Modern Mexican printmaking at UCSB

Curated by Ana Briz, the show highlights artists who played a central role in the Mexican printmaking movement, including José Clemente Orozco, David Alfaro Siqueiros, Rufino Tamayo, Leopoldo Méndez, Sarah Jiménez and Ignacio Aguirre. Many were associated with the Taller de Gráfica Popular (People's Graphic Workshop), one of the longest-running and most influential artist collectives of the 20th century.

"These artists were addressing agrarian reform, labor rights, women's roles, domesticity and gender," Briz said. "Even though the works were made decades ago, they resonate with current conversations about immigration and the conditions facing farmworkers, particularly here in California."

The diversity of the works is a defining feature of the collection. Visitors encounter portraits, domestic interiors, agricultural landscapes, depictions of rituals and images of labor that together paint a broad picture of Mexican culture and modernism. "That diversity is a point of connection for people," Briz said. "Students may be struck by the boldness of the imagery, while others may find recognition in the subjects or themes."

For Briz, the exhibition also reflects the way printmaking functioned as a tool of communication during a pivotal period in Mexican history. Prints could be produced quickly and distributed widely, allowing artists to comment on social issues in a direct, accessible form. "The medium itself carried a social and political intent," she said. "That's why the movement has continued to influence artists across generations."

A public reception for "Mexican Prints: The Garcia-Correa Collection" will be held on Saturday, Sept. 27, from 5:30 to 8 p.m. at the AD&A Museum. The evening includes a 6:15 p.m. tour with Briz and curatorial assistant Claudia Grego March, followed at 7 p.m. by a performance from Mariachi Las Olas de Santa Barbara inside the galleries. Admission is free, with drinks and light refreshments served in the museum courtyard.

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