14th Annual Mole Festival

The 14th Annual Mole Festival promises to be an exciting gastro-cultura culinary experience sure to satisfy the community with good food, drinks, cultura, y música while supporting Centro Cultural Aztlan’s commitment to preserving and promoting Chicano/a, Latino/a, and indigenous arts and culture, and through our commitment to diversity, education, and promotion of local artists. Get your taste buds ready for one of the most deliciously unique fundraising events in San Antonio. Decadent Mole dishes will be prepared and generously donated by local restaurants, local chefs, and community cooks for your taste buds to enjoy. Refreshing beverages will be provided along with specialty drinks crafted by Tito’s Handmade Vodka. After tasting over 20 of the best Moles in San Antonio, guests and invited judges will vote for their favorite Mole. Don’t miss your chance to watch the city’s top chefs, cooks, and restaurants compete for bragging rights with their best Mole! Join us as we name the next champion of the Mole Festival! Participating chefs, restaurants, and cooks include: Guajillos, Berta Romo Rios, Los Laurel Cafe, Mama’s Kitchen, F.R.I.D.A. Fest, Sabor de Mexico, Flor de Chiapas, Gorditas Doña Tota, Fiestas del Mundo Travel, Rolando’s Super Taco’s #1, Mis Frijoles Catering Company, Taurino’s Mexican Restaurant, Los Cocos Mexican Restaurant Seafood & Fruteria, Los Angeles Tortilleria y Restaurant, Catrachos in the House , Thousand Oaks Cafe, Taqueria El Patron, Vallarta Grill and Bar, Veronica Castillo Salas y mas! Dance the night away to the amazing live music of Juan and Armando Tejeda, Gelina, Cheyenne, and Eric Sebastian!
Thursday, October 20, 6-10PM
General Admission tickets for the event are $40.00 per person. This includes all the mole tasting you can handle and 4 free drinks from our bar including a mole inspired Tito's Vodka cocktail crafted specially for this event. Reserved seating is available at different donation levels beginning at $75 per person. This includes reserved seating in the main gallery, all the mole tasting you can handle and unlimited drinks from our bar including a mole inspired Tito's Vodka cocktail crafted specially for this event. We have stopped online ticket sales at this time. Only a few tickets at the door are available. For more information, please call Centro Cultural Aztlan M-F, 10am to 4pm at 210-432-1896 or come by Centro Cultural Aztlan’s office located in the Deco Building at 1800 Fredericksburg Road, Suite 103. www.centroaztlan.org.
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Las Mujeres Regionales by Frank W. Harris III

Centro Cultural Aztlan begins its Fall Arts Festivities with a solo exhibition of Las Mujeres Regionales, a series of new works by local artist Frank W. Harris, III. The exhibit opens on Friday, September 16, 2022 from 6 to 9 pm in the Galeria Expresion located at 1800 Fredericksburg Road in the Deco Building and will be on display through October 20, 2022. The exhibit is free and open to the public.
Opening Reception:Friday, September 16, 2022. Exhibit will be on display until October 20, 2022. Gallery hours: Mon-Thursday 10AM-4PM
Frank W. Harris, III is a native San Antonian and a graduate of Jefferson High School. He attended the Art Institute of San Miguel de Allende Guanajuato and received a Bachelor of Arts degree from Trinity University in 1983. Frank’s work reveals a deep emotional influence by his maternal grandmother Doña Petra Ortega’s collection of Mexican calendar art. His fascination with Mexican folk art and textiles would become the subject matter of his paintings. Frank began his own collection of Mexican regional attire from every Region and State that make up the country of Mexico. The exhibition entitled Las Mujeres Regionales is the result of his deep love of Mexican culture and decades of constant creative effort. We thought this would be a great exhibit to celebrate Las Fiestas Patrias and Hispanic Heritage Month.
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El Gran Dia de los Artistas

Centro Cultural Aztlan will present El Gran Dia de Los Artistas to celebrate our 45th Anniversary on Saturday, July 23, 2022, from 12:00 pm to 6:00 pm. Centro Cultural Aztlan was incorporated in June of 1977, and we are inviting you to help us mark this significant milestone by celebrating with us over four decades of presenting valuable arts programs to the San Antonio community. El Gran Dia de Los Artistas is a free community event and promises to be an explosion of creativity in the Deco District showcasing live music, poetry, theatre, dance, art demonstrations, and live painting.
The event will feature: • Live music Performances • Live Painting and art demonstrations • Poetry performances • Artists and artisans showcasing original and unique works of art • A special reading by Xavier Garza from one of his latest books and a view of his latest exhibitions on currently on display in our gallery
We hope that you will be able to join us in the celebration of this important milestone for our organization and our community. If you are interested in participating as an artist vendor, food vendor or sponsor, please contact us at 210-432-1896, M-F from 10:00 am to 4:00 pm. Visit our website at www.centroaztlan.org, follow us on Facebook or drop by our offices located in the Deco Building at 1800 Fredericksburg Road, Suite 103, San Antonio, Texas 78201.
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The Return of Quetzalcoatl: Heroes, Villains and Space Monsters

