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WINTER 2021

BOARD OF TRUSTEES

STRONG ROOTS– OUR MEMBERS We begin the New Year by giving thanks to all of you who have supported the International Museum of Art & Science in 2020. What an unexpected year it’s been! We hope that you and your loved ones are healthy and safe. We are truly grateful for your participation in our online programs, encouragement to keep fulfilling our mission to promote a deeper appreciation of the arts and sciences, and your generous donations and membership support during these challenging times, thank you. Our IMAS members are like the roots of tree—their support nurtures the work of the staff in creating one-of-a-kind museum experiences and demonstrates the value of the museum in nourishing learning for all ages in our community. Strong roots require cultivation and care to grow. For IMAS this means renewing and reenergizing our connections with our members through newsletter stories like those sharing behind-the-scenes activities, so you gain a deeper understanding of a museum experience’s impact. (See page 13 for an inside look...) For over 50 years, IMAS has involved its members as leaders in helping the museum grow and improve – our Board of Trustees are members with a passion for the museum’s mission and its future. We want you to get to know these dedicated members who volunteer their time and talents to ensure the museum thrives. (See page 17 for first in a series of staff interviews with our Trustees...) As we look toward the future, museum staff, Board and committees have been engaged in updating our strategic plan—this is an important core document of an AAM accredited museum. We’ll share the updated plan with you later in 2021, but if you’d like to be involved by reviewing the final draft, we’d love to have your input. (Just give me a call at the museum 956-681-2810.) IMAS members matter in so many ways and we are grateful and honored to have your support—it truly makes a difference. (Take a look at page 9 for IMAS by the numbers to see what your membership dollars make happen.) With appreciation and gratitude, Ann Fortescue PRESIDENT & EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR

Juan Garcia

Debbie Crane Aliseda

CHAIR

SECRE TARY

Ernesto Sepulveda

Lesley Chavez

VICE-CHAIR

TRE ASURER

Dr. Steven Block

Eryn Reddell Wingert

GOVERNANCE CHAIR

IMMEDIATE PAST-CHAIR

MEMBERS

EX-OFFICIO

Graciela Cobo Beth Brown ADVISORY BOARD CHAIR Dr. John Gerling Ofelia Estevis Kate Horan IMAS GUILD Dr. Katherine McAllen Bill Ranganath Hari Namboodiri TRUSTEE EMERITUS Juan Peña Yirla Gonzalez-Nolan JUNIOR LEAGUE OF MCALLEN

Veronica Whitacre MAYOR PRO-TEM

STAFF DIRECTORY Ann Fortescue

Lisa Moreno

PRESIDENT & E XECUTIVE DIRECTOR

SCIENCE EDUCATION COORDINATOR

Adrian De Anda

Valerie Escamilla

OPER ATIONS & FINANCE DIRECTOR

ART EDUCATION COORDINATOR

Mary Garza

Celina Michel

E XECUTIVE ASSISTANT & HR COORDINATOR

RESERVATIONIST & OUTRE ACH COORDINATOR

Anastasia Perez

Edgar Cortez

DE VELOPMENT & MARKE TING DIRECTOR

EDUCATOR

Yelitza Garcia

Claudia Martinez

EDUCATOR

DIRECTOR OF EDUCATION

Selena Garza

Jessica Rodriguez

EDUCATOR

VISITOR SERVICES MANAGER

Elisa Hernandez

Amelia Whitehead

EDUCATOR

DIRECTOR OF COLLECTIONS & EXHIBITIONS

Aylaia Sifuentes

Alex Garza

DE VELOPMENT & MARKE TING COORDINATOR

FACILITIES MANAGER

Marissa Salazar

Diana Reza

GR APHIC DESIGNER

MEMBERSHIP & VISITOR SERVICES COORDINATOR

Jesus Velazquez CR AF TSMAN

Ana Guerra EXHIBITIONS COORDINATOR & CURATORIAL ASSISTANT

Roni Cortez DIRECTOR OF EDUCATION ASSISTANT

Pedro Gomez HOUSEKEEPER

John Mercado SECURITY OFFICER

TABLE OF CONTENTS 1 COMMUNITY

14 EXHIBITS

6 EDUCATION

16 MEET THE BOARD

9 BY THE NUMBERS

17 SUPPORTERS

12 UPDATES Cover Credit from upcoming exhibit World of Frida Sandra De Jaume, Frida Kahlo with Okinawa Flowers, 2016, acrylic on canvas, 53 x 41”

