Purdue News

September 29, 2000 Purdue Galleries present Carlos Cortez and Mexican modernists WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. – The influence of Mexico's rich 2,000-year-old artistic heritage can be found in art exhibitions by Carlos Cortez and other Mexican modernists in Purdue University Galleries, Oct. 16 through Dec. 10. All exhibits and events are free and open to the public. The Cortez exhibit will be displayed in the Robert L. Ringel Gallery in the Purdue Memorial Union, and the Mexican modernist exhibit will be in the Stewart Center Gallery in the west lobby of Stewart Center. "Keeping Tradition Alive: The Political and Social Prints of Carlos Cortez" is a selection of prints from the permanent collection of the Mexican Fine Arts Center Museum in Chicago. Cortez, a Chicago resident, is a Mexican-American artist whose graphic relief print images have inspired viewers to advocacy and to protest. "An exhibit of Cortez's work gives the Purdue community the opportunity to see the dramatic power of direct cut, graphic print imagery and to witness artwork with social purpose," said Craig Martin, Galleries director. "It's sometimes surprising and intriguing for us as viewers to feel the urgency of his message." Cortez will lead a gallery talk at 4:30 p.m. Oct. 20 in the Ringel Gallery. Following the talk, there will be a reception in Room 112, Purdue Memorial Union. Ringel Gallery hours are Monday though Friday, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Sunday, 1 p.m. to 5 p.m. In conjunction with the Cortez exhibit, Purdue University Galleries will present "Mexican Modernists from the Purdue University Permanent Collection," an exhibit of prints, drawings and paintings. The fusion of Mexico's artistic heritage and highly developed native culture with the imported traditions of Western Europe produced the modernist images of the 20th century. The Akeley collection forms the core of the show, supplemented by additional Galleries acquisitions. The exhibit will be on display in the Stewart Center Gallery. Rene Arceo, printmaker and visual arts coordinator for the Chicago Public Schools, will lecture on the Mexican modernists at noon Oct. 20 in the Gallery. Stewart Center Gallery hours are Monday through Friday, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.; Monday through Thursday, 7 p.m. to 9 p.m.; and Sunday, 1 p.m. to 5 p.m. The Purdue University Galleries are sponsored by the School of Liberal Arts with additional support form the Purdue Student Union Board and the Art Advocates. The Galleries are located in several locations on campus. CONTACT: Craig Martin, Purdue University Galleries director, (765) 494-3061, cmartin@sla.purdue.edu NOTE TO JOURNALISTS: To schedule an interview with Carlos Cortez, contact Craig Martin, Purdue University Galleries director, (765) 494-3061. Publication-quality images from the exhibits are available from Purdue News Service, (765) 496-7704. To the Purdue News and Photos Page