Arquetopia / Arquetopia Oaxaca Curatorial Residency - Puebla or Oaxaca, Mexico - 2013

 

Arquetopia is a nonprofit foundation run entirely by artists. Arquetopia’s programs promote development and social transformation through educational, artistic and cultural programs, with a non-traditional, culturally diverse and multidisciplinary approach. Arquetopia offers residency programs of the highest quality, making a community and resources available for creating and researching in a permanent dialogue with Mexico’s context.

The Curatorial Residency offers important professional opportunities for curators and art historians as well as art history, visual culture, and cultural studies graduate students 25 years of age and over. As part of Arquetopia’s mission, we promote international experiences in the field of culture by facilitating research addressing Mexico’s rich and diverse, cultural and artistic heritage. 

 

We acknowledge the role of serious academic study in enriching the foundation for all interpretations of art; therefore we encourage our curators-in-residence and art historians-in-residence to make a scholarly commitment to the investigation of identity in art and visual culture examining race, gender, sexuality, and class through visual expression.

 

Arquetopia’s programs are distinguished for its commitment to international diversity in the approach to art history subjects.  We are aware that understanding Mexico’s cultural context and complexity is key for a successful experience and cultural exchange; thus Arquetopia’s residency opportunities revolve around researching, learning and creating by addressing subjects that are specific and/or relevant to Mexico. 

 

Each residency is a unique research experience in which historians pursue their own projects free from academic obligations, make use of diverse collections, and participate in the intellectual life of the city. We welcome students and professionals from diverse backgrounds using different methodologies including but not limited to: formalism, social and cultural history, semiotics, and psychoanalysis, interested in immersing themselves in the research of Mexican culture and spending time in the magnificent and historic Spanish colonial cities of Puebla and Oaxaca.

We encourage all residents to develop interdisciplinary investigations for a richer understanding of the subject and artistic practice.  Therefore we provide access to experts in the humanities, unique archives and resources such as:  

 

The libraries of the religious orders of Mexico were located in Puebla, Morelia and Oaxaca.  Palafoxiana in Puebla is the oldest library in the Americas, and is the only library of the three that remained intact and authentic, as it was continuously conserved. The origins of date to 1646 when a personal collection of approximately 5,000 volumes was contributed to the Colegio de San Juan y San Pedro by Bishop Juan de Palafox y Mendoza. In 1773, Bishop Don Francisco Fabián y Fuero ordered the construction of the Palafoxiana Library in the historic center of the city of Puebla to house Bishop Juan’s donation. The walls of the 43-meter-long library were fitted with two tiers of bookshelves made of ayacahuite pine, cedar, and coloyote wood. The western wall displays the mid-14th century retable of the Madonna of Trapana, painted by Nino Pisano. Throughout the colonial period large quantities of prints and manuscripts were donated by other bishops, other religious institutions, and private individuals, and the library grew to rival the finest libraries of 18th-century Europe. The library’s collection grew to over 41,000 volumes in the 19th century, requiring a third tier of bookshelves. The baroque cloistered building still has many architectural and decorative elements, including the original 18th-century wooden bookcases.

 

José María Lafragua is the main library of the Universidad Autonoma de Puebla BUAP.  This University has its origins in the late 16th century at the College of the Holy Spirit of the Society of Jesus, and it was opened in 1885 as the library of the College of the State of Puebla. This library gathers books from some local religious orders and 2300 volumes belonging to the personal collection of D. José María Lafragua and other historical documents.  Now, the ancient School is the Autonomous University of Puebla and its Historical Library contains about 90,000 volumes of which over 65% are Rare Books, very important printed books and a collection of newspaper from the 1800s, archival documents and many other heritage objects.

 

The Institute of Graphic Arts of Oaxaca (IAGO) is a museum‐library, created by the painter Francisco Toledo, jointly with the INBA (National Institute of Fine Arts), the Government of the State of Oaxaca and the Civil Association “José F. Gomez” It is situated in a beautiful 18th-century house in front of the Ex‐Convent of Santo Domingo and at one side of the Plazuela del Carmen, on Macedonio Alcalá St.  The principal subjects covered by the 12,000 volumes of the library of IAGO are painting, graphics, drawing, architecture, sculpture, archeology, design, bibliophile, textiles, ceramics, popular art, photography, cinematography and literature. It covers the most important geographic and historic spaces and its development is orientated toward modern art.  The collection of Mexican art is one of the largest, chronologically ordered, from rock to modern art, and including pre‐Hispanic, colonial and contemporary. The collection of almost thirty facsimiles of codices, which continues to grow, is very important. It covers an ample range of countries, artists, techniques, styles and artistic movements. The materials utilized are books, catalogs, magazines, brochures and films, principally in Spanish but also in English, French, German and Italian.

 

The Photo Archive Juan C Méndez belongs to the Government of the State of Puebla and hosts a public collection with 230,000 images grouped in 15 funds.  The collection includes part of the production of Juan Crisóstomo Méndez: negatives, positives, planners, albums and other objects.  The mission of the archive is to continue studying and researching visual culture and the visual heritage of the 15 funds, as well as contemporary photography.

