Overview
Mythic Visions features works of textile art by José Benítez Sánchez, a shaman of the Huichol Indian tribe of Mexico, from the collection of the University of Pennsylvania. In conjunction with Mythic Visions, An Ancient Art Reborn: the Potters of Mata Ortiz will be on display in the Murray Gallery. Offering viewers a chance to compare contemporary Mexican folk art, Potters of Mata Ortiz features over a dozen works from the collection of Holly and Carl Socolow.
Mythic Visions is the first major exhibition of Huichol art in nearly a quarter of a century. It was curated by Dr. Peter T. Furst, author of Visions of the Huichol Shaman, for the University of Pennsylvania. Thirty-one yarn paintings by Benítez Sánchez, a leading Huichol artist in the medium, shed light on the rich heritage of the Huichol people. The exhibition of vibrant yarn paintings is enhanced by brief informative texts, maps, and color photographs to provide museum audiences a rare glimpse into the complexities of the Huichol spiritual world. Though Benítez's work has been shown at art galleries in Mexico and the United States, this traveling exhibition is the first time that his art has been exclusively featured in museum settings.
Sponsored by a grant from the McCormick Family Foundation.