The African Presence in Mexico
Public Program Schedule
February 11
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Public Opening |
February 11
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OPENING LECTURE / DISCUSSION Sagrario Cruz-Carrerto Mexican Fine Arts Center Museum, 12:00 noon FREE, Spanish Sagrario Cruz Carretero, the curator of the Main Gallery exhibition from the University of Veracruz, is Mexico’s leading expert in the investigation of African history in Mexico. Ms. Cruz studied under Gonzalo Aguirre Beltrán, whose groundbreaking research in the 1940s led to the phrase “The Third Root,” which, for the first time, officially recognized the presence of Mexico’s African descendants and their longtime contributions to Mexican culture beginning in 1610. Ms. Cruz’s lecture will provide an overview of the exhibition and her own research in everything from politics and culture to sickle cell studies documenting the presence of Mexico’s African roots. Key members of the Afro-Mexicano community in Costa Chica, Veracruz will join her. Antropóloga Sagrario Cruz-Carretero de la Universidad Veracruzana, es una líder experta en investigación de historia africana en México. La profesora estudió con Gonzalo Aguirre Beltrán, de quien su reveladora investigación se le reconoció oficialmente la presencia de los descendientes africanos de México. La conferencia de la Sra. Cruz brindará su investigación que abarca la política y cultura afro-mexicana. También estarán presentes representantes de las comunidades de Costa Chica, Veracruz. |
February 17 |
FOR EDUCATORSEducator Open HouseFriday, February 17 5 – 8 pm Mexican Fine Arts Center Museum FREE Join us for this special educator’s evening to preview The African Presence in Mexico exhibition, enjoy light refreshments, and learn about all our educational programs and resources. Don’t miss this opportunity to reserve your very own exhibition curriculum unit, which will be available in March. For reservations, please call 312.738.1503, Ext. 150 |
| February 18 | ADULT ART CLASS Preparing for the Carnaval: Mojiganga Workshop II Saturday 11 am – 3 pm February 18, 25, March 4, 11, 18, 25, and April 1 Mexican Fine Arts Center Museum $175 non-members / $150 members Bilingüe Learn the tricks and techniques to create your own mojiganga (large-scale paper mache figure) that is typically used during many Mexican festivals, carnivals and parades. No previous experience required. Materials included. For more information and reservations, please call 312.738.1503, ext. 138. |
| February 24 | SPECIAL EVENT CARNAVAL Friday, February 24 6:30 pm Mexican Fine Arts Center Museum $30 General / Members $25 Carnaval is one of the most important events in the city of Yanga. It is a celebration of the founding of “the first free town in America.” The citizens of Yanga mark the event as a celebration dedicated to black African culture. The celebration attracts people from other communities and the MFACM is hosting our own Carnaval celebration here in Chicago. Guests will enjoy food, drinks, and music of Veracruz and the Caribbean countries. |
| February 26 | Kraft Family Sundays Domingos familiares Kraft BeginMexican Fine Arts Center Museum FREE, Gratis Bilingual, Bilingüe Begin your family day with a focused gallery talk and join us in the Art Studio for a fun art project. Comienza tu día familiar con una plática en la galería y después pasa al estudio a trabajar en un proyecto artístico y divertido. The Music and Instruments of Costa Chica La música e instrumentos de Costa Chica Sunday, February 26 2 – 4 pm |
| March 2 | LECTURE AND DISCUSSION Photography: The Art of Documenting Culture Thursday, March 2 6 pm Museum of Contemporary Photography Columbia College 600 S. Michigan Ave. FREE, English Photographers, art enthusiasts, and anyone interested in questions of race and identity should attend this discussion with artists from the exhibitions. Tony Gleaton and other photographers from this exhibition will speak about their personal experiences examining Blackness and identity and documenting Afro-Mexican communities. For more information call 312.738.1503 or the Museum of Contemporary Photography at 312.663.5554. |
| March 11 | FOR EDUCATORS Educator Workshop: The African Presence in Mexico Saturday, March 11 11 am – 3 pm Mexican Fine Arts Center Museum $30 General / $20 Members Learn about the rich history and the contributions of African culture in Mexico. Earn CPDU’s while learning new interdisciplinary ways to introduce your students to the exhibition’s themes and works of art. Teachers will receive a comprehensive curriculum guide (recommended grades 6-12) with a set of lesson plans aligned to the Illinois learning standards and CD ROMS filled with visual and audio aides. Space is limited. For reservations, please call 312.738.1503, Ext. 150. |
| March 26 | Kraft Family Sundays Domingos familiares Kraft BeginMexican Fine Arts Center Museum FREE, Gratis Bilingual, Bilingüe Capturing the moment La escultura: capturando el momento Sunday, March 26 2 - 4 pm |
| April 1 | LECTURE AND DISCUSSION Symposium Scholars Present Latest Research on Afro-Mexican History, Culture & Relations Saturday, April 1 10 am – 5 pm Mexican Fine Arts Center Museum $10 General/ Members and Students are Free, English This day-long event featuring panel discussions, lectures and film will highlight current cutting edge scholarship on Afro-Mexicano history and contemporary studies of Brown-Black relations in the U.S. Noted scholars will discuss the themes highlighted in The African Presence in Mexico exhibition, offering participants an opportunity to gain a deeper knowledge of these important issues. Invited speakers will include nationally known scholars; this symposium is being organized in conjunction with the Center for the Study of Race, Politics and Culture and the Friedrich Katz Center for Mexican Studies at the University of Chicago. Call 773.702.8063 to register. |
