Mexican Masks Unmasked

Mexican masks reveal tradition of transformation, art and spiritual awakening

Those who don the masks are said to undergo a transformation.

Photo by KLRU

Editor's note: CultureMap is proud to present the third installment of our partnership with KLRU Collective. Collective is dedicated to finding unique, creative and interesting stories about the Austin art scene.

When Austin's Mexic-Arte Museum exhibited more than 200 traditional Mexican masks earlier this year, they were displaying more than just art. According to legend, the masks (which have bright colors, exaggerated features and intricate carvings) serve as a window into the soul and are said to transform the spirit of the person who wears it.

In this video from KLRU, revisit the collection and learn how the masks blend pageantry, mythology and tradition. Used in both celebration and for religious purposes, the masks serve as a inspiration for contemporary art and are fascinating feature of Mexican history.

For more information on the Mexic-Arte Museum's current exhibits including a retrospective on the life of Jose Guadalupe Posada, please visit their website.

KLRU-TV, Austin PBS is dedicated to telling stories about our community. KLRU highlights what makes Austin unique – whether music, arts or public issues – by creating and distributing award-winning original content. As a nonprofit educational organization, KLRU also helps prepare children for success and creates lifelong learning opportunities for all. Find out more at www.klru.org.

New

Historic Austin museum will close for more than a year for restoration

Elisabet Ney Museum Austin

Photo courtesy of the City of Austin

The Elisabet Ney Museum will close at the end of 2024 and reopen in mid-2026.

Every building needs some maintenance here or there, and the historic Elisabet Ney Museum needs some extra-special care. Formerly the art studio and residence of its namesake, it's been standing since 1892. It'll spend 2025 in relative solitude, as it undergoes renovation for a year and a half with no visitors allowed.

The museum will close to the public December 30, 2024, and open again in the summer of 2026 if all goes according to plan, a news release from the City of Austin shares. It'll be a quiet period compared to the 21,000 people visiting from around the world each year.

According to a museum overview on the city's website, Elisabet Ney, a European portrait sculptor, bought the property and called her new studio Formosa. She worked on sculptures depicting important Texans like Stephen F. Austin and Sam Houston, and collected works of European contemporaries.

The building at 304 East 44th St. includes 3,700 square feet of museum space, which was converted by Ney's friends after her death in 1907. It retains its unique look that juxtaposes a Neo-Classical main studio from 1892 with a later addition from 1902 including a tower for her husband, Edmund, to write in. It is also on 2.5 acres of land, which has largely been restored to its natural state with native species.

A press release lists these tasks (verbatim) within the scope of the new work, referred to as the Capital Improvement Project (CIP):

Restoration of original exterior wood doors and windows
Upgrades and replacement of the heating, ventilation, and air conditioning system
Replacement of the exhibit and general lighting systems
Repairs to the roof, masonry, plumbing, and interior finishes.

There will also be work to do outside of the building. Workers will replace the pedestrian bridge across Waller Creek, stabilize a 20,000-square-foot portion of the bank, and make the grounds more accessible by adding new pathways.

Funding comes from several sources, according to a release: "the 2012 Bond, Proposition 14, the Parkland Dedication Fund, the Historic Preservation Fund, Partners in Preservation through the National Trust, and contributions from the Friends of the Elisabet Ney Museum."

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