In the Spring of 2009, representatives from the Turchin Center staff and Appalachian’s Department of Art visited The Universidad de las Américas en Puebla (UDLAP) and artists living and working in Puebla and Cholula Mexico. The goals of the trip were to research the local art and artists and to lay the groundwork for future artist residencies, faculty, student and cultural exchanges between the two universities’ art departments and graphic design programs. During the trip, Turchin Center representatives toured many artists’ studios, and began curating the Summer 2010 exhibition.
The main gallery features paintings, drawings, printmaking, fibers, ceramics and mixed media sculpture by contemporary, Mexican artists, including Carlos Arias, Antonio Álvarez Morán, Rosa Borrás, Sergio Gonzalez Angulo, Joaquín Conde, and Luz Elvira Torres among many others.
The Mezzanine Gallery features a select group of works of art from UDLAP’s Permanent Collection, including the celebrated Talavera Ceramics, a style of pottery and design that was created and perfected in Puebla, Mexico. Talavera has many traditional designs, but most of the artists featured in this exhibition use traditional forms with their own take on the design, or create their own interpretation using the traditional methods.
Antonio Alvarez Morán, Tres vedettes, versión rítmica (Lisa de Liz, Zulma Faiad e Iris Cristal), 2008. Oil on canvas. Image courtesy of the artist.