CELEBRATING ESSENTIAL RESPONDERS BY BERRY FRITZ, IMAS GUILD MEMEBER The IMAS Guild’s Annual Christmas Tree Forest continues at the International Museum of Art and Science and it is always a sight to behold. Community participants put their hearts and souls into designing unique, beautiful trees. The Annual Christmas Tree Forest is organized and by the IMAS Guild. The organization chose Celebrating Essential Responders as a theme in correspondence to 2020’s pandemic and to honor the many heroes. The trees are displayed 10 feet apart in the Welcome Pavilion. According to IMAS Guild’s Christmas Tree Chair, Bertha Garcia, "Next year we hope to be back to the usual exhibit with trees decorated by all age categories." The Nelson family, first place winners in the exhibition, chose to celebrate grocery store workers. These essential workers braved into crowds of panicked shoppers looking for toilet paper and nonperishable foods. They worked their arduous shifts while keeping their cool. The family’s tree features exquisite little handmade grocery carts, miniature bags of groceries and friendly faces of store clerks. South Texas College won second prize with their tree titled, Future First Responders. The college’s vibrant and beautifully made tree encourages students and the youth to be a First Responder as a career. Today's Heroes by McAllen Public Library won the third prize with a colorful celebration of medical personnel, police, city workers, teachers, and other first responders to the pandemic. Judges for this year's Christmas Tree Forest were photographer Hal Wallace, Talent Scout John Alaniz and local artist Berry Fritz. Top to bottom: the Nelson Family with their tree, IMAS Guild members and their tree, and close up of McAllen Public Utility’s tree.

2020 PARTICIPANTS Chaplain Responders Community Service

Nelson Family

IMAS Guild

South Texas College

Irvin Velazquez

OFFICE OF PUBLIC RELATIONS & MARKETING

McAllen Public Library

Veronica Martinez

McAllen Public Utility

MCALLEN ISD ART TEACHER

Mujeres Unidas/ Women Together

School of Rock

Visionaries of the Blind Wilson Family

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SMITHSONIAN’S NATIONAL YOUTH SUMMIT ON TEEN RESISTANCE TO SYSTEMIC RACISM BY CLAUDIA MARTINEZ GRAY, DIRECTOR OF EDUCATION The International Museum of Art & Science (IMAS), an Affiliate of the Smithsonian Institution, participated in the National Youth Summit on Teen Resistance to Systemic Racism, an online outreach program organized by the Smithsonian’s National Museum of American History in partnership with Smithsonian Affiliations, the week of September 21–25. This year’s summit topic allowed youth to examine the impact of teen resistance to systemic racism. The IMAS was one of thirteen Smithsonian Affiliate organizations to host a regional youth summit. The IMAS partnered with the Museum of South Texas History (MOSTHistory) to host a virtual summit. Rene Ballesteros from MOSTHistory and IMAS educator Elisa Hernandez co-facilitated the summit discussion for a total of 51 high school students from select RGV school districts, including Edcouch-Elsa ISD, Donna ISD, Hidalgo ISD, La Joya ISD, and McAllen ISD. The summit provided historic context for the actions of 15-year-old Claudette Colvin, a Black student in Montgomery, Alabama, in 1955, who refused to give up her seat on a segregated bus and later testified in the legal case that ended segregated busing in her hometown. Digital platforms and facilitators were provided for students to convene in a discussion about this history and to examine the power of today’s teens.

