From left, "Paisaje Con Pina," 1953 (Maria Izquierdo); "Figura Sentada II," 1972 (Luis Ortiz Monasterio);
and "Mi Vestido Cuelga  Ahi," 1933 (Frida Kahlo)

March 24, 2006

Traveling Exhibition of Major Works by Latin American Artists
To Spend Summer at National Hispanic Cultural Center

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 - will open with a free public reception Friday (March 31, 2006) at 6 p.m. and run through August 13, 2006, at the National Hispanic Cultural Center (NHCC) in Albuquerque.

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; and from Albuquerque, will travel to Bogota, Colombia.

The artists included in Coleccion FEMSA include such classic luminaries as Frida Kahlo, Diego Rivera, David Alfaro Siquieros, Rufino Tamayo, Wifredo Lam and Roberto Matta.

More contemporary artists featured are Gunther Gerzo, Carlos Zerpa, Alejandro Colunga and Enrique Carbajal (Sebastian). Finally, there is new generation of cutting-edge artists such as Paula Santiago, Marco Arce, Monica Castillo, Guillermo Kuitca, and Betsabee Romero, whose thought-provoking works are sure to elicit strong reactions.

Highlights of the collection include a monumental, cubist portrait by Diego Rivera; a densely constructed surrealist collage by Frida Kahlo; a self-portrait as the entombed Christ by Nahum Zenil; and a tower of found shoes encased in acrylic boxes by Sandra Cabriada.  

"The National Hispanic Cultural Center is a New Mexico treasure, an incredible visual experience" said Michael Cerletti, secretary of the New Mexico Tourism Department. "This new exhibit is sure to attract new visitors to both the Center and to New Mexico. We encourage all New Mexicans to enjoy the Center and all it has to offer."

The reception March 31 is 6-8 p.m. Dr. Karen Cordero, exhibition curator and Professor in the Art History Department of the Iberoamerican University in Mexico City, and Lic. Rosa Maria Rodriguez Garza, FEMSA’s Cultural Programs Coordinator, will be present.  Dr. Cordero will also lead an English-language public tour of the exhibition Saturday (April 1, 2006) at 2 p.m. An exhibition catalogue book signing will follow the tour.

"The FEMSA exhibition offers New Mexicans a singular opportunity to appreciate these important Mexican and Latin American artists," said Eduardo Diaz, Executive Director of the National Hispanic Cultural Center. "The richness and diversity of styles, together with the artists' treatment of landscape, history, personal experience, among other themes, makes for a truly enthralling and educational experience – one that shouldn’t be missed." 

Founded in 1890 in Monterrey, Mexico, FEMSA (Fomento Economico Méxicano S.A. de C. V.) is the largest beverage company in Latin America. It is a pioneer in the field of institutional collections. The collection encompasses an artistic trove of more than 1,000 works in a variety of art forms collected for 25 years. FEMSA is committed to promoting an interest in art by sharing its art collection through traveling exhibitions.

A 98-page catalogue accompanying the exhibition will be available for sale at La Tiendita, NHCC's museum shop. Educational programs will be scheduled throughout the run of the exhibition.

The National Hispanic Cultural Center is located at 1701 4^th Street SW in Albuquerque. The Art Museum is open 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Tuesday through Sunday. Admission to the Art Museum is $3 adults, $2 seniors and free for children ages 16 and younger; and free to everyone on Sundays.

For more information, call Andrew Connors, 505-246-2261 ext. 116, or Danny Lopez, 505-246-2261 ext. 120, or visit www.nhccnm.org.

Mike Stauffer, Communications Director, New Mexico Tourism Department

505-827-7379, mike.stauffer@state.nm.us