Los Angeles
Institute of Cultural Inquiry/ LaXart, June 27th
Lost Causes
LOST CAUSES FOR LA> participants include: Dont Rhine, Fritz Haeg, Zoe Crosher, The Journal of Aesthetics and Protest, Ryan Hill, and others (tba)

curated by Shana Lutker and Tim Ivison

Mexicali
Centro Estatal de las Artes, June 28th
Histories from two cities: Mexicali/Tijuana
Mexicali is a drasticallly different city from its neighboring Tijuana: instead of being a city of transition, it is set in permanence and continuity. It also has a large Chinese population who coexist with the residents in a symbiotic, yet quiet way. Two hours apart from eachother, but part of the same state of Baja California Norte, they are an example of great cultural contrast and peculiar narratives. An urban myth tells that the Chinese live in tunnels, from which they emerge at night. This debate with representatives from boath cities, will explore this little known fact and seek to “unearth” some of the hidden urban histories.

Lagos de Moreno, Jalisco
Casa de la Cultura –House of Culture, July 1st
Microhistorias
Host: Carlos Helguera

Lagos de Moreno Jalisco is the home to the oldest Helguera house, one which held more than eight generations. This brief interview with the current owner, Carlos Helguera, will seek to exemplify some of the real-life anecdotes of a middle-class family in Latin America, some of which are not far from the tales of Juan Rulfo, Carlos Fuentes or Gabriel García Márquez.

Toluca
Universidad del Estado de Mexico, July 3rd
Suave Patria: instituciones y símbolos nacionales
Host: Luisa Barrios Honey Ruiz

Participants: José Luis Barrios, Álvaro Villalobos, Eduardo Chávez

How does a nation develop its national symbols? How do these symbols evolve? How to we become defined – or, search to become defined- by these images? This debate explores the history of national iconography and compares the time in which they were created- the XIXth century- with our present.

Mexico DF
Sala de Arte Público Siqueiros, July 7th / Casa del Lago, July 8th
Here is where we happened to live
Host: Laboratorio Curatorial 060

Participants: Maris Bustamante, Erick Beltrán, Gabriel Cázares (Tercerunquinto), Taiyana Pimentel, Daniela Wolf y Lourdes Morales (LC060)

The contemporary art practice oscillates between the presentation “to the converted” and to those who exist outside of its language, and sometimes are involved as distant spectators, unknowing participants, or active antagonists. And often the attempts to bridge between these worlds, even if well intentioned, appear forced or artificial. These tensions become more evident in the periphery of modernity. This discussion provides a critical analysis of this problem and discusses the implications of the different modalities of public involvement of art today.

Puebla
Zócalo de Puebla / Puebla's Main Square July 11th (TBC)
Food and Art
Host: Xavier Recio

Participants: José Iturriaga y Eduardo Merlo

Puebla is widely known as the culinary capital of Mexico, as well as a city emphasizing history tradition. Recently, however, the city has seen a transformation, and a debate, in the adoption of new culinary techniques and modern forms. This discussion, which departs from Puebla’s culinary tradition to use food as a point of departure for a discussion about cultural transformation and the balance between tradition and the innovation introduced by international trends.

Mérida, Yucatán
Centro de Artes Visuales, Mérida, July 14th
Groups and individual's iniciatives towards regional culture in Yucatán
Participants: Mónica Castillo, artist; Raul Ferrera Balanquet, artist; Marco Díaz, architect; Ariel Guzmán, artist; Ygnacio Rivero, photographer

Host: Alfredo Cruz, director de artes visuales, Instituto de Cultura de Yucatán

Tourism is one of the main revenue generators in Mexico. The Mexican tourism ministry launched a successful tourist campaign with the motto of “Mexico Mágico”, branding the country as a haven for exotic experiences. While tourists get exposed to Mexican culture and crafts, simultaneously Mexican crafts and folklore is impacted by the presence and market demands of tourism. This panel explores the transformation that local culture undergoes as it entices the average tourist and participates in this collaborative process of constructed myths of exoticism.

Ciudad Guatemala
Centro Cultural de España, July 17th
Unrest
Host: Rosina Cazali

Guatemalan artists chose as their involvement with the SPU project to have a discussion and debate on the notion itself of ‘Unrest’, in its various interpretations. The discussions on this term will connect with an initiative of the Centro Cultural de España entitled “Cielo al Revés” (downwards sky), a series of experimental projects under the subject of migration, transculturality and hybrid cultures.

San Salvador
Escuela de Artes Aplicadas, July 20th
The Uses and Misuses of Art
Hosts: Hugo Martinez Acuña (School of Applied Arts), Jose Rodriguez (artist)

This discussion will center on the perceptions about art in El Salvador, its role in Salvadorean society, and the way in which art is taught, interpreted, and presented in institutions.

Tegucigalpa
Mujeres para las Artes, July 23
Topic TBA
Host: Bayardo Blandino

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