Brooklyn College of City University of New York, and a discussion with Smithsonian Secretary Lonnie G. Bunch III and Kimberly Boateng, Washington, D.C., area student leader, on the summit’s key question: How can young Americans create a more equitable nation? Sara Mora, national immigrant rights activist, digital creator and organizer, emceed the event. Over 4,000 students participated in virtual discussions facilitated by their educators, the Smithsonian and Smithsonian Affiliate museums nationwide. The regional summit hosted by the IMAS and MOSTHistory fostered discussions with teens on systemic racism through the historical lens of the 1955 actions of Claudette Colvin and the 1968 Edcouch-Elsa walkout. Teens discussed how members of our community overcame the punishments imposed on them for speaking out against racism in schools. The regional summit also featured an interview of walkout participate Mari Lozano and her grandson Roly Lozano. One teen participant expressed how the discussion encompassed what they were learning in school stating, “[We explored] the impact of Claudette Colvin's valiant act which was able to align to the current lesson we are learning about the civil rights movement.” The National Youth Summit series was designed by the National Museum of American History to provide students with an opportunity to share their views and debate issues as part of a program that aligns with the National History Standards and Common Core Standards for Speaking and Listening. Since the program was launched in 2011, the National Youth Summit has engaged more than 65,000 live viewers and many more through the archived programs. The National Youth Summit is made possible by the A. James and Alice B. Clark Foundation and the Patrick F. Taylor Foundation K-12 Learning Endowment and is part of a larger Smithsonian initiative focused on civic engagement intended to help Americans understand the past in order to make sense of the present and to shape a more informed future. The museum has created a vigorous program with curricula, websites and outreach opportunities for students and teachers across the nation.

“It was important to be part of the National Youth Summit so we could provide students with resources and information about our local history of systemic racism and how young people stood up against those practices. It was refreshing to see that the participants were eager to talk about this topic and share their thoughts and ideas. [They] wanted to learn more about how they can be an active part of social change. By participating in these discussions, they can be made aware of the history that is taking place and the power they have to influence it,” stated Hernandez. The National Youth Summit featured three talks and discussions with scholars, historians and activists. Beginning with an introduction by Anthea M. Hartig, the Elizabeth MacMillan Director of the National Museum of American History, the schedule featured a keynote address by Jeanne Theoharis, Distinguished Professor in Political Science at

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Scan of Valley Morning Star paper, November 15, 1968 captioned, “Three Edcouch-Elsa high School seniors show one of the various protest signs observed in the mass student refusal to attend school Thursday morning. They are, from left, Mirtala Villarreal, Martina Gonzales and Patsy Jacinto.”

VIRTUAL BACK TO SCHOOL WEEK SUPPORTED BY THE BBVA FOUNDATION BY CLAUDIA MARTINEZ GRAY, DIRECTOR OF EDUCATION The International Museum of Art & Science hosted Virtual Back to School Week on August 3−7, 2020. The event, supported by a grant from the BBVA Foundation, provided school supplies and hands-on art and science projects to school-aged children in the Rio Grande Valley in the form of a free activity kit. “The museum serves our community youth as a place of exploration and creativity, which has translated into online programming, live videos and workshops over the past several months,” said Ann Fortescue, IMAS Executive Director. “Back to School Week with the IMAS is serving a community need in a fun and engaging informal learning environment.” The free kit included one science lesson, one art lesson, coloring supplies, glue, scissors, writing supplies and more. A total of 180 kits were prepared and distributed at the museum by education staff. Grade level groups include toddlers, Kinder through 2nd graders, 3rd through 5th graders, middle schoolers, and high schoolers. McAllen Public Utility and the McAllen Public Library, city organizations that the museum collaborates with for education programming, also participated by donating additional supplies for the kits. The week of August 3-7 featured daily virtual workshops targeted to one of the five grade level groups. Each workshop continues to be accessible through the IMAS YouTube channel, open and accessible to the community. Top to bottom: Behind the scenes with IMAS educator Lisa Moreno during Virtual Back to School Week, and IMAS Reservationist and Outreach Coordinator Celina Michel ready to give out free kits through curbside pick-up thanks to the BBVA Foundation.

