UTSA Institute of Texan Cultures opens "Los Tejanos" exhibit May 15

1930s scene from "Los Tejanos" exhibit

By James Benavides
Senior Communications Specialist, Institute of Texan Cultures

(May 8, 2015) – The UTSA Institute of Texan Cultures (ITC) will open a new exhibit "Los Tejanos," featuring the Spanish and Mexican influences on Texas, Friday, May 15.

The exhibit developers had to figure out how to fit 500 years of history into 2,000 square feet - a space the size of a fast food lunchroom. Spanish, Mexican and indigenous peoples created a "mestizo," or mixed race, which would lead to the emergence of a new culture: the Tejanos. This culture would create a new way of life and shape the state of Texas as it is known today.

Curators Lupita Barrera and Sarah Gould knew they had to do more than construct a timeline identifying key events and individuals. The exhibit had to cover five centuries of exploration, conquest, settlement, wars and treaties, and the thousands of Tejanos who lived through these events. The exhibit focuses on how Tejanos lived, why certain events transpired, and how they shaped Texas.

"This is a thematic approach to storytelling," said Gould, the museum's lead curatorial researcher. "We studied peer institutions, consulted experts, talked with members of the public, and we determined the best way to present this story was thematically."

The exhibit examines the Tejano culture in five specific circumstances, matched to specific settings. A modern kitchen serves as the background for cultural encounters, where guests can learn how foods from different cultures came together to create Tejano cuisine. An 18th century ranch house is the setting for ranching and water, detailing how the Tejanos built the mold for an early Texan industry: cattle ranching.

In a 1940s classroom, visitors can learn about the Tejano struggle for inclusion, as they scour through desks to find more about civil rights battles, revolutionaries and activists who fought for equality. They will also find, in an attached enlistment office, how Tejanos often took a path through the military to secure education, advancement and equal rights.

A late 20th century doctor's office shows how Tejanos made a living. It challenges the stereotype that Tejanos are unskilled workers performing manual labor. The final section, a 1930s plaza, presents cultural contributions in music, print and other media.

"This whole exhibit is about how the culture defines itself and interacts with others through time," said Barrera, director of education and interpretation at the museum. "Culture, customs and traditions change. 'Los Tejanos' is about how this culture changed, how it interacted with others, how it influenced others, and how this culture emerged in today's form."

The Institute of Texan Cultures is located on the UTSA HemisFair Park Campus, 801 E. César E. Chávez Blvd., a short distance from the Alamo and the River Walk. Regular hours are 9 a.m.-5 p.m., Monday-Saturday; noon-5 p.m. Sunday. Admission is $8 for adults (ages 12-64); $7 for seniors (ages 65+); $6 for children (ages 3-11); free with membership, UTSA or Alamo Colleges identification. For more information, call 210-458-2300 or visit TexanCultures.com.

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