Mayor Renán Barrera Concha cut the inaugural ribbon on the Fernando Castro Pacheco Cultural Center, a space dedicated to showcasing and safeguarding the valuable work of the outstanding painter, sculptor, engraver and muralist, Fernando Castro Pacheco.
The new center is located in the old Municipal Archives building, on iconic Paseo de Montejo, and will be a space open to the public to explore and appreciate the artistic legacy of this acclaimed Yucatecan artist.
At the inauguration ceremony, the Municipal President was accompanied by distinguished guests, including Sergio Manzur Simón, president of the Fundación Casa Estudio Fernando Castro Pacheco, Víctor Hugo Lozano Poveda, president of the Board of Government and Political Coordination of Congress, Loreto Villanueva Trujillo, Secretary of Culture and the Arts, and Irving Berlín Villafaña, Director of Culture of Mérida.
Promise kept to Fernando Castro Pacheco: Renán
Barrera Concha highlighted the importance of the opening of this museum, fulfilling his promise to preserve Fernando Castro Pacheco’s legacy for the enjoyment of the community.
The collaboration agreement with the Fundación Casa Estudio Fernando Castro Pacheco A.C. allowed the creation of this space in the Municipal Archive, which seeks to commemorate the life and work of this distinguished artist.
After the inauguration ceremony, the mayor took a tour of the museum facilities, which offers an exceptional showcase to house and exhibit the work of Fernando Castro Pacheco.
Irving Berlín, Director of Culture, recalled that the artist was born in 1918 in the San Sebastián neighborhood and that he stood out for his unique artistic style, which led him to create nationally and internationally recognized works.
In his first exhibition, entitled “Women of Color and Eternity,” 47 pieces are on display, some of which have not been seen in decades and others that will be presented for the first time. The collection will remain on display for three months.
This is how the exhibition is organized
The works are divided into four rooms, each representing different aspects of Castro Pacheco’s artistic approach. The first room shows female figures that transcend reality to inhabit timeless chromatic atmospheres.
The second room houses works that highlight the artist’s expression and technical quality, including engravings and works from his production. The third room explores the construction of the corporeal and the interaction between human figures and abstraction. The last room presents an experimentation with form, abstraction and color.
In addition to the exhibition areas, the Centro Cultural Fernando Castro Pacheco has a bookstore of the Fondo Editorial del Ayuntamiento de Mérida, which offers Castro Pacheco’s printed materials. It also includes a multi-purpose terrace that will serve as a space for poetry gatherings, concerts, book presentations, and theater.
The center will house the extensive collection left by the artist, along with the Municipal Historical Archive, which houses documents compiling the history of the city. Admission to the Fernando Castro Pacheco Cultural Center will be free and it will be open from Tuesday to Saturday from 10:00 to 20:00 hours and on Sundays from 9:00 to 17:00 hours.
The inauguration event also featured a performance by the Mérida String Quintet and soprano Mariana Echeverría. Distinguished guests, including the former mayor of Mérida, Ana Rosa Payan Cervera, city councilors, cultural and business leaders, as well as other art lovers, were present to celebrate the opening of the Centro Cultural.
TYT Newsroom