T H A NK YOU F OR YOUR SUPPOR T

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IMAS AWARED $15,000 GRANT FROM H-E-B HELPING HERE The International Museum of Art & Science (IMAS), an Affiliate of the Smithsonian Institution, has been awarded a $15,000 grant from H-E-B Helping Here supporting art and culture, removing the financial barrier for unique informal, family learning experiences. Programs include a virtual Día de los Muertos (Day of the Dead) program, free admission days and monthly virtual Workshop Wednesday programming with free supply kits. Leading up to the Día de los Muertos Celebration, the public was invited to view our community altar exhibit, take part in a live Workshop Wednesday on papel picado, and visit the museum on free admission days thanks to the support of H-E-B Helping Here. The virtual Día de los Muertos Celebration aired online on Sunday, November 1, 2020. Free celebration bags supported by this grant included sugar skull decoration kits and art supplies for families participating online at home. Workshop Wednesdays feature monthly videos on art techniques, artists, and art movements. Viewers will also have the option to pick up a free supply kit for the workshop at the museum beforehand. Visit theimasonline.org for program kit registration throughout the year. IMAS cultural programs are supported in part by a grant from Humanities Texas.

2020-2021 WORKSHOP WEDNESDAY SCHEDULE OCT NOV DEC JAN FEB MAR APR MAY JUN JUL

Papel Picado Corn Husk Wreaths Papier-mâché Animal Masks Sketching From Real Life DIY Mobile Art Inspired by Women Artists Printmaking DADA Poetry Collage Cubism Self-Portraits Optical Art

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T H A NK YOU F OR YOUR SUPPOR T

WORKSHOP WEDNESDAYS WITH IMAS

BY CELINA MICHEL, RESERVATIONIST AND OUTREACH COORDINATOR

The education program, Workshop Wednesday (WW), arose in April of 2020, as IMAS and many other organizations across the country closed to the public due to the global pandemic. With our Ann Moore Art Studio closed, we were no longer able to hold the free hands-on activities that our visitors looked forward to doing each month. During the time the doors of IMAS were closed, staff remained resilient and immediately took the necessary steps in order to get the IMAS experience out to the community virtually. The purpose of WW is to encourage our visitors to create and learn about art safely from home with commonly found materials; both to have fun through the process of creating, as well as learn the different methods and basics of art. As of today, the museum now holds a free monthly workshop every third Wednesday of the month, supplying on average, 50 kits for visitors with the help of a generous grant from H-E-B Helping Here. Along with the free workshop, we have also been able to offer a giveaway item; a collection of seasonal H-E-B goodies to one lucky winner by commenting a photo of their experience on our Facebook event. In October of 2020, IMAS offered its first WW kits in conjunction with its annual DĂa De Los Muertos Celebration to learn about the history of Papel Picado. Utilizing this event helped bring the awareness of the newly reformed Workshop Wednesday program we were hoping to get. Through this entire experience, IMAS staff from all departments have opened their eyes even more to the perspective of an IMAS visitor. For all programs, including this one, we take into account the accessibility, quality, and even first-time experience. All past WW activities are available through the Workshop Wednesday playlist on our YouTube channel, where you can definitely see the progress of our efforts. There is still work to be done, technology to learn, and time to be managed, but we have come a long way from where we started and happily look forward to the future of this program. We are, and will continue to give the best of art education to our visitors. From left to right: Educator Yelitza Garcia and IMAS alter of Kalpana Chawla, free Workshop Wednesday kit provided by H-E-B Helping Here, IMAS educators preparing and packing sugar skulls for Virtual Dia De Los Muertos, Virtual Dia De Los Muertos viewer submission of their papel picado, and screenshot of IMAS Workshop Wednesday episode 13âˆ’ Chalk Pastel Drawing.

