Caja de visiones: arte moderno y contemporáneo de México en el Medio Oeste de los Estados Unidos

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Courtesy J. Leigh Garcia/MMoCA

J. Leigh Garcia, "El sueño americano," 2016. Screenprint, 18 x 14 inches.

MMoCA debuts a new exhibit, Caja de visiones: arte moderno y contemporáneo de México en el Medio Oeste de los Estados Unidos (Box of Visions: Modern and Contemporary Art from Mexico in the Midwest), with an evening reception. More than 60 artists are part of the exhibit drawn from the MMoCA permanent collection; giving gallery talks during the reception will be Angelica Contreras, J. Leigh Garcia, Sandra Martinez, Wence Martinez, Roberto Torres Mata and Mauricio Ramirez, and an ensemble led by Richard Hildner Armacanqui will play music on the rooftop. The exhibit continues through Jan. 23.

press release: The past and present intertwine in Caja de visiones: arte moderno y contemporáneo de México en el Medio Oeste de los Estados Unidos, or Box of Visions: Modern and Contemporary Art from Mexico in the Midwest. The exhibition features selections from MMoCA’s significant collection of Mexican modern art in a show that explores the history of the artistic renaissance in Mexico during the first half of the twentieth century and its connection to works being created by Mexican and Mexican-American artists working in the Midwest today.

The museum’s collection of Mexican modern art is one of the finest and most extensive in the Midwest and includes 223 works by over 60 artists—primarily prints, photographs, and drawings by luminaries such as Manuel Álvarez Bravo, Leopoldo Méndez, José Clemente Orozco, Diego Rivera, and Rufino Tamayo, as well as an important oil painting by Frida Kahlo.

These significant modern art works are paired with contemporary artists based the United States who address analogous themes in their work, nearly a century later, as they relay their own stories that thoughtfully address topics like the border crisis, exploited Mexican labor, and the celebration of their heritage and cultural pride. Featured works by Angelica Contreras, J. Leigh Garcia, Wence Martinez and his partner Sandra Martinez, Roberto Torres Mata, and Mauricio Ramirez reveal undeniable and impactful connections to the modern art of Mexico. Read their artist bios here.

RECEPTION: On Sept. 17, we’re delighted to invite you to a celebration of our newest exhibition, Caja de visiones: arte moderno y contemporáneo de México en el Medio Oeste de los Estados Unidos, or Box of Visions: Modern and Contemporary Art from Mexico in the Midwest. Caja de visiones features selections from the Museum’s significant collection of Mexican modern artwork, alongside work from contemporary Mexican and Mexican-American artists with connections to Wisconsin.

The Museum’s collection of Mexican modern art is one of the finest and most extensive in the Midwest and includes 223 works by over 60 artists—primarily prints, photographs, and drawings by luminaries such as Manuel Álvarez Bravo, Leopoldo Méndez, José Clemente Orozco, Diego Rivera, and Rufino Tamayo, as well as an important oil painting by Frida Kahlo.

The contemporary artists featured in the exhibition, Angélica Contreras, J. Leigh Garcia, Wenceslao and Sandra Martinez, Robert Torres Mata, and Mauricio Ramirez, will be providing mini gallery talks from 6-8 pm. A schedule of these talks will be provided upon arrival at the event.

The exhibition celebration is admission-free and includes live music on the Rooftop by the Richard Hildner Armacanqui Group. Armacanqui is a Peruvian-American guitarist who plays a diverse variety of Afro-Peruvian jazz music.

Member early access to the celebration begins at 5 pm and general admission starts at 6 pm. The event ends at 8 pm.

Presenting Sponsorship for Caja de visiones has been provided by a grant from Jan and Bill DeAtley; the Madison Community Foundation; and the National Endowment for the Arts. 

Major support for Caja de Visiones has been provided by a grant from Wisconsin Humanities, with funds from the National Endowment for the Humanities and the State of Wisconsin.