12th Annual Celebrate Mexico Now Set for Tonight

The 12th annual Celebrate Mexico Now brings a vibrant and dynamic range of Mexico's contemporary art and culture scene presenting emerging and established artists from D.F., Tijuana, Ciudad Juarez, alongside important cultural institutions in New York City. Literature, visual art, film, food and music events will be part of this multi-venue, multi-disciplinary arts festival from tonight, October 24 thru November 1, 2015.

Award-winning curator and producer Claudia Norman of CN Management, internationally recognized for her expertise in contemporary Mexican arts has assembled an eclectic and thrilling palate of featured projects including world premieres, US debuts, and cross-cultural collaborations. About her curatorial vision, Norman explains "The festival's multidisciplinary program brings to light underexposed sides of today's Mexico, with its global-minded arts scene and varied local traditions and cultures, that gives a comprehensive cultural picture of the passions and preoccupations that make today's Mexico so complex and fascinating."

The Official Opening Nigh of Celebrate Mexico Now! will be held at Camera Club New York, October 27, 6pm, with the photo exhibition Venegas and Venegas by Tijuana-born Yvonne Venegas, twin sister of singer Julieta Venegas, a former guest of Mexico Now. In this selection, the dialogue is established with the photographs of Yvonne's father, José Luis Venegas-one of Tijuana's first middle/upper class wedding photographers. Although Yvonne followed his footsteps, her visual language captures moments of carelessness and weakness of a social class loaded with norms and customs that fight to maintain a coherent image. More info: Venegas and Venegas

From October 24-25 and October 31-November 1, Viva La Vida, An Altar in Homage to Frida Kahlo, a mixed media installation commissioned by The New York Botanical Garden in collaboration with Celebrate Mexico Now. Local visual artist Andrea Arroyo creates an installation that intervenes the reproduction of the pyramid from Frida's house in Coyoacán, Mexico. More info: Vivir la Vida

Mexican history can be traced on the richness of its dishes; from October 24 to November 1, Dia de los Muertos: A Celebration of Mexican Food brings a contemporary Mexican menu in 8 restaurants to celebrate one of the most important traditions from Mexico. Visit the restaurants during the festival week and also admire the beauty of the "Ofrendas" that some restaurants will showcase. Participating Restaurants: Bar Bruno; Café Frida; El Mitote; Hecho en Dumbo; La Palapa; La Palapa Taco Bar @ UrbanSpace Vanderbilt; Papatzul; X y Z Pintxos y Botanas.

In an ongoing tradition, on October 28, 7pm, at King Juan Carlos of Spain Center, the festival will present the winning shorts from the Morelia International Film Festival, including best-animated short 9:30am by Alfonso de la Cruz, best short fiction Ramona by Giovanna Zacarias, best documentary El Sudor de la Agonía (The Wear of Agony) by Mariano Rentería. More info: Morelia Film Festival Winners

On October 29, 7:30pm, at the David Rubenstein Atrium at Lincoln Center the indie rock/pop alternative band Torreblanca and the avant-garde New York-based ensemble Ulalume & Carlo Nicolau share the stage in what promises to be a night of exploring new beats and expanding boundaries. Torreblanca, a young and vibrant group of musicians who, despite their very different musical backgrounds, complement each other creating a unique and fresh sound. Ulalume (vocals) and Carlo Nicolau (violin & keyboards) evoke an obscure cabaret atmosphere, expressionist landscapes, and a journey through a non-specific era. More info on Torreblanca / Ulalume & Carlo Nicolau

On October 30, 6pm, La Casa Azul Book Store in El Barrio (East Harlem) will host the poet, composer and visual artist Édgar Javier Ulloa Luján and his recent project P.A.T.R.I.A (Por Amar Tanto Radiante Infinito Amor). Ulloa, whose territory extends from Ciudad Juárez, in the Mexican state of Chihuahua to the Tex-Mex border, interprets his concept of PATRIA as a word-symbol, on a public open-mic session, which will simultaneously unite his poetry with the voices of the viewers, to recreate the collective memories of those across the border. More info: P.A.T.R.I.A