Centro Cultural Aztlan is honored to present Xavier Garza's latest exhibition: The Return of Quetzalcoatl: Heroes, Villains and Space Monsters.
Legendary characters like La Llorona, los Duendes and Las Lechuzas return to do battle with ancient deities like Quetzalcoatl. But there is a twist to their return as they are all reinterpreted as visual depictions of modern day lucha libre heroes, villains and monsters. The images pay homage to the golden age of lucha libre films where masked heroes did battle against vampires, zombies, space aliens and other monstrosities.
Opening Reception: Friday, July 15, 2022. Exhibit will be on display until August 18, 2022. Gallery hours: Mon-Thursday 10AM-4PM
Xavier Garza is an award-winning author and artists of such books as Creepy Creatures and Other Cucuys; Lucha Libre: The Man in the Silver Mask: A Bilingual Cuento; Charro Claus and the Texas Kid; Zulema and the Witch Owl / Zulema Y La Bruja Lechuza; Kid Cyclone Fights the Devil and Other Stories / Kid Ciclon Se Enfrenta an El Diablo y Otras Historias; Maximilian & the Mystery of the Guardian Angel: A Bilingual Lucha Libre Thriller; Maximilian & the Bingo Rematch: A Lucha Libre Sequel; The Great and Mighty Nikko; The Donkey Lady Fights la Llorona and Other Stories; and Maximilian & the Lucha Libre Club: A Bilingual Lucha Libre Thriller. His latest book is titled La Llorona Can’t Scare Me. He has been honored with the Pure Belpre Honor and his books are on several reading lists including Tejas Star and Texas Institute of Letters. His art work has been featured in such books are Chicano Art for the Millenium and Contemporary Chicana/o Art: Artists, Works, Culture and Education.
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30th Annual Superhero Exhibit (virtual)

[ms_row] [ms_column style="3/5" align="left" class="" id=""] [ms_heading style="" color="" border_color="" text_align="left" font_weight="500" font_size="30" margin_top="0" margin_bottom="10" border_width="5" responsive_text="yes" class="" id=""] Centro Cultural Aztlan is pleased to present its 30th annual Superhero Exhibit and Contest! [/ms_heading] [ms_heading style="none" color="" border_color="" text_align="left" font_weight="500" font_size="20" margin_top="0" margin_bottom="10" border_width="0" responsive_text="yes" class="" id=""]This virtual exhibition is open to any students 6 to 18 years of age, from pre-kinder to High School.  We asked students to identify a positive role model in their lives and create a drawing, illustration, painting, or sculpture of their Superhero.  The key word and subject of this contest is “Super Heroes”, who the students consider as positive role models in their school, community, or home.  Special attention was be given to creativity and originality on the subject.  Artwork is open to any media. [/ms_heading] [ms_heading style="none" color="" border_color="" text_align="left" font_weight="500" font_size="50" margin_top="0" margin_bottom="4" border_width="0" responsive_text="yes" class="" id=""] [/ms_heading] [ms_heading style="none" color="" border_color="" text_align="left" font_weight="500" font_size="24" margin_top="0" margin_bottom="2" border_width="0" responsive_text="yes" class="" id=""] Video Premiere: Wednesday, May 25th, 2021 7PM Facebook: https://fb.me/e/2svcivwle and YouTube: https://youtu.be/x8d3vHdT7EE [ms_heading style="" color="" border_color="" text_align="left" font_weight="500" font_size="40" margin_top="0" margin_bottom="0" border_width="0" responsive_text="yes" class="" id=""] [/ms_heading] [/ms_column] [ms_column style="2/5" align="left" class="" id=""] [ms_heading style="" color="" border_color="" text_align="left" font_weight="500" font_size="12" margin_top="10" margin_bottom="10" border_width="0" responsive_text="yes" class="" id=""] [/ms_heading] [ms_heading style="" color="" border_color="" text_align="left" font_weight="500" font_size="18" margin_top="10" margin_bottom="10" border_width="0" responsive_text="yes" class="" id=""] Video presentation and virtual gallery will be on our website, Facebook and YouTube permanently. [/ms_heading] [/ms_column] [/ms_row] [ms_accordion style="boxed" type="2" class="" id=""] Due to the Covid-19 outbreak we had to adapt our exhibition and opening reception. All the artwork entered will be displayed in a virtual gallery on Facebook and on our website (BELOW).  All of the High School student's work and special honorable mentions from each school will be featured on a virtual presentation on a video on Facebook and YouTube. [ms_accordion_item title="2022 Participating Schools:" color="#666666" background_color="" close_icon="" open_icon="" status="close"] Columbia Heights Elementary, Freedom Elementary, Jerry D. Allen Elementary, Franklin Elementary, and East Central High School. [/ms_accordion_item] [/ms_accordion] [ms_divider style="normal" align="center" width="100%" margin_top="15" margin_bottom="15" border_size="1" border_color="#f2f2f2" icon="" class="" id=""][/ms_divider] [foogallery id="2180"] [ms_divider style="normal" align="center" width="100%" margin_top="15" margin_bottom="15" border_size="1" border_color="#f2f2f2" icon="" class="" id=""][/ms_divider] [the-post-grid id="1302" title="Galeria_postgrid"] [ms_divider style="back_to_top" align="center" width="100%" margin_top="15" margin_bottom="15" border_size="1" border_color="#f2f2f2" icon="" class="" id=""][/ms_divider]
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MARS NEEDS MORE WOMEN. Project: MASA-V Catalog Release

