Voices of /April June, 1995 25 Yucatan Atheneum Museum of Contemporary Art Miguel A. Madrid Jaime *

n April 29, 1994, the MACAY (Yucatan Atheneum Museum of Contemporary Art), the youngestO museum in the oldest part of Mesoamerica, opened its doors to the public. Housed in a building of great cultural and historical significance, it grew out of the combined efforts of the Yucatecan community as well as other interested parties who over the years have insisted on the need to create a museum in the Yucatan dedicated to the fine arts. As the project began to develop, considerable emphasis was placed on the importance of finding an appropriate space for the museum. The building chosen was Mérida's well-known "Ateneo Peninsular" (Peninsular Atheneum building). RSás Although the structure itself dates back to the beginning of the Spanish Conquest, it is best remembered as the seminary attached to the Cathedral of Mérida, dedicated to San Ildefonso. With the passing of time, the building was separated from the cathedral and converted into one of the first cultural institutions of the Yucatan Peninsula: the College of San Ildefonso, whose entrance — adorned by beautiful Colonial-style dedicated to the saints-

* Director of the Museum. 26 V oices of Mexico Mpril • June, /995

Gabriel Ramírez Aznar, Mid-dais workshop, actylic.

ddolJb Cuellar riding on his metal horse. Adolfo Cuellar, Ow/.

Photos by Gunilla Hallgren.

The museum's patio.

Dish by Martín Coronel.

Fernando Castro Pacheco, Woman's Temporarv exhibition of Yucatecan head, oil. embroidely by Silvia Terán. Voices of Mexico /April • June, 1995 27

Unfortunately, as time passed, the series of beautiful fruit trees, typical of good intentions of General Alvarado the region. were lost and the building was To the left are two temporary occupied by a series of public offices exhibition halls, the museum workshop —a heterogeneous mix of government and another patio, soon to be the institutions having nothing to do with museum's exposition forum. The latter, the arts. Through daily and a large space that can easily be adapted indiscriminate use, the building soon to the museum's needs, will be used for began to deteriorate. all kinds of cultural events, including In 1991, after the building had sculpture exhibits, concerts, theater and been virtually destroyed, the idea of dance performances, as well as any using it for its original purpose other activities the museum may offer. Works by Martín Coronel (loan from INBAL). surfaced again. And so the rescue In the future, the area will be roofed process began. Slowly, the over, allowing for the installation of a can still be admired today on government offices began to disappear screening room and the use of the Mérida's 58th Street. and the restoration of the building space for other indoor activities. Over the years, the building progressed. In 1993, after two years of On the left side of the first patio, underwent many changes and hard work, the reconstruction was visitors enter the museum's second amplifications, the most significant of finished and the first steps toward the which were done at the beginning of installation of the museum the 20th century. The structure, when commenced. At the end of the same completed in 1916, exemplified the year, the government and a small "Frenchified" Renaissance style group of private patrons —known as common at the time, decorated with the MACAY Cultural Foundation, military emblems, large votive headed by, Carlos García Ponce- lanterns and a pair of large angel-like joined forces to begin planning the figures with the words "Ateneo museum's future. Peninsular" inscribed at their feet. On January 31, 1994, the Yucatan A product of the inspiration and state government handed the building cultural interest of General Alvarado, over to the MACAY Cultural one of the most progressive Foundation, which was placed in government officials in the Yucatan charge of the museum's Juan O'Gorman, outline for at during this time, the "Ateneo administration. Chapultepec Castle (loan from Fomento Peninsular" was created to make At present, the MACAY —which Cultural Banamex). culture and education available to has 10,500 square feet of usable everyone. It was the general's hope that space— consists of 15 exhibition floor by means of a majestic double contact with these elements would help halls, of which eleven are open to the staircase, which will soon display one people to elevate themselves socially. public. Five of the halls house of the most important painted permanent exhibitions, while the by Yucatecan painter Fernando remainder are for temporary ones. García Ponce. Entering from the Pasaje de la At the top of the stairs to the left Revolución (between 58th and 60th is the "multi-use" room, designed for Streets), the visitor finds him or workshops, courses in art appreciation herself in the vestibule, a small area and the basics of drawing, , dedicated to the sale of museum ceramics and theater, as well as the paraphernalia —books, catalogues, reception of school groups. T-shirts, posters, key chains, pens, The halls in this area run from left etc., as well as the MACAY bulletin, a to right around the building in the magazine published by the museum shape of a big, inverted "J." Those every three months. who are interested can peruse the Leaving the lobby, one enters a museum's art library, with a collection patio where a blue fountain filled with of over 1,300 books specializing in Fernando García Ponce hall. large clay pots is surrounded by a fine art, architecture and crafts