McNay Art Museum Honors the Bold Spirit of Chicano Culture with ‘Rasquachismo’ Exhibition

McNay

The McNay Art Museum is set to bring the colorful, unconventional essence of Chicano culture to the forefront with its latest exhibition, “Rasquachismo: 35 Years of a Chicano Sensibility,” on display from December 19, 2024, to March 16, 2025. This dynamic exhibition celebrates Tomás Ybarra-Frausto’s influential 1989 essay, “Rasquachismo: A Chicano Sensibility,” a foundational work that gave a name to the vibrant, playful, and resourceful aesthetic of Chicano culture. The McNay’s curator of Latinx art, Mia Lopez, will highlight how this aesthetic—centered on finding beauty in the commonplace—has continued to inspire artists across generations.

A Tribute to Ybarra-Frausto’s Vision

Rasquachismo, a concept that embodies a playful, ironic sensibility, reflects an ethos of making the most out of what’s available, often reinterpreting the mundane into something extraordinary. “Rasquachismo is a sensibility that is not elevated and serious but playful and elemental,” Ybarra-Frausto explains. “It finds delight and refinement in what many consider banal and projects an alternative aesthetic — a sort of good taste of bad taste.”

The exhibition explores how this sense of resourcefulness and ingenuity has impacted Latinx visual art, music, and poetry, highlighting San Antonio as a cultural epicenter. “We’re presenting this exhibition in a slightly different way,” says Lopez. “Rasquachismo isn’t a cohesive movement but an ethos. It’s an alternative aesthetic rooted in adaptation and wit.”

A Legacy Continued at the McNay

Lopez, who joined the McNay in October 2023, sees this exhibition as part of a larger mission to expand the McNay’s legacy of celebrating Mexican and Latin American art. “I’m excited to build off of the McNay Art Museum’s 70-year legacy,” Lopez says. “We’re thinking about Latinx art as American art and bridging connections across the Latinx community, which is embedded in the cultural fabric of San Antonio.”

Domesticana and Beyond: A Feminist Response

In addition to Ybarra-Frausto’s concept of rasquachismo, the exhibition will also delve into domesticana, a term coined by artist and curator Amalia Mesa-Bains in 1992 as a feminist extension of Ybarra-Frausto’s work. Domesticana captures the influence of Chicanas, celebrating how women have reshaped and elevated domestic objects, from altars to shrines, within the home. These elements appear in pieces by celebrated artists, including Margarita Cabrera, Yolanda López, César Martinez, and Kathy Vargas, that pay tribute to the themes of resilience, family, and culture.

Recent Acquisitions and Collaborations

Among the works on display will be two recent acquisitions by the McNay: Mi Chicano Corazón by Jamex and Einar de la Torre, a mixed-media piece in blown glass that explores dual identities; and an Untitled work by Nivia Gonzalez, which honors the artist’s deep San Antonio roots. Additionally, the exhibition will feature selections from Ybarra-Frausto’s personal collection, marking a special collaboration with Lopez.

Public Programming and Support

The McNay will host a special conversation between Lopez and Ybarra-Frausto on November 17, allowing the public to delve deeper into the origins and ongoing influence of rasquachismo. Major funding for the exhibition comes from the Elizabeth Huth Coates Charitable Foundation of 1992, with additional support from leading arts and cultural foundations.

The Power of Language and Identity

In presenting this exhibition, the McNay Art Museum emphasizes inclusivity, using the term “Latinx” as a gender-neutral reference to people of Latin American heritage. The terms “Chicanx” and “Chicano” are also utilized to honor both the individual’s preference and the historic roots of the Chicano Movement.

With “Rasquachismo: 35 Years of a Chicano Sensibility,” the McNay Art Museum celebrates the artistry of Chicano culture, creating a colorful, welcoming space that invites visitors to experience an aesthetic that challenges the ordinary and redefines what art can be.