CWU Views 'José Guadalupe Posada: My Mexico'

March 25, 2005

Contact: Heather Horn (509-963-3153/fax 509-963-1918/e-mail: heatherh@cwu.edu)

ELLENSBURG, Wash. - Through Sunday, April 17, Central Washington University's Sarah Spurgeon Gallery will host "José Guadalupe Posada: My Mexico." The free, public exhibition is open weekdays from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. and weekends from noon to 3 p.m. in the Randall Hall gallery on the Ellensburg campus.

The traveling art exhibition features prints by one of Mexico's most popular and prolific artists, which show nearly every aspect of Mexican life. Posada, who lived from 1852-1913, depicted the realities of political events, crimes, disasters and miracles during the years just prior to the Mexican Revolution.

The display, which includes more than 100 prints from the Charlot Collection in the Hamilton Library at the University of Hawai'i at M noa, also features pamphlets of songs, games and stories.

The exhibition is co-sponsored by the CWU diversity education center, provost's office, campus life, international studies and programs, and college of arts and humanities. It is also made possible by the Catherine Nisbet Memorial Endowment and a Leonard Thayer Small Grant.

In conjunction with the exhibition, a public lecture and reception is slated for Friday, April 1. Dr. Michael Ervin, CWU history professor and co-director of the university's Latin American studies program, will discuss "José Guadalupe Posada: Precursor of the Mexican Revolution," at 5:30 in Randall Hall 117. The lecture will be followed by the gallery reception from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m.

Then on Saturday, April 2, from 2 to 4 p.m. in Randall Hall 222, the CWU student art council will sponsor a free letterpress and woodblock print demonstration by Carl Montford of Seattle's Montford Press.

For more information, or for persons of disability to arrange for reasonable accommodation, call (509) 963-3153, or (for the hearing impaired) TDD (509) 963-2143.

The Sarah Spurgeon Gallery is supported by the associated students of CWU and university art department.