Events

Free Event- Join us for an art takeover at the El Paso Museum of History as we celebrate the opening of not one, but TWO new exhibitions- “Ambos Lados: International Print Exchange” and “The Uncolonized:

Historically, art reflects a vision of a culture in a given time period showing how individuals and communities were reflected; capturing triumphs, defeat, hope, and wonderment. In these exhibitions, the art serves as a living archive of contemporary works by artists navigating and interpreting the world we live in.

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About the exhibits:

“Ambos Lados: International Print Exchange”

“Ambos Lados” is an exhibition of 158 prints from artists in six countries, primarily Mexico and the United States, including 18 artists from New Mexico and several Albuquerque artists. “Ambos Lados” translates as “both sides” in Spanish. The exhibition emerged out of a print exchange organized on both sides of the border by Manuel Guerra, Director of Horned Toad Prints in El Paso, and Adrian Aguirre and Beatriz Rivas of Taller Grafica Libre in Zaachila, Oaxaca. The prints and larger project emphasize the unity of artists and peoples across the political border of the United States and Mexico.

While there was no set theme for the exchange, many of the works explore political and social issues, specifically the border, while others are contemplative, humorous, or abstract. The print exchange, organized in 2018, was unjuried and open to anyone who wished to participate; the only rule for the exchange was a uniform print size. Prints have historically been made for broad distribution and they are an ideal medium for exchange as they are produced in multiples and easily packed, mailed, and dispersed. The prints included showcase a range of printing techniques including lithographs, serigraphs, relief, and intaglio. Egalitarian in nature, the project connected artists from a range of professional, ethnic, and geographic backgrounds, and the exhibition puts these perspectives in conversation. The prints emphasize how artistic expression is a unifying force across different kinds of borders and divides.

This exhibition will be on display through May 27, 2023

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“The Uncolonized: A Vision in the Parallel”

Created by local artist Angel Cabrales, “The Uncolonized” is a peek into a parallel world where the Western Hemisphere averted colonization and the Indigenous people of the lands thrived unobstructed. This body of work celebrates the Indigenous heritage of people and is intended to invoke curiosity into the untaught histories of our Mesoamerican legacy.

This exhibition will be on display through July 15, 2023.