<br><br></em></p> <p><em>I truly believe my calling in life was to be an artist, and cannot recall a time when I wanted to be anything else. Creating art is my life, my passion….I live to paint and I paint to live. Throughout my career, I have exhibited in numerous galleries throughout the states…Texas, New Mexico and Arizona, in particular, and collectors from throughout the country have acquired my work , here in the states, but collectors from abroad, also.<br><br></em></p> <p><em>Hopefully, if you explore my art, you will experience my exuberance, and in doing so, my art will stir an emotion within you, whether it is fleeting or long-lasting."</em><strong> - Blas E. Lopez</strong></p>
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      Uprooted Dreams

      <p><em>Uprooted Dreams (Alebrijes)</em><br></p> <p>On permanent display in the Education Area upstairs at the ESB-MACC is Uprooted Dreams (2012), a site-specific sculptural installation that features over 19 individual, brightly colored woodcarvings, mounted in the public entrance of the Education Area. Artist Margarita Cabrera was selected to create an artwork which would engage the community in its production. "Uprooted Dreams is a work of art designed in the form of workshop production...nineteen members of Austin's immigrant community- guided by Master Artesanos, Ranulfo Sergio Ibañes and Lucia Luria Sosa, experts in the Mexican craft tradition of alebrije-created, carved and painted wooden sculptures. These pieces embodied artistic themes of uprootedness as they spoke to the transformation of people, land, and community. For the artist, artesanos, participants, and audience, the process and product of Uprooted Dreams provides an ongoing platform on which to build respect, equality, solidarity, and dignified ways of making art and creating community."   - Margarita Cabrera</p> <p>#ethnicstudies </p>
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      Emma S. Barrientos Mexican American Cultural Center Virtual Tour

      <p>Welcome to the Emma S. Barrientos Mexican American Cultural Center virtual tour!  In this collection you can learn about our history and work in the Austin community including our signature events, educational programming and the Latino Artist Access Program.   You can take a tour of our campus as well as learning more out our digital collections.  Follow our guided tour by opening the resources from left to right or just select the topic you are interested in to begin. </p> <p>#ethnicstudies</p>
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      The Emma S. Barrientos Mexican American Cultural Center Presents: The 2020 Figúralo, Youth Exhibit

      <p>The Emma S. Barrientos Mexican American Cultural Center (ESB-MACC) in affiliation with the Smithsonian Institute are proud to present the 2020 <em>Figúralo, Youth Exhibit</em>. Figú<em>ralo 2020 </em>will showcase the exploration of artistic mediums through figurines, figurative images and figurative narratives.</p> <p>Collection inquiries, please contact lori.navarrete@austintexas.gov</p> <p>#figuralo2020 #esbmaccedu #esbmacc #macc</p>
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      Latinx Portraiture

      <p>Collection created by the Emma S. Barrientos Mexican American Cultural Center to accompany Found-Object Portraiture Project. Find images of students work at #macceduportraiture</p>
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      "Piecing it Together: Austin Graffiti Art 1984-2004"

      <p></p> <p>"Piecing It Together": Austin Graffiti Art 1984-2004 is an art exhibition focusing on the first three generations of Austin graffiti art, considered the foundation of what many call street art today. The show is organized by each decade which helped shape the backbone of Austin’s vibrant Graffiti Art culture. 1984-1989 is the dawning of Austin's hip-hop culture with high pressure Krylon cans and painting illegally in the streets. These originals were influenced by movies like Style Wars, Beat Street and WildStyle. This first generation understood the four elements of hip hop culture to be a community that embraced graffiti, break dancing, DJing and rapping. 1990-1998 saw a revival of graffiti art with crews forming such as NBK (No Boundaries Krew) which was seminal and a big influence around Texas and beyond. Moving into the 2000’s brought a whole new era of artists with evolving styles and perspective. Low pressure paint cans, a broader color palette, and the internet all allowed more production of and documentation of this previously mercurial art form. Masterpieces could be archived and styles shared with increased access to cameras and computers. Together this group of innovators laid the foundation for the inclusive, diverse, creative graffiti art scene we enjoy today. -Nathan Nordstrom</p> <p>Nathan “SLOKE” Nordstrom is an Austin, Texas native who has been professionally producing graffiti art since the 1990s. Specializing in the use of spray paint, Sloke travels the world exhibiting and curating art shows, and producing murals for companies including: Apple, Facebook, Nike, Google, Red Bull, Tecate, Jose Cuervo, Pepsi, Scholtzsky’s, Nordstrom, Ray Ban, Pandora, Cartoon Network, Trouble Maker Studios, Univision, Time Warner, Vimeo, Fox Network, CNN, Reagan Outdoor Advertising, SXSW, Nikon, Toyota Scion, Ford Motors, F1 Circuit of the Americas, Rackspace, Tango, R.J. Reynolds, University of Texas at Austin, American Heart Association and many others.</p> <p><a href="https://www.addtoany.com/share#url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.austintexas.gov%2Fevent%2Fpiecing-it-together-austin-graffiti-art-1984-2004&title=Piecing%20it%20Together%3A%20Austin%20Graffiti%20Art%201984-2004" class="a2a_dd addtoany_share" target="_blank"></a></p> <p><span class="organization">Original gallery exhibit was at the Mexican American Cultural Center (ESB-MACC)</span> in Austin, Texas from January 24, 2020 until March 28, 2020. </p> <p></p>
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      Masks of Latin America

      <p>A resource that allows students aged 5-13 to learn about various mask traditions from Latin America through videos, pictures and hands-on activities with lesson plans. Separate guides are included for teachers and parents.</p> <p>Based on and inspired by the mask traditions of Mexican Lucha Libre, Puerto Rico's Vejigantes, and Guatemalan Tecun Uman masks.</p> <p>#ethnicstudies</p>
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