Estimated read time: 3-4 minutes
This archived news story is available only for your personal, non-commercial use. Information in the story may be outdated or superseded by additional information. Reading or replaying the story in its archived form does not constitute a republication of the story.
Aug. 16--Stroll through the front entrance of Arte Americas in downtown Fresno, and turn left. You'll quickly see double glass doors that lead you into an exhibit of Mexican modern master artists Alfredo Zalce and David Alfaro Siqueiros.
But notice the printed words on a wall across from this gallery. They explain the primary mover behind this show:
"Fresno Art Museum Gallery at Arte Americas."
It's the start of a long-term partnership between the two cultural institutions that will highlight pieces by Latin American artists and pre-Columbian works in the permanent collection and repository of the Fresno Art Museum, near Clinton Avenue and First Street in central Fresno.
With Arte Americas as a venue for Latin American art, the arrangement provides the museum with essentially another gallery. Carlos Martinez, director of the Fresno Art Museum, says they plan to present three to four shows annually of art that might not otherwise be available for public viewing.
"What we're looking to do is provide them with wonderful exhibits throughout the year," he says.
Nancy Marquez, director and co-founder of Arte Americas, says: "For us, it's a great resource. It's like this gallery takes care of itself."
She also says her center will benefit from the Fresno Art Museum's staff expertise as an accredited institution. In turn, Arte Americas' location at Van Ness Avenue and Calaveras Street gives the museum a presence in downtown's cultural arts district.
Before the partnership could be undertaken, Arte Americas had to upgrade the about 1,200-square-foot gallery to meet requirements such as security and temperature control. Local grant sources, including the Fresno Arts Council's Community Enrichment Program, helped fund the project.
The space won't always have to display works from the Fresno Art Museum. Together, they can pursue touring exhibits of mutual interest, including larger ones that could be shown at both sites.
The partnership begins with works by the masters Zalce and Siqueiros that will be on display for about three months.
Untitled black-and-white lithographs by Zalce (1908-2003), most depicting village life, hang on one side. Another features his "Mexico Is Transforming Itself Into a Major City," with its bleak landscape of poverty. Across the way are color linocuts, such as "Muchacha Dibujando."
In the other half of the gallery, striking lithographs by Siqueiros (1896-1974) grace the walls, with several depicting motherhood. For example, "Mother Love" is a close-up of a woman cupping the head of a young boy in her hands against her lips. Other Siqueiros works in the room are like dramatic blasts of color.
Marquez and Martinez both say the exhibit complements the show in the next gallery: The Chicano Collection/La Coleccion Chicana: Fine Art Prints by Modern Multiples that features reproductions of pieces owned primarily by actor-comedian Cheech Marin.
"You can see where Chicano artists have drawn from some of their style," Martinez says.
Both directors say this partnership doesn't just serve their museums.
"In the most broad and general sense," Marquez says, "when the arts community is collaborative and united and offering all these multiple experiences, the community benefits."
The reporter can be reached at fmatlosz@fresnobee.com or (559) 441-6428.
-----
Copyright (c) 2006, The Fresno Bee, Calif.
Distributed by McClatchy-Tribune Business News.
For reprints, email tmsreprints@permissionsgroup.com, call 800-374-7985 or 847-635-6550, send a fax to 847-635-6968, or write to The Permissions Group Inc., 1247 Milwaukee Ave., Suite 303, Glenview, IL 60025, USA.
