MUSEUM Gallery Presentation ARTE 344

Diana Sanchez Arrieta

Matt O’Connell

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National Museum
of Mexican Art
Located in: Harrison Park
Address: 1852 W 19th St, Chicago, IL 60608
Phone: (312) 738-1503
Founded: 1982
Open Tuesday - Sunday 10-5
Free Admission
https://nationalmuseumofmexicanart.org/
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 Mission
To stimulate knowledge and appreciation of Mexican art and culture
from both sides of the border through a significant permanent collection
of Mexican art, rich visual and performing arts programs, high quality
arts education programs and resources and professional development of
Mexican artists. The Museum welcomes all people and strives to foster a
world where all are included.

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Gallery 1
Permanent Collection
This gallery always remains the same.

Artwork ranges from 300 BC to present.

Nuestras Historias (Our Histories) highlights the Museum’s Permanent Collection to showcase the
dynamic and diverse stories of Mexican identity in North America. The exhibition presents cultural identity
as something that continually evolves across time, regions, and communities, rather than as a static,
unchanging entity, and features ancient Mesoamerican and colonial artifacts, modern Mexican art, folk
art, and contemporary works from both sides of the U.S.–Mexican border.

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 Jesus Helguera,
La Leyenda de los Volcanes

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MUSEUM

Gronk,
Bone of Contention

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 MUSEUM

Alejandro Romero,
My Funerals

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Alejandro Diaz
Make tacos not war
Haz tacos no guerra

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MUSEUM ABOUT US

Gallery 2
Main Gallery
This gallery is the larger of the 2 rotating
galleries.

The artwork is changed 1-2 times a year.

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Los huecos del agua March 31 – August 27, 2023

Los huecos del agua, Recent Indigenous Art from Mexico features artists
whose work focuses on the recreation of the present moment and the
legacy left behind by Native cultures before Spanish colonizers arrived to
present-day Mexico. From their vast backgrounds and their aesthetic and
conceptual approaches, a clear criticism emerges towards their forced
Hispanicization, the environmental degradation due to the nation’s
concessions of land, the annulment of their autonomy, and the racist
violence against native people.
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MUSEUM

Ester Hernández,
Sun Mad

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Ana Hernandez (Oaxaca)

Nisaguie

La lluvia dorada / Golden Rain

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MUSEUM

Sabino Guisu,
Dead Honey

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MUSEUM

Andy Medina,
Lil Qui Gannalu

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 MUSEUM

Narsiso Martinez,
Retrado en caja / Portrait in a Box

Narsiso Martinez,
Maduro Para TI/ Ripe to you

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Narsiso Martinez
Mastering under glass

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 Tlacolulokos
(Oaxaca)
Hazlo tu
mismo/ Do it
yourslef

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Tlacolulokos
(Oaxaca)
Sueño
Dorado/
Golden Dream

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 PAG 19

MUSEUM ABOUT US

03
Xi Cago Gallery
Yollocalli Artistic Practice Through the Years

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 MUSEUM

Giving Shape:
Yollocalli Artistic Practice
Through the Years
March 31 – September 3, 2023

This exhibition centers on how Yollocalli students and

artists have transformed Chicago’s physical, visual,
auditory, and literary landscapes. The artwork
presented here challenges our relationships to space:
how we interact with space, claim space, and
reimagine our place within spaces. By uniting art and
social practice, they are giving shape to the world that
surrounds them.

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MUSEUM

William Estrada,
Full of Brilliance

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 MUSEUM

Gabriel Villa,
Temple: South Chicago

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MUSEUM

Salvador Jimenez-Flores

Immigrant like you,

Homage to the Declaration of Immigration
Mural

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 Gift Shop
The Museum's gift shop, Tienda Tzintzuntzán — Place of the
Hummingbird, is described by some visitors as an exhibition
unto itself. Tienda Tzintzuntzán offers an eclectic variety of
unique gifts such as beautifully crafted artwork, jewelry, textiles,
and a large selection of books and toys. Our retail team carefully
selects items from Oaxaca, Puebla, Taxco, Michoacán, Jalisco,
Metepec, Mexico City and other beautiful Mexican regions
while on their shopping excursions throughout Mexico.

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Gallery Attendant Interview 1

The first attendant was standing in the Main gallery
Me: How long have you worked here?
GA1: Only about 3 weeks
Me: How do you like it?
GA1: It’s good but I don’t like having to repeatedly tell people not to touch the artwork, it’s a bit stressful.
Me: Are there a lot of people that try to touch the art?
GA1: Certain pieces like the hanging beads yea.
Me: What types of visitors do you get?
GA1: A lot of Mexican american families and foreign exchange students.
Me: Would you recommend this museum for a field trip for middle school students.
GA1: Yes I think middle schoolers would appreciate the art. You can schedule tours at the front desk.

