THE ART OF BROWNSVILLE - COMMENTS

Here is our VERY UNOFFICIAL Fronteras Cruzadas press release. This version is just for informative purposes and not the official announcement. Our REAL press release will be ready by the end of next week, so if want to obtain to get a copy, e-mail me and I will be happy to send one your way.

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The Brownsville Heritage Complex will be the site for, Fronteras Cruzadas, a new art exhibition showcasing border art from five high schools in Brownsville, Texas: Hanna High School, Lopez High School, Porter High School, St. Joseph Academy and Valley Christian High School. The University of Texas at Austin's College of Fine Arts and the University Cooperative Society is sponsoring this event through ArtsReach, a program designed for undergraduate students to establish residencies in their home communities. “The University of Texas at Austin is dedicated to the long term development of the State of Texas as a whole. This wonderful project is an important part of this effort, and I salute the imagination of our young people in making this happen,” says Dean Robert Freeman of the College of Fine Arts.

The resident coordinators, Mayra Cruz and Francisco Diaz, hope to cast light on Brownsville’s local culture and history through an exhibition of local high school artists. "Through this project it is hoped to help students get in touch with local culture and history. It'll open their eyes and increase awareness of their surroundings. It'll show them the importance of history in Brownsville and Matamoros, Mexico and it'll benefit the citizens because it gives them an opportunity to go to the museum and see border art. Too often people forget this museum is here, " says Carmen Zacarias, Executive Director of the Brownsville Heritage Complex which includes the Stillman House Museum. Frank Diaz further comments, “We intend to stimulate curiosity through this project. We feel a working knowledge of history, especially from an underrepresented point of view, is essential for students to understand their role in society, and consequently the world.” The Brownsville ArtsReach program aims to foster this understanding so students can realize art as an opportunity for civic engagement.

The opening reception for Fronteras Cruzadas will be on Saturday, May 15th, 2004 at the Brownsville Heritage Complex located on 1300 East Elizabeth Street, Brownsville, TX, ph. 956-541-5560. The exhibition will be open to the public for two weeks and will be located in the Bruce T. Aiken room until Saturday, May 28th.

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“ Artsreach provides an opportunity for students to learn how to give
back to their home communities. The students who participate in the
program follow a very professional agenda in the development and
implementation of a specific project. They learn how to use their
educational training to have a positive impact on a community through
professional collaborative efforts. In turn the chosen community
learns first hand the value that the University of Texas has in
enriching their lives.”
Ken Hale, Chair of the Department of Art and Art History

"While a central aspect of the mission of the University of Texas at Austin is the education and training of our students, we are also dedicated to the long term development of the State of Texas as a whole. The wonderful artistic project in Brownsville put together by Mayra Cruz and Frank Diaz, two of this year's seniors, is an important part of this effort, and I salute the imagination of our young people in making this happen, work notably facilitated by the University Cooperative Society."
Robert Freeman, Dean of the College of Fine Arts


Q: How do you see the art exhibition benefiting the students and citizens of Brownsville?

A:" Well, its helping students get in touch with culture and history. It'll open their eyes and increase awareness of their surroundings. It'll show them the importance of history in Brownsville and Matamoros. It'll benefit the citizens because it gives them an opportunity for people to go to the museum and see border art. Too often people forget this museum is here. "
Carmen Zacarias, Executive Director of the Brownsville Heritage Complex