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BRAIN AWARENESS HOUR BY CLAUDIA MARTINEZ GRAY, DIRECTOR OF EDUCATION What a magnificent marvel it is to explore the brain. That three pounds of tissue and fat holds more than any one neuro-researcher can learn in their lifetime. Lucky for me, an informal educator whose only experience with neuroscience is a Psychology 101 college course, I get to learn about the field of neuroscience during our monthly Brain Awareness Hour (BAH) series. Nervous system researchers share their work and answer audience questions during these hour-long presentations. All presentations are focused on the central nervous system, which is composed of the brain and spinal cord, though each presenter shares on a specific topic. The series is the brainchild of Dr. Christine Gerin, president of the Society for Neuroscience Rio Grande Valley Chapter. She and I came to the sad realization we would not be able to host the Brain Awareness Day as originally planned for March due to the lockdown. We had these amazing presenters lined up, who had been looking forward to sharing their research with a broader audience. The intention of the event was to expand general awareness of brain science in a friendly manner. Dr. Gerin and I chatted weeks after the canceled event and we decided we could still provide a platform while also offering a virtual program

for the museum’s adult audience to experience. Thus, virtual Brain Awareness Hour was launched as a collaboration between the museum and the local chapter. In August, the series kicked off with Dr. Gerin, also from UTRGV School of Medicine, presenting “The Advantage of Being a Mermaid.” October featured Dr. Juan Padilla, a neurosurgeon from Doctor’s Hospital Renaissance, who presented on the basics of brain injuries with “Brain Concussion: What You Need to Know.” His educational presentation covered diagnosis, treatment, criteria to return to play, and future technologies being developed. November’s BAH highlighted how rodent and primate models of normal cognitive aging serve as invaluable research tools. Presented by neuro-researcher Dr. Cristina Bañuelos, “What can animals teach us about the aging brain?” explored her research in finding novel therapeutic treatments for age related cognitive decline. She states, “As people in the US and around the world live longer, it is important that we understand how our brains change as we get older so that we can develop effective treatments for conditions such as memory loss and cognitive decline that decrease quality of life and lead to loss of independence at advanced age.” Lastly, a lively discussion took place during December’s BAH with Dr. Melinda Wilding, UTRGV School of Medicine, leading the conversation on the intersection of neuroscience, neuromarketing and neuroethics during "I’ll Buy That!”: An Overview of Neuroethics With an Analysis of Principles and Innovations in Neuromarketing.” We invite IMAS Members to join the live sessions being planned for 2021 and view the recorded sessions as they are archived on the museum’s YouTube channel. Brain Awareness Hour takes place virtually via Zoom on select Fridays from 5:30-6:30 PM and is made possible in part by SFN-RGV. Dr. Melinda Wilding (top) and Dr. Christine Gerin (bottom) guide respective audiences through engaging talks with research-based dives into neuroscience.

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MY VIRTUAL TEACHING EXPERIENCE BY KRISTEN SANCHEZ, FORMER IMAS EDUCATOR

While brainstorming for the Myth + Teen Art program for the McAllen Public Library, the most frequent question I kept asking myself was “How can I make this fun and engaging for teens and what learning process is easier for them to understand?” Making an engaging art lesson plan is always fun. There is enough room to show passion and experience. Understanding how both work have helped me to not only further develop an engaging lesson, but to show participants how they can identify and “tap” into their creative side. Creating both the Mythical Creature Bookmark and Character Design Teen Art lessons instilled enthusiasm to for me, the other educators, and teens who participated in the virtual workshops via Google Hangout. To help me feel a bit more comfortable teaching virtually, I thought of artists I have seen through videos and how they work/teach virtually. They never go too deep into the topic (unless stated otherwise), they always do it in sections so you can focus on either material, techniques, proportionality, etc. That also helped me with writing the lesson but occasionally I would hit a wall when writing a section of the Character Design lesson when describing technique. I did not want to go too in depth with it and lose sight of making a character, so I had a lot of consultations and input from other educators. This in turn helped me to develop four key points the teens could focus on to develop a character and their character story. During the Mythical Creature Bookmark webinar, we discussed the Griffin, the Hydra, and Poseidon. Their initial step is to create a “pop-out” bookmark with different cut-out sections of the creatures. It was fun to see how engaged the

