THE LATINO CULTURAL CENTER ANNOUNCES SPECIAL BOOK SIGNING WITH TEXAS ARTIST CELIA ALVAREZ MUÑOZ

The Annual Maestros Tejanos Exhibition Features Celia Alvarez Muñoz in A Toda Madre! y Padre!: Manchas y Marcas (Stains and Marks)

DALLAS, TX - The Latino Cultural Center is proud to announce a special book signing on Friday, August 13, 2010 from 7:00 - 9:00 p.m. with proclaimed Texas artist Celia Alvarez Muñoz. The annual Maestros Tejanos exhibition, on display through August 28, 2010 at the Latino Cultural Center, features the works of Alvarez Muñoz in A Toda Madre! y Padre!: Manchas y Marcas (Stains and Marks). Alvarez Muñoz will be signing copies of Celia Alvarez Muñoz by Roberto Tejada, Special Chair in Art History at Southern Methodist University. The book recently took second place in the "Best Arts Book" category at the 2010 International Latino Book Awards. Copies of the book will be available for purchase during the signing. A conceptual and multimedia artist known for her installations and public art, Alvarez Muñoz presents a selection of work meant to go beneath the skin. In this exhibition, she uses tattoos to portray the deeply rooted ink that embodies each design. "The objective of producing this new work is to return to the basic love of the mark, using the most basic and mother tool: the pencil," Alvarez Muñoz says. "Thus so, I dedicate this work to the notion of parenting - a return to using drawing as a final product instead of keeping it as a preparatory sketch." Established by the Latino Cultural Center, the annual Maestros Tejanos exhibition seeks to recognize the talent and contribution of leading Latino Texas artists. Past exhibitions have featured Benito Huerta, Tina Fuentes and sculptor Jesús Moroles. "Maestros Tejanos is an exhibition that is very dear to us because it fulfills the mission of the LCC by highlighting Latino artists who have established themselves internationally," says Maria Muñoz-Blanco, director of the City of Dallas Office of Cultural Affairs. "We know Celia's show will provide a great example to aspiring Latino artists and also create more awareness of Texas talent." Born in El Paso, Texas, Celia Alvarez Muñoz grew up amid competing cultures, languages, and value systems along the U.S.-Mexico border. She has exhibited internationally and was included in the prestigious Whitney Biennial in 1991. Sponsored the Macy's Foundation, Maestros Tejanos is free and open to the public.

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The Latino Cultural Center is a division of the City of Dallas Office of Cultural Affairs. The mission of the Latino Cultural Center is to serve as a catalyst for the preservation, development and promotion of Latino arts and culture in Dallas. The Center is located at 2600 Live Oak, Dallas, Texas 75204. LCC hours: Tuesday - Saturday 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. For additional information please call 214-671-0045 or visit us at www.dallasculture.org/latinocc.