Mexic-Arte Museum

Sandra C. Fernandez is an Ecuadorian American artist whose printmaking-based mixed media practice explores migration, memory, identity, and transformation through print, sewn paper, text, and the garment form. The selection includes work from different moments in her practice. One of her selections, Coming of Age (transformations), even has a connection to Austin, which she thought was particularly appropriate for Changarrito.

Here’s what she has to say about her work:

“I am an Ecuadorian American artist whose work is rooted in my multicultural heritage and life journey. My practice grows out of the experiences of migration and resilience that have shaped me, and I see art as a way of weaving together stories of identity, belonging, and memory. Each piece I create becomes a reflection of both my personal history and the larger narratives of those who, like me, move between cultures and places.

My work spans a wide range of media, including printmaking, photography, artist’s books, soft sculpture, fiber art, assemblage, and installation. I am drawn to materials that carry their own histories—paper, thread, metal, wood, organic elements, and small found objects—and I combine them to build layered, tactile works. Through this process, I seek to create spaces where displacement and loss coexist with strength and hope, where what is fragile is also resilient.”

Come support Sandra this month!
🗓️ October 3rd & 4th and 11th & 12th
🕕12pm - 3pm
📍Outside Mexic-Arte Museum

Still wondering what volunteer position is best for you? Find out what fits you the best through this interactive chart!

From working behind the scenes to being actively involved in the parade, there’s bound to be a position for you.

The full list of roles we have are as follows:

✨Festival Assistance + Operations - Help with decorations, props, and festival tasks through out the day

🕯️Parade Volunteers - Help march down historic 6th Street!

🔧 Set-Up + Tear-Down - Help make sure everything is ready before and cleaned up after the celebration

Volunteers are truly at the heart of this festival. This festival can’t operate without YOU!

Learn more about how to sign up to volunteer on our website and the link in our bio 🔗

📣 OPEN CALL FOR ARTISTS!

Mexic-Arte Museum is thrilled to announce that the application for our 2027 Changarrito Residency Program is now open!

Conceptualized by artist Maximo Gonzalez, the Changarrito is an art vending cart that serves as an alternative, informal forum for artists to present and sell their work directly to the public. True to our mission, this program is dedicated to elevating contemporary Latine/x and Latin American art and providing artists with a unique platform for exposure and income.

What the Residency Offers:

🌟 In-Person Art Vending: Sell your original artwork on the Changarrito cart in front of the Museum in Downtown Austin or potentially at off-site events.
🌟 Artists keep 100% of their sales!
🌟 Virtual Residency & Promotion: For one month, your work will be featured across the Mexic-Arte Museum’s social media channels, reaching a broad and engaged audience of over 24k people.
🌟 Participate in a recorded interview with Luisa Fernanda Perez, our Curator of Exhibitions and Director of Programs.
🌟 Paid Workshop Opportunity: Collaborate with our Education Department to create and implement a community workshop (Family Day/Media Mixer), for which you will receive a stipend.

‼️Application Deadline is Monday, November 30, 2027

🔗Click the link in our bio to apply.

🖼️ If you have participated in the Mexic-Arte Changarrito program before, we’d love you to share your experience in the comments!

Interested in helping Viva la Vida? Volunteer with us! Learn what volunteer roles area available and what fits you best!

Roles include:

✨Festival Assistance + Operations - Help with decorations, props, and festival tasks through out the day

🕯️Parade Volunteers - Help march down historic 6th Street!

🔧 Set-Up + Tear-Down - Help make sure everything is ready before and cleaned up after the celebration

Volunteers are truly at the heart of this festival. This festival can’t be ran without YOU!

Learn more on how to sign up to volunteer on our website and the link in our bio 🔗

"Hello everyone! My name is Ana Deisy Campos and I am so excited to be September’s Changarrito artist of the month!

I am a Salvadoran-American artist born in California and raised in Texas, working primarily with painting/drawing and photography. I use my artwork to explore the heart of what might have been lost due to American media representation, underrepresentation, and generalization of Salvadoran and Latino/a/x culture. My practice has a focus on reimagining memories and relationships between myself, culture, family, and the environment. I draw from my own experiences and toggle with what feels tangible and what does not to investigate memory and the loss of it, while still searching for belonging as a means of connection.

I am grateful for this opportunity and am excited to share more with you all!

Want to be part of the Viva magic? Become a parade participant! 🪅

The Viva la Vida Parade brings together a vibrant and varied mix of the traditional, contemporary, and Austin “weird”. The Procession – including costumes, props, live music, dancers, and floats – marches down historic 6th Street and culminates at E. 4th Street and Congress Avenue. The 2026 special section theme will be la ofrenda, with artist-commissioned ofrenda components carried through the parade and then assembled on the festival’s altar-like stage 🕯️

Community members can participate for FREE by signing up on our website or volunteering! Corporations can also participate in the parade with a $500 donation and the ability to self-advertise 💃

Join in on the fun by signing up to become a parade participant!

Mexic-Arte Invites you to the Opening of Día de los Metros: Coleccionando Memorias AND Selection from the Collection Juan Sandoval Jr.

📅 Friday, September 11, 2026
⏰ 6 - 9 PM
📍 Mexic-Arte Museum | 419 Congress Ave., Austin, TX 78701

Día de los Metros: Coleccionando Memorias celebrates the life of loved ones who have passed and come before us Selection from the Collection Juan Sandoval Jr. features a donated collection of works by Latine/x artists.

🎟️ https://Fall2026ExhibitsOpeningReception.eventbrite.com
✨ $10 General Admission
✨ FREE for Members - Please check your email and use promo code at checkout!
✨ Special $25 Individual Memberships available opening night!

Your ticket includes:
🍷 Drinks
🍰 Dessert
🧑🏼‍🎨 Hands-on Art Activity

🚗 Parking: Frost Bank Garage | 4 hrs for $10 with museum discount code (available at check-in)

As Viva la Vida anticipatingly approaches, here’s a concise explanation of the festival! Featuring photos over the years, gain a glimpse of what Viva la Vida has to offer ✨

If you’re a vendor and are interested in this event, vendor applications are open until TOMORROW! Make sure to apply using the form located on our website/in our bio 💃

Mexic-Arte Museum is excited to share that almost all of our Summer Internship Cohort will be sticking around the museum for the fall semester! These students will continue to expand their knowledge and maximize their experiences at the museum as we prepare for multiple exhibitions and events this fall!

However, we do have one internship opening in the Digital Media Department this semester!
🔗Learn More and Apply: https://forms.gle/refg4LUb9ytNeKdQ9

Application Due Date: September 11, 2026
Pay rate: $22/hr
Must be a current undergrad student!

Thank you to the IMLS for the support on this initiative.

Home - Mexic-Arte Museum The Official Mexican & Mexican American Museum of Texas is dedicated to enriching the community through education programs, exhibitions, and the collection, preservation, and interpretation of Mexican, Latino, and Latin American art and culture for visitors of all ages.