teens were. They had complete creative freedom where they could either create an accurate creature or mix them up to create a completely new, hybrid creature. One participant mixed Poseidon with a whale head! During the Character Design webinar, we discussed what is and how to create an analysis and storyboard, how to develop a concept map and how it progresses a character’s story, and putting together a background to enhance the actions/characteristics of the character. Most of the characters made were based on anime or video games. A teen created her own version of a nun. It was overall fun to participate with them and create my own bookmark and character alongside them. Art can be ever so expressive and neither too broad or too vague, and there are many ways to approach a final piece. Teaching art virtually was a new and different experience for me – how to approach, describe, and show how techniques can be done over camera weighed heavily on me. It was a different thought process than making lessons for in-person; so instead of focusing on how high detailed and accurate images should look, I focused more how these lessons can be engaging for everyone to enjoy while learning a few fun facts on mythical creatures. They also learned some historical information on character designers and their processes. Though the teaching process was different – not having to remember a lesson to re-teach again and not writing for myself – I adapted to the “new” form of teaching. As an educator, it is my job to keep learning and growing so I may pass down what I have learned. Left and right: former IMAS educator Kristen Sanchez hosting one of the programs from Virtual Back to School Week in August 2020.

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HUBBLE’S 30 TH CELEBRATION

On April 24, 2020, NASA’s Hubble Space Telescope celebrated the 30th anniversary of its launch aboard the Space Shuttle Discovery. In honor of that occasion, a stunning new Hubble image called “Cosmic Reef” was released virtually. IMAS was selected as one of a limited number of locations across the nation to unveil the Hubble 30th anniversary photo "Cosmic Reef" to the public. A banner is on display for the public to view and take a #Hubble30 selfie and a related video on how to make a watercolor "Galaxy Painting" is on the IMAS YouTube.

These national unveilings are the brainchild of the Space Telescope Science Institute (STScI) in Baltimore, Maryland, home to Hubble’s science operations center. In late 2019 STScI put out a call for applications from museums, science centers, and other organizations interested in hosting an event to display Hubble’s 30th anniversary image. After a rigorous selection process, 74 organizations were chosen to host a public unveiling, including at least one location in all 50 states.

MUSEUM SUMMER INTERNSHIP BY FATIMA LEAL, SCHOLAR AT RHODES COLLEGE, MEMPHIS, TN

Summer 2020 was unforgettable, not for the reasons we typically remember this season, but surely for the little joys it brought in counted doses. Even with the sudden modification to entire ways of living, what became closed doors, we have made open windows in that, many opportunities still found their way to succeed. As we all have experienced, virtual presences began to appear and strengthened as the days, weeks, and months passed. The massive rise of our remote reality brought with it a connectiveness that has never been experienced before. It is because of this connectiveness that I was able to safely work as an IMAS summer intern. As a starting art historian with museum curator aspirations, I found myself unsure of what to do this summer. When I discovered that one of the first spaces to shut their

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doors were museums, I was relieved for the safety of the public, but I was also deeply saddened by the notice. I longed for the chance to spend time surrounded by art I was passionate about. I began to look for opportunities everywhere, polishing my search engine skills. Eventually, I came across the IMAS summer internship for college students. For a moment, I could not believe I had found such an opportunity. My awe lasted only a few moments for I was convinced I needed to apply. The rest can be summarized to one of the best remote experiences I have ever had as a person. Throughout the months of May, June, and July I had the honor of researching through online databases, journals, university publications, and articles to help with the completion of museum guides for their folk-art exhibit. Among some of the sections I contributed to were the traditional use and function of the back-strap loom for textile creations, traditional Mexican masks, the contemporary production of alebrijes, and the origins of the puppeteer tradition in Mexico. As this was a new outlet of opportunity, I will reflect on the distance and my limited knowledge of the artifacts in collection. A brief visit or two would have been a good guiding light in my research. Nevertheless, although from a safe distance, I never felt more connected to an institution. With regular check-ins, guidance and much patience, my remote summer internship was one of the most intriguing, rewarding, and skill building experiences I have ever been part of, an experience which, in this new normality, I hope everyone interested in the field can get a taste of.

