UK Libraries Makes Several Stops in Mexico for Passport to the World Program

LEXINGTON, Ky. (Nov. 6, 2013) – University of Kentucky Libraries is adding another stamp to its passport in support of the UK College of Arts and Sciences Passport to the World program with exhibitions and programs in celebration of ¡Viva Mexico!

The exhibits and events at UK Libraries include:

• a talk on the Kentucky/Mexico Connection in fine printing 7 p.m. Friday, Nov. 8, and a fine printing workshop beginning 9 a.m. Saturday, Nov.  9;
• a showing of "Blossoms of Fire," at 2 p.m. Monday, Nov. 11;
• the "Mexican Medicine from the Aztec and Mayan People" exhibit running through Friday, Nov. 15;
• "Indigenious Clothing: Huipiles," an exhibit running through Friday, Nov. 22; and
• "A Glimpse of Ancient Mexico" exhibit running through Dec. 15.

The atrium of the William T. Young Library and the lobby of the Science Library are currently bursting with color with a display of indigenous clothing from southeastern Mexico. The "Indigenious Clothing: Huipiles" highlights huipiles (pronounced 'wipil– from the Nahuatl word huīpīlli (wiː'piːlːi)), the most common traditional garment worn by indigenous women from Mexico and other parts of Central America.  

These loose fitting, cap sleeve tunics are generally made from two or three rectangular pieces of fabric joined together with stitching, ribbons or fabric strips, with an opening for the head and arms. The garments are decorated with both hand and machine embroidery and come from the Isthmus of Tehuantepec in southeastern Mexico. 

The combined physical exhibits showcase 14 huipiles mostly from the collection of Francie Chassen-López, professor of history, with a few from Monica Udvardy, associate professor of anthropology, and Karen Tice, associate professor of educational policy studies and evaluation. A virtual exhibit includes additional huipiles from the collection of Chassen-López can be found online at http://uknowledge.uky.edu/world_mexico_huipiles/. The huipiles will be on display in Young Library and Science Library through Nov. 22.

The huipiles exhibits coincide with "A Glimpse of Ancient Mexico," an exhibit of Mexican Codices that are displayed on the walls of the Young Library’s Rose Street Entrance and the "Mexican Medicine from the Aztec and Mayan People" exhibit in the display cases in the entrance to the Medical Center Library. 

These other two exhibits include descriptions by Chris Pool, professor of the anthropology. "Mexican Medicine from the Aztec and Mayan People" will be available for viewing through Nov. 15 and "A Glimpse of Ancient Mexico" will run through Dec. 15.  Virtual exhibits of both of these shows can be found in UKnowledge, UK’s institutional repository at http://uknowledge.uky.edu/world/.

In addition to the exhibitions, UK Libraries will sponsor two lectures and a workshop related to Mexican culture. On Friday, Nov. 8, the Kentucky and Mexico's connection in fine printing will be explored with a program hosted by the King Library Press.

The press will present a lecture and workshop by Juan Pascoe, a master printer working outside of Tacámbaro, Michoacán, Mexico. Pascoe studied under Henry Duncan at the Cummington Press,  who in turn studied under Victor Hammer, artist/typographer and husband of Carolyn Hammer, founder of the King Library Press. 

Pascoe has printed more than 300 works (almost all in Spanish) on a hand press dating from 1838. Pascoe's lecture will be delivered by Paul Holbrook, director of the King Library Press, 7 p.m. Friday, in the Great Hall of the Margaret I. King Building.

The following day, Holbrook will also conduct an all day workshop where attendees will have an opportunity to print a portfolio of historic leaves from the 16th century Mexican press beginning at 9 a.m. Saturday, Nov. 9, at the King Building. 

The lecture is free and open to the public, the workshop is open to the public but has a registration fee of $35 and registration is required. The all day workshop includes a continental breakfast at 8:30 a.m. and lunch. For more information, on the printing lecture or workshop contact Holbrook at PEHolbr@post.harvard.edu or call 859-257-1742.

A showing of "Blossoms of Fire," a video depicting the women of the Isthmus of Tehuantepec, will be presented 2 p.m. Monday, Nov. 11, in room B108-C of the Young Library. The video will be introduced by Chassen-López and a question and answer period will follow the showing. There will be complimentary Mexican snacks and beverages for consumption during the viewing of the video.

UK Libraries has developed a series of research guides containing information about the states of Mexico and on the UK Libraries Mexicana Collection. The guides can be found at: http://libguides.uky.edu/vivamexico.

The Passport to the World initiative is sponsored by the A&S Advisory Board.

MEDIA CONTACT: Whitney Hale, 859-257-8716; whitney.hale@uky.edu