An upcoming exhibition in the Museum Gallery of University Archives and Special Collections explores the creativity and workmanship of artists working in Mexico beginning in 800 B.C.E. and concluding in the 1990s.
“Communal Spirit: 3,000 Years of Mexican Artistry” incorporates diverse Pre-Columbian artifacts from both western and eastern Mexico, representing eight different indigenous civilizations. The 20th-century folk art presented features many of the same regions, inspiration, and creative techniques. Highlights include a Huastec female ball player ca. 100 B.C.E., a Veracruz flute from 600 A.D, celebrations of the Day of the Dead, and a marketplace scene with more than 100 clay figures, fruits, vegetables, and animals.
The exhibition, held at The University of the South, Sewanee, will open Sept. 6 and will continue through Dec. 16. Gallery hours are 1-5 p.m., Tuesday through Friday.
Events planned include an opening talk and reception at 5:30 p.m. on Monday, Sept. 26, with James Doyle, assistant curator, Art of the Ancient Americas at the Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York.
The talk will describe the role of artists in ancient Mexico from the earliest known societies to the sumptuous courtly arts of thriving city-states, such as those of the Maya and the Aztec. Mr. Doyle oversees the Metropolitan's collections from Mesoamerica and Central America. His specialty is the ancient Maya.
A curator’s talk with Stephen Vollmer will be held at 5:30 p.m. on Thursday, Oct. 6. Mr. Vollmer is the cultural advisor and archivist who participated in the creation of this folk art collection. He received undergraduate and graduate degrees in art history from La Universidad de las Americas, Mexico City and Puebla. Mr. Vollmer has held positions at the Tucson Museum of Art; El Consejo Cultural de La Universidad de las Americas, Puebla, Mexico; the El Paso Museum of Art; the Dallas Museum of Art; and the Witte Museum of the San Antonio Museum Association.
A Day of the Dead celebration will be held Nov. 1. More details about that event will be given closer to the date of event.