@IMASMUSEUM

@IMASMCALLEN

INTSAGRAMâ€™S TOP NINE OF 2020 1 Mr. Fox visited the IMAS courtyard during the shutdown in spring. 2 Coral, the hermit crab, gave us a look at how she moves from shell to shell. 3 The community came out in full force to submit incredible photographs of Pollinators in Action for the virtual and on-site exhibit. 4 At IMAS we've implemented important safety protocols with visitors and staff in mind! 5 Kalpana Chawla was honored by IMAS in the Dia de los Muertos altar exhibit. 6 IMAS art. We have it all. #dollypartonchallenge 7 Peruvian apple cactus open for only one night, essential for nocturnal pollinators. 8 Virtual Back to School Week supported by BBVA reached over 2K viewers online. 9 Lisa cares for Binky, our ball python, misting her cage to keep the humidity balanced.

Top to bottom: IMAS presented in the November Latina Hope program with the IMAS educational art video "Macrame Coaster" reproduced in Spanish for this audience of local businesswomen. Yelitza Garcia, Educator, participated in the December Latina Hope program as a guest judge.

Top to bottom:

Dia de los Muertos Altars Exhibit Partners featured in IMAS virtual exhibit and video included Boys & Girls Club of McAllen, UTRGV Center for Latin American Arts, Mission Historical Museum, McAllen Public Utility, McAllen Public Library, and Valley Symphony Orchestra.

Ann Fortescue and Anastasia Perez were interviewed by Nedra Kinerk and Mario Lopez of Futuro RGV to discuss how museums like IMAS have adapted during the pandemic and the importance of arts and culture. This winter IMAS hosted its Virtual Operation Imagination Winter Art History Camp with Educator Valerie Escamilla and Celina Michel

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MEMBERS MAT TER

Annual memberships support sustains our education programs, permanent and traveling exhibitions, and care for the permanent collection. Your annual membership ensures we continue to fulfill our mission to inspire art and science learning. Being an IMAS member is vitally important - annual membership support sustains the museum and demonstrates its value to our community. Your membership dollars have supported free IMAS online programs that have engaged over 50,000 viewers in the past seven months. There is exciting news for IMAS members in the coming year—“The World of Frida,” an exhibition of artists whose work has been significantly inspired by Mexican artist Frida Kahlo opening in March, and a Juried Members Exhibition in September 2021.

Membership Benefits Free museum admission ASTC Passport Exclusive member e-mails and Musette, the IMAS newsletter Eligible for entry into Juried Member Exhibit 10% discount in museum shop Member discount to events and programs Membership cards are mailed out one week after purchase

MEMBERSHIP LEVELS Individual | $35

Smithsonian | $175

1 Adult and 1 Guest

2 Adults, All Children Living in the Same Household Under the Age of 18; 2 Additional Guests. 1 Year Subscription to the Smithsonian Magazine or 6 Issues of Air & Space Magazine.

Family | $75 2 Adults and All Children Living in the Same Household Under the Age of 18.

Family Premium | $150 2 Adults, All Children Living in the Same Household Under the Age of 18 and 2 Additional Guests.

Visionary | $300 2 Adults, All Children Living in the Same Household Under the Age of 18; 2 Additional Guests. Smithsonian Benefits and a Gift Family Membership.

To purchase or renew your IMAS Membership, please call (956) 681-2800, visit theimasonline.org/members or visit the IMAS Visitor Services desk.

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PROMOTING ART, SUPPORTING LOCAL ARTISTS

Since its inception, The Museum Store at the International Museum of Art & Science has been the place to purchase one-of-a-kind gifts by local artisans. The shop is a “must-see” when looking for that unique gift, or simply a special something for yourself! IMAS Members always receive 10% off of all purchases (excludes consignment).

FIND AN ARTFUL GIFT Whether you need vibrant new artwork for your home, a thoughtful gift for a friend, or an artful souvenir, The Museum Store is a great place to find gifts for all ages. Products in store include original works by local artists, handmade jewelry, art books, posters, cards and journals, accessories and apparel, and more. Sales from The Museum Store support the mission of the International Museum of Art & Science and help our local community artists.

