Disponible – a kind of Mexican show

Disponible –
a kind of Mexican show

www.sfai.edu
www.waltermcbean.com

Phase 2:
Arturo Hernández Alcazar
Natalia Almada
Teresa Margolles

Curated by Hou Hanru and Guillermo Santamarina

Phase 1:
November 19, 2010 – January 22, 2011
Opening reception: Thursday, 18 November 2010 from 5:30 to 7:30pm
Manuel Rocha Iturbide and Guillermo Galindo performance: Wednesday, 17 November 2010, 8:00pm at Queens Nails Projects
The opening reception will be followed by a lecture with curator Guillermo Santamarina at 7:30pm in SFAI’s Lecture Hall.

Phase 2:
February 10 – March 26, 2011
Opening reception: Wednesday, 9 February 2011 from 5:30 to 7:30pm
The opening reception will be followed by the 2011 McBean Distinguished Lecture with Teresa Margolles and Cuauhtémoc Medina in conversation at 7:30pm in SFAI’s Lecture Hall.

Walter and McBean Galleries
800 Chestnut Street
San Francisco, CA 94133
Tuesdays–Saturdays, 11:00am–6:00pm
Free and open to the public

www.sfai.edu
www.waltermcbean.com

Co-curated by SFAI’s Director of Exhibitions and Public Programs Hou Hanru and by Guillermo Santamarina, this exhibition takes its name from the empty advertisement billboards with Disponible (+ phone numbers) that are seen over the skyline across Mexican cities. Meaning at once available and potentially changeable or disposable, the word disponible interestingly, and quite accurately, reflects the reality of Mexican society in perpetual transition from post-colonial revolution to its current negotiation with globalization. The Mexican population and society are in a constant state of actively engaging social and economic progress and modernization. Simultaneously, Mexico is involved in a permanent inquiry into defining its common destiny while wrestling with radically diverse cultural, historical, political, religious, and ethnic contexts formed by complex and hybrid origins. These continually transforming identities have created a fabulously dynamic and intense, sometimes violent, social reality.

This exhibition seeks to reflect on two major tendencies in the current creative scene-social critique and witty design solutions-as two mutually entangled and reinforcing strategies developed in response and resistance to the complex reality of life in modern Mexico. Disponible articulates the dimensions of social critique and confrontation with conflicts and violence, while also presenting various active and inventive solutions to the challenges of the reality of contemporary life. These tendencies are also intimately related to the realities of San Francisco and California, where dialogues between both sides of the border have never been interrupted.

Disponible – a kind of Mexican exhibition, has been organized in San Francisco as a part of the celebration of the bicentennial of Mexico’s independence and centennial of the republican revolution. This project, resulting from the long-term dialogue between the co-curators, represents a deepened collaboration and exchange between the art communities on both sides of the border that are at the core of SFAI’s exhibition program, in the contexts of “New Models of Production,” “Pacific Perspectives,” and “Acting out in the City.”

SFAI’s exhibitions and public programs are supported in part by the Grants for the Arts/San Francisco Hotel Tax Fund with additional support provided by the McBean Family Foundation, the Consulate General of Mexico in San Francisco and AeroMexico.

San Francisco Art Institute
Founded in 1871, SFAI is one of the oldest and most prestigious schools of higher education in contemporary art in the US. Focusing on the interdependence of thinking, making, and learning, SFAI’s academic and public programs are dedicated to excellence and diversity.

SFAI’s School of Studio Practice concentrates on developing the artist’s vision through studio experiments and is based on the belief that artists are an essential part of society. It offers a BFA, an MFA, and a Post-Baccalaureate certificate in Design and Technology, Film, New Genres, Painting, Photography, Printmaking, and Sculpture/Ceramics.

SFAI’s School of Interdisciplinary Studies is motivated by the premise that critical thinking and writing, informed by an in-depth understanding of theory and practice, are essential for engaging contemporary global society. It offers degree programs in Exhibition and Museum Studies (MA only), History and Theory of Contemporary Art (BA and MA), and Urban Studies (BA and MA).

SFAI’s Dual Degree MA/MFA program is ideally designed for students who seek a deep and balanced immersion in both theoretical discourse and art practice. A three-year commitment, the degree consists in an MA in History and Theory of Contemporary Art and an MFA in any area of study within the School of Studio Practice (see above).

For more information about this exhibition or other public programs at SFAI, please go to www.sfai.edu or call 415 749 4563.

For information (including important dates) about graduate, post-baccalaureate, and undergraduate admissions at SFAI, please go to www.sfai.edu/admissions.