Mexic-Arte holds reception for ‘Masked: Changing Identities’ exhibit

Unmasked: Lucha Libre, January 25- May 5, 2013

As part of their upcoming survey exhibition, Mexic-Arte museum will be hosting Masked: Changing Identities which will be opening Jan. 25 with a reception from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. Admission to the reception is $10 and free for members.

There will be a special performance by Danza Azteca Guadalupana and a conversation with the collectors at 6:30 p.m. The exhibit will last until May 5. The museum is open Monday through Thursday from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., Friday and Saturday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., and Sunday from 12 p.m. to 5 p.m. Regular admission is $5 for Adults, $4 for senior citizens and students, and $1 for children 12 and under. Admission is free every Sunday.

Masked: Changing Identities will go behind the meaning of how “masks” serve as a disguise, performance, and entertainment tool that transforms the person wearing it in the Latino and Latin American visual culture. The exhibition focuses on themes of cultural identity, Mexican historiography, folkloric narratives, and anthropological artifacts.

Highlighted by the exhibit will be the mask collection of Patricia and Carmine De Vivi which include 300 popular art masks from Central Mexico. These masks are made out of wood and portray a lot of Hispanic imagery, narrating colonial and indigenous myths along with history. They come from Central Mexico and are available commercially, but are limited edition.

Also accompanying the exhibit will be Unmasked: Lucha Libre, the centered exhibition which examines the costumes and practice of “lucha libre” or Mexican wrestling. It will take an in depth look beyond the mask and how this inspires and infiltrates many contemporary, Latino artists.

There will be various lectures by academic scholars presenting on culture identities, a mask-making workshop, a classic lucha cinema series, and an herbalist workshop which teaches how to use natural elements in performance and ritual to accompany the exhibit. The exhibit will run the same dates as Masked: Changing Identities and will be in the annex gallery.

Since 1984, it has been Mexic-Arte museum’s mission is to enrich culture and education through the presentation and promotion of tradition contemporary Mexican, Latino, and Latin American Art. It is designated as the official Mexican and Mexican American Art museum of Texas.

Mexic-Arte is located on the corner of 5th St. and Congress Ave. at 419 Congress Ave. Austin, TX 78701. For more information, visit their website, contact info@mexic-artemuseum.org or call 512-480-9373.