News and Events

PRESS RELEASE                                                                                            September 09, 2008
Contact: Valerie Menard
               (512) 926-1369

                                    Serape/Sarape Weaving Project returns to Austin


Austin, TX—The Center for Mexican American Cultural Arts (CMACA), Inc., announces the annual Serape/Sarape Presentation, September 11–12. CMACA has invited historian Reynaldo RodrÌguez to return for the seventh consecutive year to conduct the oral presentation. Weaver Alejandrina Contreras from Saltillo, Mexico will conduct the weaving demonstration.

In 2003 CMACA purchased a loom made by the late master weaver Don Pablo Flores Gonzalez from Saltillo. The organization plans to donate the loom to the Mexican American Cultural Center in Austin once additional exhibit and classroom space has been built.

Hoping to encourage an interest in weaving among children, the Serape/Sarape Weaving Project takes place at Zavala Elementary, 310 Robert T. Martinez, September 11 and at Sanchez Elementary, 73 San Marcos, September 12. There will be three, 45-minute demonstrations per day beginning at 9 a.m. and ending at 12 noon.

“This project enhances the weaving learning the students have received through our art program as well as cultural knowledge that they are able to implement in different classroom settings,” comments Azucena Garcia, Sanchez Elementary principal. “This experience is one that we would not be able to share with our students and are grateful that the CMACA includes Sanchez Elementary.”

The event as well as information about the serape will be included on www.austinmacc.com, the website launched by CMACA in 2004. The website also includes a calendar of events, artist profiles, and links to other Latino arts groups in Austin.

"We can learn much from Mexico about the care and concern we must have when it comes to the arts, " says Valerie Menard, CMACA president. "From cave paintings to serapes, much of our cultural history has been recorded and maintained by artists and CMACA is committed to supporting this effort."


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