This summer, the Museum of Fine Arts in Santa Fe will be the only U.S. destination for a spectacular collection of Mexican modern art from Mexico City. Mexican Modern: Masters of the 20 th Century will feature over sixty paintings and photographs by internationally acclaimed artists Diego Rivera, Frida Kahlo, Jose Clemente Orozco, David Alfaro Siqueiros, and Manuel Alvarez Bravo, among others. On special loan from the Museo de Arte Moderno and curated by Director Luis-Marta–n Lozano, the exhibition will highlight the pioneers of Mexican Modernism, focusing on works created in the first half of the 20th century
Mexican Modernism is known the world over for its beauty -vibrant colors and simple imagery -and its bold socio-political commentary. Responding to a wide gap between rich and poor, Spanish- and indigenous-descent, these artists used their talents to foster mestizaje pride and socialist sentiment during and following the Mexican Revolution of 1910-1917.
Many of the artists featured in Mexican Modern were well-known muralists who painted on public buildings in Mexico City out of conviction that art should be of and for the people. Their work expressed national pride and love of everyday life and traditions. In this special exhibition, the public will have an opportunity to view Rivera's and Orozco's rarer works on canvas.
Mexican Modern was made possible through a special government-to-government exchange. Given the deep historical ties between Mexico and New Mexico, the exhibition builds on and strengthens this very old relationship.
Dr. Marsha Bol, Director of the Museum of Fine Arts, said, "It is an honor to be the only museum in the United States to exhibit this prestigious collection of works by the giants of Mexican Modernism. This is an opportunity for New Mexicans not to have to leave their state to see world class art."
The exhibition will not only resonate with New Mexicans, but will also have international appeal -artists represented in the exhibition greatly influenced North American and European art in the first half of the 20 th century.
A catalogue published by MNM Press will accompany the exhibition, featuring essays by Director Luis-MartÖn Lozano and Dr. David Craven, professor of art history at the University of New Mexico.
The opening of Mexican Modern is among the highlights in an exciting lineup of Memorial Day Weekend activities that kick off the 2006 summer art season in Santa Fe. Noche de Oro, a gala benefit and preview of Mexican Modern, will be hosted by the Museum of New Mexico Foundation for the Museum of Fine Arts on Saturday, May 27 th. A members-only exhibit preview also takes place on Sunday, May 28 th at 10 a.m.
Mexican art will also be on view at the National Hispanic Cultural Center in Albuquerque this summer. Coleccion FEMSA, una mirada continental (FEMSA Collection, a Continental Vision), a traveling exhibition featuring 59 modern and contemporary works of art dating from 1914 to 2004 by 56 Latin American artists with special emphasis on Mexico, runs through August 13. Included in the exhibition are paintings, sculptures, drawings, graphic arts, installations, and photography. This traveling exhibition comes to Albuquerque from the Museo de Arte Contemporaneo de Monterrey, in Monterrey, Mexico; from Albuquerque, it will travel to Bogota, Colombia.
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