Join us on May 4th for the catalog release of the latest exhibit by Project MASA series! This exhibit opened at Centro Cultural Aztlan February 24 and will be on display until June 10. The idea behind the Project:MASA-V exhibit is to affect change by continuing discussions, educating and bringing together the community around ideals of social justice and inclusiveness through cosmic awareness, the use of science fiction, science, and social/political satire. The group includes Catherine Cisneros, Celeste De Luna, Yareth Fernandez, Brandy González, Suzy Gonzalez, Nansi Guevara, Mari Hernandez, Terry Ybañez, Lizette Ortiz, Pocha Peña, Sam Rawls, Natalia Rocafuerte, Mary Agnes Rodriguez, Ana Lilia Salinas, Liliana Wilson, Cindy Valderas, and Guillermina Zabala. The catalog will feature an essay by author Cathryn Merla-Watson PhD. who will be writing about the exhibit and the artists under the lens of her research and current publications and an essay by Iliana Pompa-MA art history candidate. The exhibit will also include poetry about the exhibit by author/poets Victoria Fennel and Anel Flores. Cathryn Merla-Watson Phd., co-editor of “Altermundos'' —the first edited volume dedicated to theorizing Chican@futurism and Latin@futurism, has agreed to write the essay for the catalog that will accompany the exhibit. Merla-Watson will be curating the exhibit together with Iliana Pompa, MA Art History Candidate, UTSA. Merla-Watson is also collaborating with Latinx futurism scholar Matthew Goodwin (University of New Mexico) to plan a national conference at the University of New Mexico in Spring of 2023 and will include the exhibit in the conference. The two have an advanced book contract with The Ohio State University Press (New Suns Series) to publish a related edited volume following the conference. The local and state media will receive media packages and press releases. The plan for marketing on a national platform for this exhibit will include Merla-Watson’s presentation of the exhibit participants within the scope of her research at a conference to be held at the University of New Mexico in Spring of 2023. through June 10, 2022 Monday-Thursday, 10:00 am to 4:00 p.m.
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MARS NEEDS MORE WOMEN. Project: MASA-V

