Myth & Tragedy Combine to Present Twentieth-Century Mexico in a New Light

Unlike the ambiguous origins of particular traditions of art, the complex art produced in Mexico in the 20th century can clearly trace its origins to those traditions of tragedy and myth exemplified in the folk arts of that region. On September 4th, the Colorado Springs Fine Arts Center will open the first exhibition from the Auburn Collect Series, organized by the Jule Collins Smith Museum of Fine Art at Auburn University.

This exhibit focuses on the origin of a truly Mexican art with examples from 22 artists such as Posada, Diego Rivera, Jose Clemente Orozco, David Alfaro Siqueiros, Rufino Tamayo, Alfredo Zalce, José Luis Cuevas, Francisco Zuñiga, Rudolfo Nieto and Alejandro Colunga. Included are works spanning the 20th century such as watercolors of Rivera’s visits to the Yucatan and Tehuantepec and his lithographs of Mexican Indians, and prints and paintings by Orozco, Siqueiros, Pablo O’Higgins, and several Posada broadsheets. Later 20th century artists are well represented with several works by Rufino Tamayo, Jose Luis Cuevas, and Leonora Carrington. Three vintage photographs of Diego Rivera and Frida Kahlo by Guillermo Zamora and examples of pre-Columbian and Mexican folk art complement the exhibition. At base, the collection attempts to demonstrate elements of myth, tragedy, and politics in art executed as sculpture, oils, drawings, watercolors, and in pre-Columbian and folk art as well.

The exhibit is part of a series, Auburn Collects, organized by The Jule Collins Smith Museum of Fine Art, Auburn University, Alabama, and is accompanied by a catalog published by the Colorado Springs Fine Arts Center in association with The Jule Collins Smith Museum of Fine Art.

Gallery Talk, Saturday, September 4, 11:00 a.m.
Patrick Frank, Ph.D. Frank served as Assistant Professor of Latin American art at the University of Kansas, 1998-2004. He is author and editor of the new book Readings in Latin American Modern Art, and author of Posada’s Broadsheets: Popular Imagery in Mexico City, 1890-1910. He is co-author of the classic text Artforms: An Introduction to Visual Arts.

The Persistence of Myth and Tragedy in Twentieth Century Mexican Art Selections from the private collection of Robert B. Ekelund, Jr.

Open until November 21, 2004

Admission Information
The Fine Arts Center is open Tuesday – Saturday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Sunday from 1 to 5 p.m. Admission is $5 for adults, $3 for seniors 62 and over, $2 for children 6 – 16, and free for children under 6. Information is available at the Box Office at 30 West Dale Street, by calling (719) 634-5583, or for those outside of the Colorado Springs area on-line 24 hours a day by visiting www.csfineartscenter.org.

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