RELEASED: January 14, 2010

By Leigh Ivey

DANVILLE, KY—From Jan. 12 to Feb. 7, the Centre College community is invited to view an extraordinary art exhibit held in the College's Norton Center for the Arts.

Sponsored by the Kentucky Institute for International Studies (KIIS) and the Ministry of Culture of Michoacán, "The Women of Michoacán: Art and Artists" exhibit features the work of five female artists and a male artist whose work centers on images of women in Mexico, especially those of the Mexican state of Michoacán. 

"Women's presence in art has been constant throughout history," writes Jamie Hernandez Diaz, secretary of culture of the government of the state of Michoacán. "The works of art of various female and male artists open a window through which the feminine world can be viewed—through the lens of a camera, the line of a drawing or the luminous colors of a painting."

Fifty pieces of art will be on display, and the works consist of everything from photography to ceramics to paintings to metalwork.

While the pieces will appeal to nearly all who visit the gallery, they hold special interest for students in several CentreTerm courses.

"This marks the first time that something specifically links the gallery space in the Norton Center with a number of Centre classes," says Dr. Milton Reigelman, Centre director of international programs, professor of English, special assistant to the president and interim managing director of the Norton Center.

"The display in the Norton Center connects nicely with a number of current classes, and there'd been tremendous enthusiasm about the exhibit from the faculty in various subjects, not only those who teach Spanish."

The exhibit was brought to Centre (one of only three educational institutions in the state chosen to display the exhibit) through the collaborative efforts of the College's Center for Global Citizenship and the Norton Center.

"At Centre, we believe that by the time a student graduates, he or she should not only have studied abroad but should be educated in the performing arts," Reigelman says.

"By the time a student graduates, we want him or her to have experienced live classical music; live, serious dance; live opera; and an array of other entertainment that can't be easily categorized, like Stomp!"

(For more information about the variety of Norton Center events Centre students had the opportunity to enjoy last year, click here.)

The hope is also that students will be exposed to—and have the chance to knowledgeably discuss—artwork like that which is currently on display. 

Whether viewing the exhibit for academic reasons or simply for pleasure, all will be privy to exceptional work by a remarkable group of Mexican artists. 

Have comments, suggestions, or story ideas? E-mail leigh.ivey@centre.edu with your feedback.

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Founded in 1819, Centre College is ranked among the U.S. News top 50 national liberal arts colleges. Consumers Digest ranks Centre No. 1 in educational value among all U.S. liberal arts colleges. Centre alumni, known for their nation-leading loyalty in annual financial support, include two U.S. vice presidents and two Supreme Court justices. For more, visit http://www.centre.edu/web/elevatorspeech/

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