| April 7 | SPECIAL EVENT 1st Annual Cesar Chavez / Martin Luther King Luncheon April 7 12 noon Chicago Hilton Towers 720 S. Michigan Ave. $125 There is no better ongoing way to establish a high public profile, insure the involvement of leaders from the African-American and Mexican communities, or bring those communities together than to conduct an annual event that consistently focuses on ideas of collaboration. The Mexican Fine Arts Center Museum and the DuSable Museum of African American History are working together to plan this special annual event. This presentation of policy celebrates the contributions and connections of African-American and Mexican cultures. The luncheon is sponsored by lead corporate sponsor Chase and will include youth performances, facilitated discussions at each table, and an address by a major public figure. For reservations call the Mexican Fine Arts Center Museum at 312.738.1503 ext. 107. |
| May 11 | CIVIC DIALOGUE Neither Enemies Nor Friends: Latinos, Blacks, Afro-Latinos May 11 6 pm Mexican Fine Arts Center Museum FREE, English Suzanne Oboler and Anani Dzidzienyo are the editors of Neither Enemies Nor Friends, a collection of essays published in 2005, this publication has quickly become a leading work in the discussion of Blackness in Latin America. The essays in the book range widely from research by scholars such as Bobby Vaughn and John Betancur to the personal experiences of a community elder, Nelson Peery. The editors will join us for a discussion of their book. Ms. Oboler is the editor of Latino Studies at the University of Illinois at Chicago. Mr. Dzidzienyo is a professor at Brown University in the Department of Africana Studies. For more information call 312.738.1503 ext. 165. |
| May 18 | DANCE Muntu Dance Theatre of Chicago & La Negra Graciana Double-concert with the World Premiere of ‘Yanga’ May 18 7 pm Harris Theater for Music and Dance 200 E. Randolph, Millennium Park Tickets: $45, $35, $25 / Members $5 off Do not miss this feature performance! This double-concert features Muntu Dance Theatre of Chicago and Mexico’s most famous performer of Afro-Mexican music, La Negra Graciana. Muntu Dance Theatre performs authentic and progressive interpretations of contemporary and ancient African and African-American dance, music, and folklore. On this night, the company will present the World Premiere of Yanga. This world premiere will tell the story of Yanga, an enslaved African in Mexico who became the founder of the first town of free slaves in the Americas. La Negra Graciana’s music, in the style of Mexican son jarocho, has captivated audiences across the Americas and Europe. Graciana’s interpretations of traditional songs have a strong African heritage. For tickets and information call 312.738.1503, or the Harris Theater box office at 312.334.7777. |
| May 18 | Student Matinee: YangaThursday, May 18 11 am Harris Theater for Music and Dance 200 E. Randolph, Millennium Park $6 per student Bring your students to the wonderful performance and double-concert by the acclaimed Muntu Dance Theater of Chicago and the internationally known singer, La Negra Graciana. This world premiere will depict the story of Yanga, an enslaved African in Mexico who became the founder of the first town of freed slaves in the Americas. For reservations, please call 312-738-1503, Ext. 150. |
| May 21 | Kraft Family Sundays Domingos familiares Kraft BeginMexican Fine Arts Center Museum FREE, Gratis Bilingual, Bilingüe Elizabeth Catlett and the Printmaking Process Elizabeth Catlett y el proceso del grabado Sunday, May 21 2 – 4 pm |
| May 24 | LECTURE AND DISCUSSION Current Affairs: Chicago Edition Wednesday, May 24 6 pm Harold Washington Library Auditorium Cindy Pritzker Auditorium, 400 S. State St. FREE, English As the public saw in the election of Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa in Los Angeles, major changes can occur when Mexicans and African-Americans agree on a candidate. This frank “Chicago style” discussion of city neighborhoods, power in City Hall, and the future of Chicago will be timely and thought provoking. Jacqueline Atkins, executive director of the Chicago Museums in the Park and specials guest from politics and the media will retrace the “lost” mayoral years of Harold Washington, and look at what has transpired for the two groups since the 1980s, and what the future of Chicago looks like. This event is co-sponsored by the Chicago Public Library. Call 312.738.1503 ext. 144 for more information. |
| June 23 | POETRY SLAM In Common Friday, June 23 7 pm Mexican Fine Arts Center Museum FREE, English What's on the minds of African-American and Mexican-American youth? Through the power of word, music, and dance youth find common ground in the Hip Hop culture. This will be a spoken word, hip-hop celebration that to describes and defines where the real cultural boundaries are. |
| August 19 | SPECIAL EVENT Cultural Memories: Crossover Foods Saturday, August 19 12 pm Mexican Fine Arts Center Museum $15 General / $10 Members Bilingual, Bilingüe Join Doris Careaga Gutierrez, a Mexican chef specializing in the Afro-Mexican cuisine of Veracruz, for a cooking demonstration and tasting at the Museum. Ms. Careaga’s husband, Finnie Coleman, is a music scholar who is studying musical the cross over between African-American and Mexican cultures. He is expanding his research to include Afro-Mexican musical traditions for this afternoon. For more information, please call 312.738.1503. |