Las Piñatas ATX
Nepantla: tierra entre medio | space in-between
October 2020-September 2021
For 2020-2021, Las Piñatas ATX returns with an installation series themed Nepantla: tierra entre medio | space in-between.
NEPANTLA is the concept behind a collection of temporary art installations that focus on recapturing the history, culture, and heritage of the latinX/hispanic communities within East Austin. The exhibit consists of 5 art installations, each by a different artist/designer who’ve been encouraged to use their preferred medium while following the overall theme of Nepantla.
View the online exhibition here.
Nepantla is a náhuatl term that represents the concept of in-between or a reference to the space of the middle. Nepantla can also describe individuals or groups who are today in conflict with a larger, perhaps more globally reaching culture or ideology. Nepantla has also been identified as a tool for political change. Individuals who live within two different “worlds” or “cultures” can act as “fulcrum” to engage in political change.
The series kicked off with the October 26-30 Día de Muertos (Day of the Dead) celebration at the Emma S. Barrientos Mexican American Cultural Center (ESB-MACC) where a custom large-scale, hand-cut papel picado banner was installed in the ESB-MACC’s Gran Entrada.
Este año, Las Piñatas ATX regresa con una serie de instalaciones inspiradas por el termino Nepantla: tierra entre medio | space in-between.
NEPANTLA es el concepto detras de una coleccion de instalaciones temporales que se enfocan en recapturar la historia, cultura, y herencia de las comunidades latinX / hispanas dentro East Austin. La exhibición consta de 5 instalaciones de arte, cada una de un artista / diseñador diferente que ha sido alentado a usar su medio preferido mientras sigue el tema general de Nepantla.
Nepantla es un término náhuatl que representa el concepto de intermedio o una referencia al espacio del medio. Nepantla también puede describir a individuos o grupos que hoy están en conflicto con una cultura o ideología más grande, quizás más global. Nepantla se ha identificado como una herramienta para el cambio político. Las personas que viven en dos “mundos” o “culturas” diferentes pueden actuar como punto de apoyo para participar en el cambio político.
This project is organized by the AIA Austin Latinos in Architecture committee in collaboration with the Austin Foundation for Architecture, and is supported in part by the Cultural Arts Division of the City of Austin Economic Development Department. | Este proyecto es está organizado por el AIA Austin Latinos in Architecture committee en colaboración con la Austin Foundation for Architecture, y apoyado en parte por la División de Artes Culturales del Departamento de Desarrollo Económico de la Ciudad de Austin.
Additional support provided by:
Special thanks to project leads: Braulio Hurtado Jr. and Alfredo Tiznado; and project team: Sindy Rodriguez, Jaime Alvarez, Francisco Rosales, Emerson Carrera, Gabriella Bermea, Max Nochez, and Henry Ho.
This program is free and open to the public; donations are appreciated and help us continue to produce programs promoting the value of the built environment for all Austinites!