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 Gallery Attendant Interview 2
The second attendant I spoke to was in the Xi Cago gallery
Me: How long have you worked here?
GA2: About 4 years
Me: How do you like it?
GA2: I really like it.
Me: What types of visitors do you get?
GA2: Students and families mostly
Me: Do you get a lot of school tours?
GA2: No not a lot but we do have them, Most older students, like high school, do self guided tours.
Me: Do you get a lot of people taking pictures for social media?
GA2: Yea, people sometimes think of the art as just props for their pictures they don’t even take the time
to look at the artwork.

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Gallery Attendant Interview 3

The third attendant I spoke to was in the Xi Cago gallery aswell

How come there’s a staff member in each room?

Just to make sure that displayed art is not being damages and remind people to not touch despite there being a huge
sign that says do not touch.
How long have you worked here for?
For a couple of months actually since the last day of the death exhibition around October. You should definitely come to
see that exhibition its so beautiful! They usually change exhibitions around June and do so many activities for people to
come with families and friends.
Do you like it here so far?
I like it, its nice and calm but sometimes very repetitive. For example i know the whole script of this short film that is
playing right now. But its nice that we all rotate and see the other different exhibitions through out the day. Theres so
many people that come in and just admire the art for hours and others that rush through it take a picture for social
media and leave.
Since a lot of the art is very political, has anyone ever tried to destroy it or damage it on purpose?
Most of the damages were accidental or kids just being kids running around and not understanding to not touch and we
have to be warning the other staff about the trouble makers.
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 Gallery Attendant Interview 4
The fourth attendant I spoke to was at the front desk by the entrance

Do you happen to know where people come from to visit the gallery? I noticed that we had to put our zip code when signing in, do you
guys have a pin point map of where people are coming from?
I do not, no. That is just mostly to document how many people are coming in and to keep track of the numbers because thats what
allows us to be free admission. Thats actually a really good question, I wish they that information available, it would be cool. I do know
we get a lot of foreign exchange students and tourists, so when its zip code from outside the US they dont put it because it doesnt
register since its different.
Do you guys welcome large school groups to visit?
Oh yeah of course!
What would I need to do or how does it work?
You can do a self guided tour where you walk with your students and guide them yourself. Or you could also get in contact with our
education program and they can set up a tour with you and tell you more. All and more information can be found on our website.
Just an estimate of how many visitors do you think you get a day?

Honestly probably around 500-800. It really depends on the day and overall if there’s other things happening outside. Alot of people
when i ask how they heard of the gallery they say their teachers told them, friends, family, that they saw it online or just as a tourist stop
for many as well.
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Observations
There was a diverse group of visitors at the museum that ranged from a group elementary
students and their teacher, foreign tourists, families, art students, and even one girl who
went into the bathroom and put on a giant inflatable unicorn costume and then was posing
and taking pictures for social media. She could have easily bumped into or damaged
artwork. Thankfully the gallery attendants quickly approached the girl and made her remove
the costume. I did not see much if any nudity in the artwork. There are ramps for people with
disabilities. They were working on installing a new installation at the museum so there was
some construction noise and workers coming in and out of the museum.

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 Observations
On Saturday, there were waves of large visitors such as groups of tourists coming in as well as families
with children, foreign exchange students and just young adults in general. The staff was very
welcoming and cautious with maintaining the artwork safe and free of damage. There were many art
pieces that had artist statement in their native tongue and translated to English and Spanish as well,
meanwhile others only had Spanish and English. As I was taking a picture of the work, my phone
slipped out of my hand and made a loud noise which worried and alerted the staff member, came
running and asked if I was okay. After I explained, she told me she thought a child dropped had a
display piece. I was able to realize that although they are there to protect the art, they also care about
the visitors' wellbeing.

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Overall Impressions
Kid friendly
Handicap accessible
Courteous and knowledgeable staff
Diverse artists and artwork
Free admission, plentiful and affordable parking
Accessible and affordable public transportation
(METRA + CTA)
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 No cafeteria but super
close to delicious food.

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There are street vendors almost

on every corner selling variety
fruits cups, corn in a cup and
many more delicious snacks.

Across the Street was this

beautiful mural.

The park surrounds the Museum.

Community activity where

people can take, exchange and
donate clothes.

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 Image references
https://wintrust-prod-65.adobecqms.net/financial-education/2022/09/the-nmma-rich-history-and-vibrant-f
uture.html

https://nationalmuseumofmexicanart.org/

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