Mexico
Illuminated/Iluminado
October
4, 2003 - November 16, 2003
READING
PUBLIC MUSEUM WELCOMES MEXICO ILLUMINATED/ILUMINADO
-
PART OF THE LARGEST CONTEMPORARY MEXICAN
ART SHOW EVER
Mexico
Illuminated/Iluminado is a major multi-venue
exhibition and celebration of contemporary
Mexican art, on view in Berks County, PA.
The Reading Public Museum’s Mexico
Illuminated/Iluminado exhibit will
run October 4 – November 16, 2003.
There is a free public opening reception
on Saturday, October 4 from 11am to 5pm
which will include Mexican folk music from
noon to 4pm and “La Fiesta de Ninos”
at 1:30pm – Mexican Songs, Stories
and Artifacts for kids 12 and under. Regular
Museum admission is $7 adults and $5 children
4 to 17. Members and children under 4 are
free. Museum hours are Tuesday, Thursday-Saturday
11am to 5pm, Wednesday 11am to 8pm and Sunday
12pm to 5pm.
Mexico
Illuminated/Iluminado encompasses more
than 25,000 square feet of exhibition space
at nine locations. The show features the
work of 50 artist from various regions of
Mexico creating the biggest show of contemporary
Mexican art ever. In addition, more than
30 of the artists are in residence installing
outdoor public art projects such as murals
and sculptures in the heart of downtown
Reading as well as temporary warehouse installations.
Ron Roth, Director & CEO of the Reading
Public Museum comments, “Mexico
Illuminated is one of the United States
most important and comprehensive exhibitions
of its kind, and will introduce our region
to some of Mexico's most exciting contemporary
artists. I am very pleased that the Reading
Public Musuem is participating as one of
the city-wide venues for this ambitious
project.”
The
Reading Public Museum will feature three
dynamic installations by Jamex and Einar
de la Torre: Colonial Atmosphere,
Tula Frontera Norte and Tula
Frontera Sur. These artworks are composed
of large ceramic forms incorporating video
programs. Their roots are in a folkloric
tradition, incorporating native Indian symbols
tinged with a Spanish past. Yet, ultimately
they raise questions of concern about internal
cultural struggles in Mexico and the contemporary
cultural relationship between Mexico and
the United States. Betsabée Romero
presents works flavored with a similar folk
background. She has made carvings on large
truck tires, conjuring memories of ancient
seals. Much of her work concerns vehicles,
painted hoods of Volkswagens and photographs
of projects in traffic circles in Mexico
City. Like the de la Torre brothers, she
combines aspects of Mexico’s rich
cultural past with the present, in an ironic
manner.
Maruch
Santiz-Gomez is represented by an installation
of photographs displaying images of “old
wives’ tales” or native superstitions.
She worked on this series in the remotest
portion of Chiapas, where her involvement
included photographic workshops with the
local Indians. The accompanying texts are
in English and Spanish. |
