SAN FRANCISCO, Aug. 20, 2014 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The Mexican Museum announces that it is embarking on a unique partnership with Universidad Nacional Autónoma de Mexico (National Autonomous University of Mexico) (UNAM) in Mexico City that will, among other things, bring Mexican artists in residence to San Francisco. The Mexican Museum is the premier West Coast museum of Mexican, Mexican-American, Chicano, Latin American and Latino art, culture and heritage.
Andrew Kluger, chairman of The Mexican Museum's Board of Directors, recently met with UNAM officials on his visit to Mexico on behalf of the Museum. These officials included Juliet Ojeda Gomez, counselor to the UNAM rector; Dr. Gloria Soberon Chavez, director general of programming new ventures; and Juan Manuel Romero Ortega, director and counselor for all university innovation and new venture projects. Included in the discussions was a proposal that would establish a new visiting artist-in-residence program in conjunction with The Mexican Museum.
"Our initial vision for this pioneering program involves bringing Universidad Nacional Autónoma de Mexico artists to our Museum over the next year," said Kluger. "Each artist would participate in a five-day program that will include participating in guest lectures and classes, doing workshops with children, and mentoring gifted young San Francisco artists. In addition, UNAM is going to share their educational materials about the arts and culture of Mexico with supporters and friends of The Mexican Museum community."
Sandra Acevedo Hanns, who has been appointed Chairperson by Kluger to head this important project, stated, "This innovative and meaningful collaboration between The Mexican Museum and Mexico's largest public university represents an important alliance. The Mexican Museum will serve as a focal point in introducing stronger cultural ties between our two nations."
In addition, a series of exhibitions featuring pieces from both The Mexican Museum and UNAM is in the planning stages. These special exhibitions will allow for important works to be shared and exchanged between the two organizations as temporary exhibits. The Museum and UNAM will also collaborate in identifying notable professional and new artists and sculptors and invite them to showcase their work at The Mexican Museum.
About the Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México:
Established in 1910 in Mexico City, the Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México is Mexico's largest public research university and the largest university in Latin America. Known for having one of the largest and most-artistically detailed campuses in the world, this World Heritage site was designed by some of Mexico's best-known architects of the 20th century. Murals found on the main campus were painted by renowned Mexican artists such as Diego Rivera and David Alfaro Siqueiros. For more information, please visit www.unam.mx.
About The Mexican Museum:
Founded by San Francisco artist Peter Rodriguez in 1975 in the heart of the Mission District, The Mexican Museum is located at Fort Mason Center, is the realization of a vision to exhibit the aesthetic expression of the Mexican and Mexican American people. Today, the museum's vision has expanded to reflect the evolving scope of the Mexican, Chicano and Latino experience – including art, culture, history and heritage. In 2012, The Mexican Museum became an affiliate of the Smithsonian Institution, the nation's largest museum network. The museum currently has a permanent collection of more than 15,500 objects reflecting Pre-Hispanic, Colonial, Popular, Modern and Contemporary Mexican, Mexican-American, Latin American, Latino, and Chicano art.
The Mexican Museum is open Wednesday - Sunday from noon to 4 p.m., located at Fort Mason Center, Building D, Marina Boulevard and Buchanan Street, in San Francisco. FREE Admission. The Museum offers a wide variety of programs, including Family Sundays, exhibitions, special events, lectures and public programming throughout the San Francisco Bay Area. For more information, please visit: http://www.mexicanmuseum.org or call (415) 202-9700.
The Museum is currently preparing for the completion of its permanent home, which will be built in downtown San Francisco's Yerba Buena Garden Arts District and is expected to open in 2018.