James Ray Perez, My Heart is Weary, acrylic on canvas

MEMBERS JURIED ART SHOW IMAS is pleased to announce our inaugural Members Juried Art Show in Fall of 2021. This exhibition of original artwork is open only to IMAS members. Participating artists must be 18 years of age or older and a museum member in good standing. Member artists may submit up to two works of art created within the past three years; one work is guaranteed to be included in the exhibition, the other may be juried in. Up to two adults from the same household may participate if they have a Family membership. No work can be larger than 4 x 5’, work must be movable by the artist, sculpture must include a base or stand, and no liquids, or live plants or animals are allowed. Please watch for the exhibition entry form in our summer newsletter.

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CURRENT

Exhibition curated by Lisa Moreno, Valerie Escamilla, Yelitza Garcia & Veronica Cortez.

Warriors of Light is on loan from the artist, Max Vityk.

5 DEC. 2020−6 MAR. 2021

5 SEP. 2020−28 MAR. 2021

Guided by Curiosity

Warriors of Light

Guided by Curiosity is the culmination of four virtual exhibitions curated by members of the museum’s education staff in one gallery. These four curators have found objects in the museum’s permanent collection that sparked their curiosity and interest.

Warriors of Light is part of the figurative series of the artist Max Vityk. In this series, Vityk investigates the narrative elements and figures of ancient rock engravings and mythological and folk symbols. Through Warriors of Light, Vityk seeks to modernize the archetypal mystical material to convey current events onto the plane of the internal struggle between good and evil. The paintings explore the historical revolutionary events the artist lived through during his stay in Ukraine and Egypt between 2011−2015. The exhibit is comprised of 12 large acrylic paintings.

The Science and Art of Cooperation

Natural Essence Exhibition curated by Valerie Escamilla

Exhibition curated by Yelitza Garcia

Carlos Villez, Parakata Poderosa, 2016, giclée on canvas, 30 x 24”

UPCOMING

VIRTUAL

Guided by Curiosity will bring you in to see how birds interact and methods of early naturists to document them, and into intriguing, and turbulent influence Spanish colonization had on the artistic and religious practices of the peoples of Mexico through pottery, textiles, and iconography in masks.

SPRING 2021

The World of Frida The World of Frida, celebrates the culture, style, and persona of visionary painter Frida Kahlo, an artist who continues to inspire with her story of love, adventure, and pain. Featuring over 100 national and international artists working in a wide array of media, the exhibition includes Frida Kahlo as the subject, as well as artworks inspired by her life and art, her beautiful garden, Mexican culture and fashion, vibrant colors, surrealism, and more.

The exhibition was made possible by the National Endowment for the Arts, The Raul Tijerina Jr. Foundation, and The Warren Group Architects, Inc.

THROUGH 1 JAN. 2023

Wild Bees

Mexican and Latin American

Wild Bees, an exhibition showcasing the works of Paula Sharp and Ross Eatman, a collection of stunning macro photographs depicting the world of America’s native bees and the Lower Rio Grande Valley. The exhibit is on a national tour of prominent museums, botanical gardens and galleries.

CURRENT

23 MAY 2020−7 FEB. 2021

FOLK ART COLLECTION

The Mexican and Latin American Folk Art Collection connects traditional and contemporary folk art forms evolving around regions of Central and South America. Over the past 50 years, the International Museum of Art & Science accumulated its permanent collection of folk art to over 4,000 pieces, a large portion of which will be rotated on exhibit over the next two years.

VIRTUAL

Devil Icons: Devil Iconography in Mexican Masks

Threaded Roots Exhibition curated by Lisa Moreno

Sandra De Jaume, Frida Kahlo with Okinawa Flowers, 2016, acrylic on canvas, 53 x 41”

Exhibition curated by Roni Cortez

Curator Carrie Lederer states, “Iconic Frida Kahlo was a true visionary. Her paintings—exquisite and brutally honest—are a testimony to the way she thought and lived and embraced life. Universally loved, her paintings continue to be an inspiration for artists worldwide. This exhibition demonstrates the power and reach of Kahlo’s work, reflecting a rich range of interpretation in practically every media.”