 

The Museum of Religious Art is one of the largest collections of religious art with a special focus in femininity.  It has four main collections from the 1600’s to the 1800’s, originals from the Convents of Santa Monica (Augustinian Recollect), Santa Catalina (Dominican), Sts. Joachim and Anne (Capuchins) and Soledad (Discalced Carmelites).  The collection contains art work of important artists including: Juan Correa, Pascual Pérez, Juan de Villalobos, José Patricio Polo, Luis Berrueco, José de Marimón, Miguel Cabrera, Nicolás Rodríguez Juárez, Francisco Castillo, Miguel Jerónimo de Zendejas, Lorenzo Zendejas, Rafael Morante, as well as attributed to Juan Tinoco y Joseph Magón.  The collections also include gilded sculptures, paintings, books, documents (including recipes), textiles and objects.

 

Puebla
Puebla, known as the "City of Angels,” is a UNESCO World Heritage Site that lies 136 km (84 mi) from Mexico City and has approximately 5,000 colonial buildings. Puebla is famous for a deep cultural identity, delicious cuisine, Talavera ceramics, and traditions rooted in the 16th-century Baroque and enriched by a blend of pre-Hispanic, Arabic, Jewish, French and Spanish influences. Accessible via two international airports in Puebla (PBC) and Mexico City (MEX), Puebla lies east of the Popocatépetl and Iztaccíhuatl volcanoes, giving the residents a magnificent view of their snow-topped peaks. At an elevation of 2200 m (7200 ft), Puebla features a temperate subtropical highland climate, resulting in an average of only three days a year seeing temperatures rise above 29°C (84°F).

 

 

 

A large, unique three-story Mexican colonial-style house close to Puebla’s historic district and Zócalo accommodates Arquetopia’s office, residency space for up to seven artists, and production spaces.

 

Oaxaca
Oaxaca is a beautiful colonial city nestled in a valley in the Sierra Madre mountain range of Southern Mexico. Oaxaca is located 450 km (280 miles) southeast of Mexico City and reachable via three international airports: Oaxaca (OAX), Puebla (PBC), and Mexico City (MEX). Oaxaca boasts magnificent colonial architecture, the most outstanding example being Santo Domingo church and its former convent, now home to an impressive museum. The unusually colorful city and its surrounding areas also feature a high concentration of native Zapotec and Mixtec cultures and archaeological sites. Oaxaca was designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1987 for its central Historic Monuments Zone and the archaeological site of Monte Alban. Getting around Oaxaca is easy and enjoyable; museums, studios, libraries and landmarks are all in walking distance. At an elevation of 1555 m (5100 ft), Oaxaca features a subtropical climate, resulting in mild-to-warm temperatures year-round.

 

Arquetopia Oaxaca is located right in the heart of the Historic Monuments Zone. Only two blocks from the popular Calle de Alcalá (a picturesque street known for its restaurants, museums, shops, and nightlife), our spectacular and newly renovated adobe casona, hosting up to ten artists at a time, is also two blocks from the extraordinary Santo Domingo church and museum.

 

Residents enjoy comfortably furnished bedrooms at Arquetopia in Puebla or Oaxaca and use of either well-equipped residency space including wireless Internet, lounge with TV/DVD, kitchen, dining room, covered outdoor patio and terrace space, and private bathrooms with modern fixtures, showers, and a hydro-massage tub. Housekeeping and most meals are also included.

 

• Candidates at all stages of their careers (emerging and established) must display a demonstrated sense of potential. The residency is for curators and historians who want to advance their work.

• The residency pool is diverse in all aspects.

• The creation of community among fellow artists and staff during the residency period is important.

 

RESIDENCY TIME PERIOD/TERM OFFERED
This Curatorial Residency term is from 1 to 8 weeks during 2013.

 

The fee per person is  USD $429  per week in Puebla or  USD $529  per week in Oaxaca.  Payment of USD $200 Residency Deposit due within 1 week of selection notification.  Payment of Total Residency Fee due by 45 days prior to residency start date.

 

Complete and submit together via e-mail to info@arquetopia.orgall of the following:

1. The Arquetopia Artist-in-Residence Program Application (completed and scanned)

2. Resume or curriculum vitae

3. Complete contact info (name/title/organization/address/phone/e-mail) of two professional references

4. Non-refundable Application Fee of USD $35.00 via PAYPAL to account address: “fguevara@arquetopia.org”

 

Independent jury comprised of three curators and/or practicing artists who reflect independence, diversity in artistic fields, gender, race, etc. and knowledge of Arquetopia Oaxaca's programs meets for in-person panel review and selection. Following selection, applicants are notified immediately via e-mail.

 

Arquetopia on the Web:  www.arquetopia.org

Arquetopia on Facebook:  www.facebook.com/arquetopia

Arquetopia Oaxaca on Facebook:  www.facebook.com/ArquetopiaOaxaca

Arquetopia Blog:  www.arquetopia.com