The Blanton Museum of Artwork on the College of Texas, Austin, introduced that it has acquired 5,650 works from the Gilberto Cárdenas and Dolores Garcia Assortment, one of many world’s largest assemblies of Chicano and Latino artwork. The acquisition, achieved by way of donation and buy, displays the museum’s purpose of changing into a serious middle for contemporary and modern Latino artwork. To assist this effort, the Blanton established the place of affiliate curator of Latino artwork. The museum in March will welcome two new gallery areas devoted to Latino artwork, with an exhibition dedicated to portraits by Chicano artists.
“For many years, Dr. Gilberto Cárdenas has supported and championed Latino and Chicano artists, constructed an vital assortment, and persistently inspired museums to characteristic Latino artwork,” mentioned director Simone Wicha. “Latino tradition is a necessary a part of US tradition, particularly right here within the Southwest, and our shared dedication to representing and amplifying Latino historical past and voices by artwork prompted me to start this collaboration with Gilberto and Dolores. The brand new initiative is a vital subsequent step for the Blanton, which has been a frontrunner in American modern artwork and holds one of many oldest and most distinguished collections of Latin American artwork on this nation.”
The Cárdenas and Garcia assortment was amassed with a watch towards printmaking, particularly Chicano prints of the Nineteen Sixties. Among the many works acquired are these by Ester Hernandez, Carmen Lomas Garza, Maceo Montoya, César A. Martínez, and Dulce Pinzón. The accession follows on the heels of a 2017 present from Cárdenas of 356 prints from the famend Los Angeles printmaking workshop Self Assist Graphics & Artwork. Employees on the Blanton will analysis and digitize all of the artworks arriving within the new tranche; the method is predicted to take 5 years.