Color, culture, great art: Mexican American Cultural Center opens in Downtown El Paso
A festive scene unfolded over the weekend as thousands flooded Downtown El Paso for the long-awaited grand opening of the Mexican American Cultural Center.
On the lawn in front of the center known as the MACC, crowds gathered Saturday, March 22, for mariachi music and tribal dances, while nearby a lowrider show, food trucks, lucha libre matches and a variety of vendors drew visitors' attention.
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The MACC was designed as an institution for the creation, education and celebration of Mexican American culture. It is located next to Cleveland Square Park on East Franklin Avenue at North Oregon Street.
The massive crowd made navigating the new center difficult, but the atmosphere inside was just as festive.
The dance studio held pop-up cumbia and corrida classes and the kitchen was serving agua frescas and chips and salsa. The maker space was inundated with children busying themselves at various projects and colorful headbands were being constructed in the art studio.
Among those milling around the MACC were Jim and Mary Pat Glauber from St. Louis, who made their first visit to El Paso on their way to visit Big Bend.
"My first impression is that, if I move to El Paso, I better learn Spanish," Jim Glauber said with a laugh.
"It's very impressive the way they're sharing this heritage," Mary Pat Glauber added. "It's very exciting."
The Glaubers were particularly enthused by the array of upbeat music and the way children, many draped in traditional attire, appeared excited to learn about and take part in Mexican traditions. They likewise noted the connections between the traditions being shared at the MACC and the stories shared at the nearby El Paso Museum of History.
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For Mayela Velasquez, the grand opening — and the very existence of the museum — rang a subtle political tone.
"I think it's really interesting, the opening of this space in El Paso, especially in these times," she said.
Velasquez said she was most excited about the dance and cooking classes that will soon be on offer at the museum, as well as the intricate design work on the outside of the building, which sets is apart from the rest of the Downtown landscape.
Patricia Medici, wandering near the art gallery with her husband, El Paso artist Hal Marcus, noted the long 13-year wait residents have endured since voting to fund the MACC project back in 2012. The MACC was funded by the voter-approved 2012 Quality of Life Bond for $16 million as part of the continuing revitalization of Downtown.
"It's a lot of color, a lot of culture, a lot of great art," Medici said. "It's the opening of something that's been waited on a long time, so congratulations to everybody."
The Mexican American Cultural Center, known as the MACC, is open 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Wednesday to Saturday and 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Sunday.
Admission to gallery spaces is free. Admission for various ticketed events at the center will vary.
Information: epmacc.org
Adam Powell covers government and politics for the El Paso Times and can be reached via email at apowell@elpasotimes.com.
This article originally appeared on El Paso Times: El Paso celebrates new MACC with Mexican cultural festivities Downtown
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