MACAY Museum

The Museum of Contemporary Art of Yucatán (MACAY) is the obligatory window in the southeast of Mexico for those who want to see contemporary art. This museum has specialized in presenting this style of art for more than a decade.

Some 80,000 people visit the museum annually and during the past 10 years there have been more than 500 exhibitions by local, national and international artists showing more than 20,000 works of art.

In 2001 MACAY launched their educational program by taking their art to the people. How did they do this? By taking the art to the streets (literally) and placing enormous sculptures in two strategic parts of the city - the Paseo de Montejo (until 2008) and the Pasaje de la Revolución right beside the Cathedral on the main plaza. This way everyone sees the art as they go about their daily lives.

Materials that are being used in sculptures in Mérida include marble, metal, resins, wood, onyx and fiberglass using cement and bronze molds. Other pieces are sculpted freehand without molds.

Each year a different country was showcased and the exhibitions were open for ten months. Thirty US sculptors and twenty Mexican sculptors showed from April 2005 in the United States exhibition. Spain showed in 2006, Japan in 2007, and Germany in 2008. Mexican artists were invited to show with each country thus creating an ambiance of sharing and unity.

Sculpture Sisterhoods Germany-Mexico 2008 addressed a necessary reflection on the problems of ecology. The presentation, made up of 40 pieces, not only had dialog with space but also with the environment and the inhabitants of the city.

The dialog between the sculptures presented by Mexican artists and the guest country was the principal mission of the shows. Then they added the aspect of daily life: uses and customs, livable spaces, work or dispersion, and public and private environments. It should be noted that nearly 90% of the pieces were created "in situ," taking into consideration the conditions and challenges to preserve them during a period of 10 months.

Note: In 2009, there will not be an exhibition of sculptures on Paseo de Montejo, but there will continue to be sculptures displayed in the Pasaje de la Revolución, outside the doors of MACAY. 

Calle 60, Next to Cathedral on Plaza Grande.
Tel. (99) 928 3258 & 928 3236.

Open: Monday to Thursday 10:00 - 18:00 hrs., except on Tuesday when it is closed.

Friday and Saturdays 10:00 - 20:00 hrs. and Sundays 10:00 - 18:00 hrs. 

Admission: Free.
www.macay.org