Guatemala: Crafts and Resistance, Cultural Identity and Community

A Rochester Committee on Latin America (ROCLA) monthly event
Slide lecture by Marilyn Anderson

7 p.m. Feb.1, 2012
DUPC (Downtown Presbyterian Church)
121 Fitzhugh, Rochester (across from City Hall)
Further information: 271-4374

Guatemala: Crafts and Resistance, Cultural Identity and Community, 1970′s to 2011
November 16th, 2011 at 7 pm. Free to the public.
ArtRage Gallery
505 Hawley Avenue
Syracuse, NY 13203-2411
(315) 218-5711
www.artragegallery.org

In this globalized world, what is the place of weaving and other traditional arts in the lives of Maya peoples and other Guatemalans? How does globalization affect craft production? How does the political/economical situation affect weavers and other craft workers? What happened to weaving during the armed conflict of the 1980? What is the present day role of Fair Trade weaving and crafts? Questions afterward.

Slide images dating from the 70s to my last three Guatemala trips after 2000 will accompany the talk.

I often say that each exhibit I have mounted helps me usefully define my Pro Arte Maya Education Project and pushes me to think anew about the goals for my work. Saying that, I hope to have more exhibits––one type could consist of a smaller section of the present show––which would include only the artist and artisan wood and linocut series or shows. (Definitely, the easiest.) But new showings could also be similar to that at NCCC, which also includes photos of Maya women (as seen in Jon Garlock’s and my book, GRANDDAUGHTERS OF CORN), drawings of Maya women and photos documenting artist and artisan production and the actual crafts––as depicted in the prints. (This is a much bigger effort.) But, at least, I hope some of you will take a look at exhibit photos. Feedback is welcome!

March 10 to April 7, 2011
Opening reception, Thursday March 10, 12-2 pm. I will give an artist talk at 2 pm.

Art Gallery, Division of Arts and Media
3111 Saunders Settlement Road
Sanborn, NY  14132
Follow signs to Lewis Library
716-614-5975

Gallery Hours
Monday and Tuesday 10 am – 5 pm
Wednesday and Thursday 10 am – 8 pm
Saturday 11 am – 3 pm
Closed Friday and Sunday

Since 2008, I have had five exhibits here in Western New York––in spaces as diverse as university and college galleries to my local credit union and an activist center “the Anti-War Store”.  Mounting shows allow me to share what I have learned about the artists and artisans who carry on their traditions. It is also a way I can acknowledge both those in Guatemala and in the US to who have helped me to continue my work over many years and evaluate progress towards the goals for my what I call my “Pro Arte  Maya” education project.

Some of my goals are:

• to create empathy and appreciation for traditional artists/artisans and to recognize the skills and the beauty of their work.
• to remind viewers about the relationship of arts and crafts to ecology, sustainability, customs and traditions.
• to stimulate thinking about issues such as “monoculture and globalization ” and the value of traditional cultures.
• tto encourage consideration and support of Fair Trade craft production in our globalized world.

Along side my current exhibits, since 2000,I have pursued an educational effort for children in Guatemala which mainly consists of the Maya languages/Spanish coloring book “Artes y Artesanías Mayas de Guatemala”. Working with Maya educators/ colleagues there enables its production and distribution.

But, I am happy to bring my work to NCCC in Sanborn, NY, near the Buffalo/Lockport/ Niagara Falls area, a place of history and a population of people who include descendants of the indigenous nations of Western New York and those who have come from many areas of the world––but all of whom give a wonderful vibrancy to this area.