-----Original Message-----
From: Cardona, Ana (MDE)
Sent: Friday, May 09, 2008 3:53 PM
To: Martell, Pam (DLEG); Redmond, Rudy (DLEG)
Subject: FYI: ArtsEdNews: Announcing the ILS/UND publication of "Toward the Preservation of a Heritage: Latin American and Latino Art in the Midwestern United States
Importance: High

 

ArtsEdNews: Announcing the Institute of Latino Studies, University of Notre Dame publication of "Toward the Preservation of a Heritage: Latin American and Latino Art in the Midwestern United States”

It’s with great pleasure that we share this publication, "Toward the Preservation of a Heritage: Latin American and Latino Art in the Midwestern United States,” a critical work in the documentation and scholarship on Latino art in Michigan and the Midwest.

Congratulations to Olga U. Herrera, the publication’s author, and to Tracy Grimm, Archivist and Project Director, friends and colleagues many of us have had the pleasure of working with over the past few years.

Whether it is an exhibit of Carlos Lopez at the Scarab Club in 1941, the publications of the Raza Art and Media Collective in Ann Arbor during the 1970’s, or exhibits at Casa de Unidad through 2001- all are referenced. And, if you know of an exhibit that was not included, the website gives you an opportunity to add what you know.

Take the time to review the attachment or use the interactive version of the publication to browse/search the exhibition lists.

You can also join the discussion on the development of Latin American and Latino arts in the Midwest at the website: http://www.midlad.org:8084/chronology.php

Ana Luisa Cardona

 

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Toward the Preservation of a Heritage: Latin American and Latino Art in the Midwestern United States by Olga U. Herrera is the initial publication of a multi-year project to advance the preservation of and increase access to primary source materials that document twentieth- and twenty-first century Latin American and Latino arts in the Midwestern United States.

As a general overview, the publication does not claim to be a comprehensive in-depth study but rather, provides a critical foundation for the exploration of the rich history of this art activity as well as for archivists and librarians seeking collections that document this history. The publication looks at a series of events, artists, and organizations that have had a role in the development, promotion, and establishment of Latin American and Latino art in the states of Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska, Ohio, and Wisconsin.

We hope to raise new questions, stimulate debates, and encourage new scholarship in this important aspect of American art history and American heritage to further advance this emerging field of inquiry. This publication is part of the larger “Midwest Latino Arts Documentary Heritage Project (MidLAD).

The Midwest Latino Arts Documentary Heritage Project (MidLAD)

http://www.midlad.org:8084/index.php

The Midwest Latino Arts Documentary Heritage Project (MidLAD), is an ongoing, multi-year initiative to locate and preserve primary sources critical to the study of the history of Latino arts and to the understanding of its contribution to American culture and to our communities.

With support from The Getty Foundation, this project was developed to help ensure that important primary sources that document Latino art history, culture, and American society are not lost. To that end, a series of summit meetings are held throughout the Midwest region with artists and arts leaders to gather input on the history of Latino arts and the location of private collections of papers that document this history.

Following the summits, preliminary surveys of the papers of artists and arts organizations are conducted with the goal of creating an inventory of collections. Simultaneously, a survey of the collecting policies of libraries and archives is also conducted so that potential donors can be aware of candidate repositories for their materials.

Preservation education is also a critical element of this project and is conducted through preservation workshops and the distribution of information about good records management and how to make the decision to donate your personal or family papers.

[log in to unmask]" align=left hspace=5 vspace=5>While the Institute for Latino Studies’ Julian Samora Library has a growing collection of Midwest artists’ archives and is very interested in collecting these materials (the ILS Library collects personal papers as well as duplicates or copies for its Midwest Artists Vertical Files), we adhere to a cooperative collecting philosophy. That is, our priority is to ensure that potential donors find a home for their materials that is the most appropriate match for them and, equally importantly, a home that will make their papers accessible to their most immediate audience.

MidLAD is an interactive resource on Latino arts in the Midwestern United States for students, scholars, artists, curators, arts administrators, librarians, and archivists. We seek to build a foundational resource on this topic by sharing our research and encouraging community input to expand our research tools to add important information on artists, arts organizations, and exhibitions that we have not encountered to-date.

Scholars, Students, and Curators will find:

• A Research Guide to finding and using Latino arts primary sources
• A chronological overview of Latino arts in the Midwest during the 20th century with a selected bibliography and exhibition lists: Toward the Preservation of a Heritage: Latino Art in the Midwestern United States
• On-line oral history interviews with Latino artists and arts leaders
• A directory to primary source collections on Latino arts in the Midwest

Artists and Arts Organizations will find:

• Information on preservation and management of your files and papers (forthcoming)
• A directory to libraries and archives that collect Latino arts materials
• A guide to donating your personal or family papers (forthcoming)
• An opportunity to become a MidLAD participant by listing your papers

[log in to unmask]" align=left hspace=10>Librarians and Archivists will find:

• An opportunity to participate in MidLAD by contributing your collecting policy & collections summary so that potential donors may learn more about your repository
• A collection development resource that provides a history of Latino artists, arts organizations, and exhibitions in the Midwest throughout the 20th Century
• A directory to primary sources with field survey results to assist researchers in locating collections as well as librarians and archivists interested in collecting for their institutions

 

On the website the project team shares its findings and research to date. It will be updated with new information and survey results as we can make them available. We welcome your input and submissions of any kind that will help us further document this history and preserve it for future generations. We also extend a sincere thank you to the artists, art historians, and arts organizations that have contributed to our work thus far.

Tracy Grimm,
Archivist and Project Director
Institute for Latino Studies
University of Notre Dame
574-631-7391
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