April 14 - July 15, 2007

Reading Public Museum will present Contemporary Latin American Folk Art from the San Antonio Museum of Art. This exhibition features folk art produced over the last 125 years, including work from the highly regarded Nelson A. Rockefeller Mexican Folk Art Collection with ceremonial, decorative, recreational and utilitarian works in a large array of media. The San Antonio Museum of Art has one of the most extensive collections of Latin American folk art in the world and has organized the exhibition exclusively for the Reading Public Museum.

A Members' Opening Reception will be held on Saturday, April 14th. The evening will begin at 5:30 with a presentation by Dr. Marion Oettinger, Director of the San Antonio Museum of Art. The talk will be followed at 6:00 p.m. with a reception sponsored by Friends of the Reading Public Museum.

One of the powerful icons of Latin American religious culture, the Virgin of Guadalupe, will be represented in many works in the exhibition. These will include Ex-Votos, pilgrimage related objects, a religious processional standard, and a photographer's backdrop used for visitors to a shrine devoted to the Virgin of Guadalupe. A special feature of the exhibition will be a temporary altar installation showing how ceremonial and religious objects in the exhibition are used in context.

In addition, the exhibition will have folk art related to the Day of the Dead celebration, including an extensive miniature graveyard scene and “Tree of Death” from Mexico. Also in the exhibition are hand painted wood trunks used for family heirlooms and wedding gifts, folk carvings including animals and kinetic children’s toys, textiles, earthenware fantasy figures and rooftop churches.

An extensive presentation of unique ceramic masks used to decorate the exterior of homes will include a jaguar mask and dance costume. The jaguar has been an important symbol in Latin America since pre-Columbian times. Jaguar masks and costumes are still worn in hundreds of southern Mexican villages during annual petitions for rain and celebrations honoring the Holy Cross.

This exhibition is underwritten in part by grants from the Pennsylvania Council on the Arts and the Pennsylvania Historical and Museum Commission.

Top Left: Artist unknown, Ocumicho, Michoacán, Mexico, The Last Supper, 20th century, painted earthenware, Joe W. Nicholson Collection, San Antonio Museum of Art
Bottom Right: Artist Unknown, Metepec, State of Mexico, Mexico, Tree of Death, 20th century earthenware, wire, Echevería Collection, City of San Antonio, San Antonio Museum of Art