Arts and entertainment

June 21, 2012

Arts Roundup: Of art, migration and Shinzaburo Takeda

Plus, the Henry Art Gallery ponders architectural decay in a cool new photograph exhibit and UW Libraries Special Collections continues its nostalgic look back at the Seattle World’s Fair. Perfect for a break and a stroll.

“Art & Migration in the Age of Globalization: Takeda and His Disciples,” curated by American Ethnic Studies Professor Lauro Flores, will run from June 26 to July 20. Professor of art and chair of the art department at the University of Oaxaca, Takeda has lived in Mexico for nearly 50 years and has trained several generations of Mexican artists. The exhibit includes work by Takeda and 12 of his most accomplished current and former students.

The exhibit is a public scholarship project sponsored by the Simpson Center for the Humanities. In an article for the center’s website, Flores said, “Takeda’s own experience as a transplanted artist and teacher, and the subsequent experiences of some of his students — those that have migrated to other places or thematically incorporated the topic of migration  into their works — make possible an exploration of the relationship between art and migration.”

There are three related events.

• A public reception with Takeda and other artists, 6:30 to 8 p.m. Friday, June 29, at the gallery.
• A panel discussion, “Art, Indigenous Communities, and Migration in the Age of Globalization,” at 7 p.m. Wednesday, June 27, at the Ethnic Cultural Theatre. It will feature Takeda along with Erasmo Gamboa, UW associate professor of American Ethnic Studies; filmmaker Yolanda Cruz, and Agustín Jacinto Zavala of the Colegio de Michoacán, México.
• A screening of a documentary about the impact of global migration on indigenous communities, directed by Cruz. “2501 Migrants: A Journey” will show at 7 p.m. Thursday, June 28. Cruz will take questions afterward.

“In Ruin: Architectural Photographs from the Permanent Collection,” through Sept. 30. The Henry Art Gallery presents an exhibit that its website says “highlights the enduring appeal of architectural ruins and the desire to capture the demise, decay and impending destruction of man-made structures.”The selection of photos reaches from the 1860s through the end of the 20^th century, featuring work by John Divola, Alexander Gardner, Joel Sternfeld and others from the Henrys photography collection. In the North Galleries; exhibit organized by Merith Bennett, Henry senior curatorial assistant.

Continuing arts events:

Friends of Korea: “A Story of Volunteerism,” through July 28. An exhibit of photographs depicting American Peace Corps volunteers in Korea from 1966 to 1981 and Koreans volunteering globally through the Korean Trust Organization, from 1991 to the present. In the north lobby of Allen Library.

“World of Tomorrow: Looking Back at the Seattle World’s Fair,” through July 31. Photographs, ephemera, design documents and promotional items on display to commemorate the 50-year anniversary of the fair, curated by Kate Leonard, Theresa Mudrock, Jessica Albano, Glenda Pearson and Violet Fox.

“Some of the most interesting objects came from a call to library staff to contribute their own souvenirs from the fair,” Fox said. “They brought in decanters, ashtrays, rain ponchos, puzzles, and more, all printed with the image of the Space Needle.”

She added, “We wanted to show what a day at the fair would’ve been like — what fairgoers saw, what they did, what they ate, and what they bought. Find the exhibit on the Allen Library north balcony and in the south basement Special Collections lobby through July 31.