Aliento a Tequila
Aliento a Tequila (or The Spirit of Tequila) exhibition explores and celebrates the landscape, culture, and traditions that gave birth to tequila, Mexico’s mestizo national drink. This series of photographs by Joel Salcido includes the original distilleries that literally founded the industry, as well as several artisanal tequileras committed to the ancestral ways of tequila-making, from harvest to bottle.
Agave dates back to the Aztec civilization as an important crop in Mexico. Since the 1600s, the people of western Mexico have cultivated blue agave from the red volcanic soil that blankets the region, to make what we know as tequila. Photographer Joel Salcido traveled across the state of Jalisco capturing images of distilleries and artisanal tequileras, including blue agave fields at sunset, the agave’s pineapple-like centers (piñas), elegantly shadowed barrel rooms (añejos), and, of course, the agave farmers themselves.
Salcido’s photographs, taken with a medium format camera—some in full-color, some in duotone—reveal not only the tequila making process but also the region’s traditions of culture and religion. Haunting and beautiful, a church spire is juxtaposed with a firework celebration in honor of the Virgen de Guadalupe. A Mexican charro rides through the streets of Arandas. Near Atotonilco, a horse pulls a traditional plow through the fields to irrigate. Exploring the rooms and techniques hidden in the distilleries of legendary tequilas Herradura, Sauza, Jose Cuervo, Don Julio, and others, Aliento a Tequila (The Spirit of Tequila) celebrates a craft that is rooted deep in the culture of Mexico.
The exhibition was curated by Roy L. Flukinger, Independent Curator Emeritus and Past Senior Curator of Photography of the Harry Ransom Center, The University of Texas at Austin. The tour is organized by ExhibitsUSA, part of Mid-America Arts Alliance.
Tour Schedule
Aliento a Tequila (The Spirit of Tequila) will tour September 2021 through August 2026. The dates below reflect seven-week exhibition periods. Dates are subject to change; please contact MoreArt@maaa.org or (800) 473-3872 x208/209 for current availability.
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September 3–October 23, 2021
El Museo Latino
Omaha, NE booked -
November 10, 2021–January 7, 2022
Museum of the Southwest
Midland, TX booked -
January 28–March 16, 2022
Temple Railroad & Heritage Museum
Temple, TX booked -
April 6–May 25, 2022
West Baton Rouge Museum
Port Allen, LA booked -
September 1–October 20, 2022
National Cowboy & Western Heritage Museum
Oklahoma City, OK booked -
November 10, 2022–January 7, 2023
International Museum of Art Science
McAllen, TX booked -
January 28–March 16, 2023
Collier County Museum
Naples, FL booked -
April 6–May 25, 2023
Hastings Museum
Hastings, NE booked -
June 16–August 11, 2023
National Hispanic Cultural Center
Albuquerque, NM booked -
September 1–October 20, 2023
Chandler Museum
Chandler, AZ booked -
November 10, 2023–January 14, 2024
University of Arizona
Tucson, AZ booked -
January 28–March 16, 2024
Refurbishment
Kansas City, MO booked -
April 6–May 25, 2024
Fullerton Museum Center
Fullerton, CA booked -
June 16–August 11, 2024
Temecula Valley Museum
Temecula, CA booked -
September 1–October 20, 2024
Powell Gardens, Inc.
Kingsville, MO booked -
January 28–March 16, 2025
50% OFF
available -
April 6–August 11, 2025
Las Cruces Museum of Art
Las Cruces, NM booked -
September 1–October 20, 2025
University of Oklahoma-Sam Noble Museum
Norman, OK booked -
November 10, 2025–January 7, 2026
Wenatchee Valley Museum and Cultural Center
Wenatchee, WA booked -
January 28–March 16, 2026
available -
April 6–May 25, 2026
available -
June 16–August 11, 2026
available
Exhibition Details
39 photographs, including 32 full color images and seven duotones
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Content
Fee Includes
Press Kit
Registrar’s Packet
Programming Guide
Gallery Guide
Bi-lingual Text Panels
Narrative Labels
Full Insurance
Installation Instructions
Custom-Designed and Built Crates -
Curated By
Roy L. Flukinger, Independent Curator Emeritus and Past Senior Curator of Photography of the Harry Ransom Center, The University of Texas at Austin
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Organized By
ExhibitsUSA, part of Mid-America Arts Alliance
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Out-of-Region Rental Fee
$5,550
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In-Region Rental Fee
$3,330
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Duration
7-week display
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Shipping
Van Line
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Running Feet
minimum 150 linear feet
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Square Feet
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Security
Moderate B
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Number of Crates/Total Weight
4 crates estimated/weight TBD
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Insurance
The exhibition is fully insured by ExhibitsUSA at no additional expense to you, both while installed and during transit.
Downloads & Resources
Click HERE to view and download the Factsheet for Aliento a Tequila.