Centro Cultural Aztlan is honored to host the latest exhibit titled Mars Needs more Women. Project: MASA-V. Please join us Thursday, March 24th from 6-9PM for the opening reception and poetry presentation. Project: MASA is an ongoing exhibit series which gathers Chican@ artists that use outer space and science fiction iconography with past present and future tropes to comment on social-political issues that affect our gente presently and into the future. In addition to the gallery exhibition, author/poets Anel I. Flores and Victoria Garcia-Zapata are scheduled to present poetry and performances in response to the exhibit. A MASA-porte station will be available during the opening reception. Show up to the MASA-porte Station wearing your cosmic outfit or space suit to apply for a MASA-porte. MASA-portes are passports to space and proof of galactic citizenship. What is a Cosmic Outfit/Space Suit? The articles of clothing are meant to represent the outside skin that people have to develop and wear in order to navigate social and cultural spaces. It’s a metaphor. You must pose for a photograph of the outfit and a passport size photo for the MASA-porte. By doing so, the applicant agrees to release the photo image for a future Project:MASA Series curated photo exhibit and documentation. Plan ahead and prepare your cosmic outfit or space suit ahead of time. Make it a family activity. Look at what others are planning by visiting the FB page @005MASA. Curated by Cathryn Merla-Watson Phd. and Iliana Pompa, this intergenerational exhibit will present nineteen women artists from the frontera of South Texas, San Antonio and Austin (the I-35, I-37, I-69 corridor) dealing with Chican@futurism through their works. They include Catherine Cisneros, Celeste De Luna, Yareth Fernandez, Brandy González, Suzy Gonzalez, Nansi Guevara, Mari Hernandez, Terry Ybañez, Lizette Ortiz, Pocha Peña, Sam Rawls, Natalia Rocafuerte, Mary Agnes Rodriguez, Ana Lilia Salinas, Liliana Wilson, Cindy Valderas, and Guillermina Zabala. A catalog and artists’ video interview premier is scheduled for May 4, 2022, 6-9PM. The exhibit is free and open to the public and will be on view through June 10, 2022 Monday-Thursday, 10:00 am to 4:00 p.m.
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15th Annual Vuelo de Mariposas Spring Market

Centro Cultural Aztlan presents the 15th annual Vuelo de Mariposas Spring Market, open studios with featured artists and an artisan market of fine-crafts, paintings and wearable art by some of San Antonio’s most noted artists. Participating artists include: Angelica Mayorga, Nuevo Huevo (Christine Saalbach), Angelina Pliego, Nancy De La Zerda, Amy Jo Rabold, Martin Emmanuel Rangel, Oscar A. Galvan Jr, Alicia Zavala Galvan, Elliott Trevino, Dolores Gonzalez-Jarvis, Carol Annette Perez, Debi Lively, and Michael Villanueva! If you missed our opening reception for the 45th Annual Segundo de Febrero- Mapping New Narratives exhibit this is a great opportunity to come see the latest exhibit and be part of the Artist Talk and discussion. The Vuelo de Mariposas Spring Market gives local artists an affordable venue in which to sell their works of art and provides visitors the opportunity to meet and greet the artists and artisans. Join us on Saturday and Sunday February 19-20, 2022 from 12:00pm-6:00pm!
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Day of the Dead Stamp Unveiling by the United States Postal Service

[ms_row] [ms_column style="3/5" align="left" class="" id=""] [ms_heading style="" color="" border_color="" text_align="left" font_weight="500" font_size="30" margin_top="0" margin_bottom="10" border_width="5" responsive_text="yes" class="" id=""] Centro Cultural Aztlan is delighted to announce that we have been selected to host the unveiling of the first ever Day of the Dead Stamp by the United States Postal Service. [/ms_heading] [ms_heading style="none" color="" border_color="" text_align="left" font_weight="500" font_size="20" margin_top="0" margin_bottom="10" border_width="0" responsive_text="yes" class="" id=""]Since 1977, Centro The new stamps were designed and illustrated by artist Luis Fitch. Antonio Alcalá was the art director. The stamps are the first of their kind to be issued by the United States Postal Service to mark this annual cultural celebration. This is a great honor for Centro Cultural Aztlan, acknowledging our history as the first organization in San Antonio to celebrate this centuries-old tradition. Please join us for this memorable occasion on Friday, October 1, 2021 from 6-9 p.m. in our gallery located at 1800 Fredericksburg Road, Suite 103. Let’s celebrate our community, our heritage, and our cultural traditions! Centro Cultural Aztlan is pleased to partner with the United States Postal Service for this historic and momentous occasion. As you may know, since 1977, Centro Cultural Aztlan has welcomed tourists and residents to take part in one of the biggest and oldest Dia de los Muertos celebrations in San Antonio, paying tribute to our ancestors and to this special tradition. In recent years, Dia de los Muertos has caught on in the United States as a festive and increasingly popular celebration for all ages. In addition to the unveiling of the Day of Dead Stamp, attendees will have an opportunity to glimpse this year’s Dia de los Muertos Altares y Ofrendas exhibit installations, created by community members and local artists. They include: Hector Garza, Henry De Leon, Elizabeth Hernandez, The Negrete Family, and Don Nuñez. These new stamps and special edition postcards will be available for sale during the event. [/ms_heading] [ms_heading style="none" color="" border_color="" text_align="left" font_weight="500" font_size="50" margin_top="0" margin_bottom="4" border_width="0" responsive_text="yes" class="" id=""] [/ms_heading] [ms_heading style="none" color="" border_color="" text_align="left" font_weight="500" font_size="24" margin_top="0" margin_bottom="2" border_width="0" responsive_text="yes" class="" id=""]
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Monarchs and Marigolds

