During early decades of the 20th century, Americans eagerly traveled to Mexico to discover their culturally distinct neighbor “south of the border.” During their sojourns, Americans were especially taken by Mexico’s unique and diverse craft traditions—from painted earthenware pottery, to glazed majolica, lacquer ware and textiles.  To them, these objects—referred to in Mexico as popular arts—embodied their vision of Mexico as a rural, largely indigenous and pre-modern culture. Mexicana: Discovering Mexican Popular Arts, 1919-1950 presents objects and textiles, drawn from The Newark Museum’s own permanent collection, which captured American interest and explores the larger cultural context that fed the craze for things Mexican.

Interest in Mexican popular arts was fueled by many sources.  In Mexico, the cultural nationalism preceding and following the Mexican Revolution (1910-1920), led many artists and intellectuals to promote crafts as the true embodiment of Mexican creativity and indigenous artistic heritage.  For them, Mexico had a rich indigenous heritage, especially visible in the nation’s numerous regional craft traditions. Following the lead of their Mexican colleagues, Americans undoubtedly admired the beauty of Mexican popular arts, which they perceived grew out of a traditional and simpler society vastly different than the industrial United States.  Their enthusiasm was not without critics, who believed the vogue for Mexican culture catered to tourists hungry for exotic or picturesque diversions.

This exhibition offers a critical view of Newark Museum’s little known, yet significant Mexican popular art collection acquired or donated between 1919 and 1950, during a highpoint of interest in Mexico.  Mexicana offers both insights into how museum collections reflect larger cultural trends and introduces Mexico’s varied and rich artistic traditions to new audiences.

E. Carmen Ramos
Assistant Curator for Cultural Engagement

Funding for this exhibition has been made possible by

The Wallace Foundation and the Mex-Am Cultural Foundation, Inc.

Images:

Banner (detail, left to right):

Eduardo Alonso and Alfonso Alonso, Jarabe Michoacána, circa 1930s, lacquered wood, Gift of Mrs. Charles Suydan Cutting 48.329 Collection of Newark Museum

Eduardo Alonso and Alfonso Alonso, Tray, late 19th to early 20th century, Michoacán, Mexico, lacquered wood, Gift of Mrs. E. J. Eurich 19.573 Collection of Newark Museum

Above: Eduardo Alonso and Alfonso Alonso, Jarabe Michoacána, circa 1930s, lacquered wood, Gift of Mrs. Charles Suydan Cutting 48.329 Collection of Newark Museum