Showcase Artist preview: Michael Menchaca

If Saturday morning cartoons were used to teach Mesoamerican Art History or Border Politics and Policy courses, you would have something akin to the art of San Antonio native Michael Menchaca. He is a playful and experimental graphic designer who uses colorful, contemporary, neo-Mesoamerican graphics inspired by Mayan codices, Aztec pictograms, and mural painting, coupled with cartoon cats, mice, and other critters in his print and mixed media works. We are thrilled and honored to have Menchaca participate as one of Artpace’s Chalk it Up showcase artists.

Artpace Assistant Curator of Education Lindsey Smith snapped a photograph of Menchaca and Chalk It Up Feature Artist Marcy McChesney installing a site-specific window installation at the San Antonio Children’s Museum on Wednesday. The installation will be up through mid-October.

You can see more of Menchaca’s work at The McNay Art Museum’s September 25 opening of Estampas De La Raza: Contemporary Prints From the Romo Collection. (Menchaca also prolifically posts daily designs on his blog.)

Artpace’s 9th Annual Chalk It Up festival takes place on downtown Houston Street on Saturday, October 13, 2012. This free, family-friendly event that promotes the importance of art education and proudly exhibits San Antonio’s creative vivacity by providing hands-on activities led by professional art educators, as well as interactions with contemporary artists. Our Showcase and Feature artists are always selected locally—they’re some of the city’s best, and play a prominent role in the success and enjoyment of Chalk It Up. Artpace remains passionate about giving people an opportunity to explore their relationship with not only contemporary art, but their hometown community. Chalk It Up 2012 is made possible by presenting sponsor Argo Group.

Last year, more than 18,500 people joined us on Houston Street! We’re expecting even more this year, of course. And while the entire event is free and open to the public, Chalk It Up wouldn’t be possible without the generous support of our sponsors and volunteers. Please consider contributing to the honorarium fund we’ve set up on Kickstarter to support our contemporary artists’ chalky creations. We need your help to reach our $2,000 goal by September 28. Pledges begin at just $1, but backers who pledge $25 or more will receive some fun incentives.

Image credits: (Top) Chalk It Up Showcase Artist Michael Menchaca and Feature Artist Marcy McChesney installing a site-specific window installation at the Children’s Museum. Photo by Lindsey Smith (Above) Michael Menchaca, Nuevo Acuerdo, 2012. Courtesy of the artist