[ms_row] [ms_column style="3/5" align="left" class="" id=""] [ms_heading style="" color="" border_color="" text_align="left" font_weight="500" font_size="30" margin_top="0" margin_bottom="10" border_width="5" responsive_text="yes" class="" id=""] Centro Cultural Aztlan presents Monarchs and Marigolds with Don Nuñez. [/ms_heading] [ms_heading style="none" color="" border_color="" text_align="left" font_weight="500" font_size="20" margin_top="0" margin_bottom="10" border_width="0" responsive_text="yes" class="" id=""]Since 1977, Centro Cultural Aztlan has opened its doors to tourists and residents to take part in the biggest and oldest Dia de los Muertos Celebration paying tribute to this centuries-old tradition. This year, as we get ready to convert our gallery into a giant installation that is filled with altares, ofrendas, cempazuchitl (marygolds), photos of loved ones, candles and more, we wanted to share two easy projects you can use for your own Dia de los Muertos altar or to decorate your home or office. Join us in a virtual presentation Friday, September 17, 2021 at 7pm, as Artist Don Nuñez makes it easy for us to learn the basics in creating paper or vinyl marigolds and paper-maché Butterflies; Two very significant and meaningful components of the Dia de los Muertos celebration. [/ms_heading] [ms_heading style="none" color="" border_color="" text_align="left" font_weight="500" font_size="50" margin_top="0" margin_bottom="4" border_width="0" responsive_text="yes" class="" id=""] [/ms_heading] [ms_heading style="none" color="" border_color="" text_align="left" font_weight="500" font_size="24" margin_top="0" margin_bottom="2" border_width="0" responsive_text="yes" class="" id=""] Video Premiere: Friday, September 17, 2021 at 7PM Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/CentroCulturalAztlan/ and YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCQwMXA110JIVCskeaxtjEmg [ms_heading style="" color="" border_color="" text_align="left" font_weight="500" font_size="40" margin_top="0" margin_bottom="0" border_width="0" responsive_text="yes" class="" id=""] [/ms_heading] [/ms_column] [ms_column style="2/5" align="left" class="" id=""] [ms_heading style="" color="" border_color="" text_align="left" font_weight="500" font_size="12" margin_top="10" margin_bottom="10" border_width="0" responsive_text="yes" class="" id=""] [/ms_heading] [ms_heading style="" color="" border_color="" text_align="left" font_weight="500" font_size="18" margin_top="10" margin_bottom="10" border_width="0" responsive_text="yes" class="" id=""] Video presentation will be on our website, Facebook and YouTube indefinitely. [/ms_heading] [/ms_column] [/ms_row] [ms_accordion style="boxed" type="2" class="" id=""] [ms_accordion_item title="About Don Nuñez:" color="#666666" background_color="" close_icon="" open_icon="" status="close"]Don Nuñez was born in Corpus Christi and raised in San Benito Texas. He holds a BA in Art from A&I University, and has a master’s in Fine Arts from Texas A&M Kingsville. Don studied ballet folklórico at Bellas Artes in Mexico City, where he was certified as a Maestro. He is a former dancer with the Royal Ballet Company in Canada, and spent time on Broadway in New York City with Ballet Folklórico de México. Don later became an art and dance teacher for youth grades K-12 in schools and private studios. In 1998, Don helped start the Ballet Folklórico program at the Edgewood ISD Fine Arts Academy, where he was devoted to his students for nearly 20 years. Now retired, he focuses his artwork on the rich cultura here in San Antonio and South Texas. Don continues to create art through installations, costume design, and set design. [/ms_accordion_item] [/ms_accordion] [ms_divider style="normal" align="center" width="100%" margin_top="15" margin_bottom="15" border_size="1" border_color="#f2f2f2" icon="" class="" id=""][/ms_divider] [ms_heading style="none" color="" border_color="" text_align="left" font_weight="500" font_size="18" margin_top="10" margin_bottom="10" border_width="0" responsive_text="yes" class="" id=""] Here is a sample of some of Don's artwork:[/ms_heading] [foogallery id="2123"] [ms_divider style="normal" align="center" width="100%" margin_top="15" margin_bottom="15" border_size="1" border_color="#f2f2f2" icon="" class="" id=""][/ms_divider] [the-post-grid id="1302" title="Galeria_postgrid"] [ms_divider style="back_to_top" align="center" width="100%" margin_top="15" margin_bottom="15" border_size="1" border_color="#f2f2f2" icon="" class="" id=""][/ms_divider]
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