In the Spring of 2009, representatives from the Turchin Center staff and Appalachian’s Department of Art visited The Universidad de las Américas en Puebla (UDLAP) and artists living and working in Puebla and Cholula Mexico. The goals of the trip were to research the local art and artists and to lay the groundwork for future artist residencies, faculty, student and cultural exchanges between the two universities’ art departments and graphic design programs. During the trip, Turchin Center representatives toured many artists’ studios, and began curating the "Shadow of the Volcanoes: Contemporary Art from the Mountains of Central Mexico Exhibition". www.tcva.org