In celebration of Hispanic Heritage Month, the Oglethorpe University Museum of Art will host a virtual conversation with Latinx artist Maria Cristina Tavera, an independent curator and activist influenced by her transnational upbringing in Minnesota and Mexico. The conversation will cover Tavera’s upcoming exhibition “Promesas de Papel/ Paper Promises,” which is set to premiere at the Oglethorpe museum on October 30.
Artist Maria Cristina Tavera
Tavera’s bold prints explore race, ethnicity, gender, migration, and cultural amalgamation through iconography found in Latin American legends, commercial packaging, media, politics, comics, maps, currency, graffiti, and games.
A resident of Minneapolis, Tavera found herself at the epicenter of national protests earlier this year. Together with her community, she participated in neighborhood watches and helped distribute food. “Promesas de Papel/Paper Promises” will include her recent works created in reflection of this turbulent period.
The event will feature opening remarks from Javier Díaz De León, the Consul General of Mexico to Atlanta, and Oglethorpe President Nicholas Ladany, Ph.D. and is co-sponsored by Oglethorpe’s Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Taskforce.
The conversation will be moderated by OU students Rebecca Castro ’22 and Claudia Fernanda Martinez ’22 and will explore Tavera’s body of work and the prominent themes of culture and identity that is central to the upcoming exhibition.
Tavera’s works will be presented along with the exhibition “Textures of Our Lives,” a collection of prints from mid-20th century artist Rufino Tamayo. Similarly to Tavera, Tamayo found inspiration in his Mexican heritage, creating colorful prints that captured a traditional vision of his home country.
Both exhibits will be on display through a free virtual tour presented by the Oglethorpe museum — a first-of-its-kind experience for the institution. Patrons will be able to peruse the galleries in stunning HD, 360-degree photography with the ability to get up close to the art and learn about each piece.
The Oglethorpe University Museum of Art will be hosting several lectures and guest interviews in the coming months. Be sure to follow OUMA on Facebook and Twitter for further announcements.
Image credit: Maria Cristina Tavera, Promesas de Papel / Paper Promises, 2020, Woodcut, Collection of the Artist