Hutchins Library News Blog

Amanda Peach, assistant library director is pleased to announce the following:

Berea student Florence Wright invites you to interact with her sculpture, Gaia’s Dream, currently housed in the lobby of Hutchins Library for this week only, November 15th - 19th. You may write directly on it or attach items to its trunk and/or branches, using glue, twine, tape, or staples. A box of supplies are housed next to the sculpture and is available immediately for you to use, but you are not limited to just those. You may add anything to the sculpture, as long as it is not wet/smelly/dirty.

Here is her artist statement:

Gaia’s Dream:

Gaia is the goddess of the Earth. She is a symbol of life on Earth, and she is used as a representation of the environmental activism movement.

Gaia’s Dream is a tree built entirely from recycled paper and plastic. I want for each viewer to find a way that they can contribute to this sculpture. The goal is to build something beautiful together as a community to bring awareness to the need for sustainability and waste minimization. Our sculpture is a collective work that belongs to the hands of the Berea community; use glue or string or staples to attach your own contribution. Feel free to use the flyer or program as your contribution or use biodegradable pigments to add something (ie. wax, natural pigments etc.)

The world is a dark place, but each step we take together to better it is a drop of light in an ocean of void.

In collaboration with the Espacio Cultural Latinx (ECL), the Hispanic Outreach Program (HOP) has set up an altar and display for Día de los Muertos in Hutchins Library. Día de los Muertos is a celebration from October 31st- November 2nd where families gather to honor and remember deceased loved ones.

The display is located in the library's main floor by the entrance, and it is open during regular library hours to the campus community. The community is invited to view the display and write a message to their deceased loved ones. The display runs through November 5, 2021.

In addition, HOP has set up a second altar at Espacio Cultural Latino (ECL) in the lower level of the Alumni Building. They are also hosting a celebration on November 1 and November 2 at the ECL at 7pm on both nights.

Additionally, you can find some books on the topic at the library like the following:

Day of the Dead in the USA by Regina M. Marchi; Regina Marchi

Call Number: e-book

ISBN: 9780813548579

Publication Date: 2009-06-09

Honoring relatives by tending graves, building altars, and cooking festive meals has been an honored tradition among Latin Americans for centuries. The tribute, "el Dia de los Muertos," has enjoyed renewed popularity since the 1970s when Latino activists and artists in the United States began expanding "Day of the Dead" north of the border with celebrations of performance art, Aztec danza, art exhibits, and other public expressions. Focusing on the power of ritual to serve as a communication medium, Regina M. Marchi combines a mix of ethnography, historical research, oral history, and critical cultural analysis to explore the manifold and unexpected transformations that occur when the tradition is embraced by the mainstream. A testament to the complex nature of ethnic identity, Day of the Dead in the USA provides insight into the power of ritual to create community, transmit oppositional messages, and advance educational, political, and economic goals.

 

 

 

Funny Bones by Duncan Tonatiuh

Call Number: T663fu 2015

ISBN: 9781419716478

Publication Date: 2015-08-25

A ​New York Times Best Illustrated Children's Books of 2015 A Robert F. Sibert Award Winner A Pura Belpré Illustrator Honor Book An ALA/ALSC Notable Children's Book Discover the story behind José Guadalupe Posada's iconic Día de Muertos skeletons in this fascinating picture book from award-winning creator Duncan Tonatiuh   Funny Bones tells the story of how calaveras came to be. The amusing figures are the creation of Mexican artist José Guadalupe (Lupe) Posada (1852-1913). Lupe learned the art of printing at a young age and soon had his own shop. In a country that was not known for freedom of speech, he drew political cartoons, much to the amusement of the local population but not that of the politicians. He continued to draw cartoons, but he is best known today for his calavera drawings. They have become synonymous with Mexico's Día de Muertos festival.   Calaveras are skeletons performing all sorts of activities, both everyday and festive: dancing in the streets, playing instruments in a band, pedaling bicycles, promenading in the park, and even sweeping the sidewalks. They are not intended to be frightening, but rather to celebrate the joy of living as well as provide humorous observations about people.   Award-winning author and illustrator Duncan Tonatiuh relates the pivotal moments of Lupe's life and explains the different artistic processes he used. Juxtaposing his own artwork with Lupe's, Tonatiuh brings to light the remarkable life and work of a man beloved by many but whose name has remained in obscurity.

 

Dia de Los Muertos by Roseanne Greenfield Thong; Carles Ballesteros (Illustrator)

Call Number: T486di 2020

ISBN: 9780807515778

Publication Date: 2020-09-01

El Día de Muertos, Day of the Dead, is here--a holiday for celebrating the lives of departed family and friends. Altars are decorated with sugar skulls and marigolds. Tamales and sweets are ready to eat. Soon it will be time for picnics, music, and a costume parade! Come join in these joyful and vibrant festivities that are a tradition in Mexico, the United States, and throughout Latin America.