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South of the border: Extravaganza on Museum Hill celebrates Mexican, Indigenous culture
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The Extravaganza on Museum Hill is a celebration of Mexican and Indigenous cultural heritage.
The event takes place from 1 to 6:30 p.m. on Saturday, Sept. 21, on Milner Plaza, 706 Camino Lejo, in Santa Fe. It will feature live music, dance, theater, educational activities and live luchador wrestling. The event is free and visitors are asked to register at .
South of the border: Extravaganza on Museum Hill celebrates Mexican, Indigenous culture
鈥淟a Cartoner铆a Mexicana/The Mexican Art of Paper and Paste,鈥 which showcases more than 100 historic sculptures from the Museum of International Folk Art鈥檚 permanent collection, many of which have never been displayed, is another highlight of the event.
鈥淲e have a Mexican 辫补辫颈别谤-尘芒肠丑茅, show, 鈥楲a Cartoner铆a Mexicana,鈥欌 said Charlie Lockwood, executive director of Museum of International Folk Art. 鈥淚 thought that it would be really interesting to try to do some kind of celebration around regional Mexican traditions that are represented in the exhibition and try to couple those with music and dance and other things, especially during Hispanic Heritage Month and around the (Sept. 16) Mexican Independence Day celebration.鈥
Lockwood said conversations took place between the Museum of International Folk Art and its neighbors at the Museum of Indian Arts & Culture on Milner Plaza to make it a Milner Plaza community day.
鈥淲e were able to get that approved, basically to have both museums free and open to the public all day, which is something that is an annual tradition we鈥檙e trying to bring back,鈥 Lockwood said. 鈥淚t became sort of a joint celebration of both Mexican cultural heritage and Indigenous cultural heritage of our region. And so that鈥檚 really what the activities in the lineup represent.鈥
There will be a variety of Pueblo dance groups performances including the Danza del Venado, a traditional Deer Dance performance of the Yaqui Indians by Diego Martinez and Los Ni帽os de Santa Fe鈥檚 Adult Ensemble at 1:30 p.m. The performance is coordinated by the Consulado de M茅xico en sa国际传媒官网网页入口, and Patricia Pinz贸n, C贸nsul de M茅xico in sa国际传媒官网网页入口, will introduce the dance.
鈥淭he plaza up here, it鈥檚 such a beautiful space,鈥 Lockwood said. 鈥淚t really comes alive and I think it really takes on its true form when there鈥檚 community here and when there鈥檚 a lot of people celebrating and having a good time. And so that鈥檚 the other goal, is to fill the plaza with people and have them enjoy music and dance.鈥
Some local food trucks will be on site and there will be some educational activities including a Lucha Libre (Mexican wrestling) mask making station for children.
Headliner Tropa Magica will perform psychedelic cumbia rock 鈥檔鈥 roll at 4 p.m. A Lucha Libre wrestling match by Duke City Championship Wrestling out of sa国际传媒官网网页入口 will follow at 5:30 p.m.
鈥淭his is certainly reflecting the important performance culture of the (Distrito Federal) and the Mexico City area,鈥 Lockwood said. 鈥淚t鈥檚 represented in the exhibition and we thought it would be fun to offer a performance to our community here on the Plaza. So it should be pretty amazing.鈥
Lockwood said there is a large collection of Mexican folk art at the Museum of International Folk Art. He said the Consulado de M茅xico en sa国际传媒官网网页入口 has been helpful in promoting the exhibition.
鈥淭he museums are free and open to the public all day, so people can enjoy the event outside, and then if they need to cool off or warm up, depending on how the weather goes, they can come in the museum and check out our galleries,鈥 Lockwood said.
This event is made possible by support of the Friends of Folk Art and the Consulate of Mexico in sa国际传媒官网网页入口, and in partnership with AMP Concerts, Duke City Championship Wrestling and the Museum of New Mexico Foundation. Promotion for this event is supported in part by the city of Santa Fe Arts and Culture Department and the 1% Lodger鈥檚 Tax.
