What an exciting international experience we all had combining art, science, and cultural exchange in the heart of Mexico!
STEMarts Lab brought an interactive Augmented Reality [AR] pop-up installation called SPACE[AR]T to Plaza Guadalajara on November 22, 2024, 5-7pm, as part of a broader international STEAM youth exchange. Participants pointed their phones to the sky and discovered our Space[AR]T—six animated models created by artists and students that appear in the sky and land right in front of them. Each piece explores our relationship to space through the unique lens of community and culture. Participants captured the moment by snapping a photo or selfie with all six space models, which were then displayed in real time on an LED screen. After collecting all six models, visitors were rewarded with their own AR object to take home. Our New Mexican and Mexican Ambassadors were on hand to guide participants through their augmented reality journey.
3D Models created by Artists: Ian Harrison and Elizabeth Littlejohn. Mexico Student: Santiago Valadez. New Mexico students: Raziah Ko, Zion Flores, Shaylee Mirabal
New Mexico Students Join Sister City Delegation
This unique intercultural experience was made possible through partnerships with the Albuquerque Sister Cities Foundation, the U.S. Consulate General in Guadalajara, the City of Guadalajara, the City of Albuquerque, and the University of Guadalajara. Three talented STEMarts Ambassadors from New Mexico—Shaylee Mirabal (Taos Pueblo), Feliciana Mitchell-Gonzales (Vadito), and Claire LeGate (Albuquerque)—were selected as international travel award winners. They met with the Guadalajara STEMarts Ambassadors, who previously traveled to New Mexico for our Space Messengers installation at the Balloon Museum. Bettina Sandoval, Director of Taos Pueblo Education and Training, joined as the Taos Pueblo Liaison, and together the STEMarts team represented New Mexico in Guadalajara, showcasing our passion for integrating art, science, and technology
Celebrating Culture at the Plaza Guadalajara
The City of Guadalajara graciously arranged a historic tour of the city for the delegation giving our ambassadors an inside look into Guadalajara’s vibrant culture and history. Thanks to Marcela Hernandez, Coordinator at the University of Guadalajara, twenty Wixcari students from Escuela Preparatoria Regional de Huejuquilla el Alto joined our New Mexico and Mexican students on this city tour for an intercultural experience. They performed a traditional dance at our [AR] installation on the Guadalajara plaza.
Exploring the ‘Silicon Valley of Mexico’
The City of Guadalajara also arranged for a meeting with a team from the Ciudad Creativa Digital Guadalajara, Mexico’s hub for innovation, creativity and digital technology. We learned about the exciting work they are doing in Guadalajara, Mexico known as the “Silicon Valley of Mexico” because of its thriving tech ecosystem.
Thirty six students from three schools; UdeG Preparatoria San Jose del Valle and Preparatoria#5, and Escuela Preparatoria Regional de Huejuquilla el Alto participated in the STEMarts International Space for Earth-Space for All Design Challenge. Merlyn Schultz, Regional Public Affairs Consul, U.S. Consulate in Guadalajara joined us at San Jose Del Valle Preparatoria to hand out the Certificates of Participation. The winners of the Design Challenge for Guadalajara Mexico region were awarded prize money.
As part of our commitment to community outreach and intercultural exchange, the STEMarts team delivered a presentation to students and faculty at Preparatoria Jalisco, a high school in Guadalajara. Students were invited to attend our SPACE[AR]T installation the following day. 40+ students attended the event, with 20 student ambassadors serving as paid ‘AR Experience Guides.’ This group includes STEMarts Coordinator Carol Spiller and STEMarts Ambassador Santiago Valadez, both of whom have been actively involved with STEMarts Lab since joining the program in 2022.
Why it matters
The STEMarts Travel Award Program provides young people in New Mexico with the chance to represent their state and country while broadening their horizons, fostering empathy, and building intercultural understanding as global citizens. Open to students who have served as STEMarts Ambassadors for at least two years, the program offers a unique platform to integrate science, technology, and art with cultural diplomacy. Through events such as this pop-up installation, participants are empowered to apply their creativity and technical expertise while nurturing a spirit of collaboration. STEMarts aims to inspire artistic, scientific, and humanistic literacy, expanding our identities as planetary citizens.
Thank you to all our sponsors
We are deeply grateful to the sponsors who made this travel program possible: the U.S. Consulate General in Guadalajara, the Albuquerque Sister Cities Foundation, and the University of Guadalajara. Special thanks to all the sponsors who support our year-round STEMarts programming, empowering youth to engage in exciting STEAM opportunities in New Mexico and beyond. Visit our DONOR page to see the full list of supporters and consider becoming a donor to help us sustain and grow these impactful initiatives.