'Seasonal Celebrations, Daily Life': Iturbide photographs at Sheldon Sept. 7

"Seasonal Celebrations, Daily Life," an exhibition of 25 large, black-and-white photographs that highlight the work by contemporary Mexican photographer Graciela Iturbide, will be exhibited at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln's Sheldon Memorial Art Gallery Sept. 7 through Dec. 9.

The exhibition focuses on Iturbide's photographs of the people of Juchitan, a Zapotec community in Oaxaca. She created this portfolio over a six-year period beginning in 1979. Here she earned the trust of the people she photographed by living among them and participating in their daily life and festivities. Iturbide gravitated toward the women and children in this matriarchal society where women dominate as the healers, political leaders and breadwinners. Early in Iturbide's artistic career she studied with Mexico's preeminent photographer Manuel Alvarez Bravo. Several of his photographs from the Sheldon's permanent collection also will be on view.

The Nebraska Art Association, the dedicated support group of Sheldon, will introduce the exhibition with a First Friday opening reception 5-7 p.m. Sept. 7. The public is invited to tour the exhibition at 5:30 p.m. with curator Sharon Kennedy and to enjoy appetizers and a cash bar in the Great Hall.

At 5:30 p.m. Oct. 16 in the Sheldon's Ethel S. Abbott Auditorium, New York-based independent curator and writer Elizabeth Ferrer will discuss and present slides of Iturbide's work. A reception will follow her talk.

In conjunction with the exhibition, Sheldon will celebrate El Dia de los Muertos, a centuries-old spiritual and cultural tradition, from 1-4 p.m. Oct. 27.

The presentation of "Seasonal Celebrations, Daily Life" at Sheldon is made possible through the generous support of the Wake Charitable Foundation, the Nebraska Arts Council and the Nebraska Art Association.

The exhibition and all events associated with it are free.

Sheldon Memorial Art Gallery houses a permanent collection of more than 12,000 objects focusing on American art. The museum, 12th and R streets on the UNL campus, is open to the public Tuesday through Sunday. Hours are 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday and Saturday, 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. on Friday, and noon to 5 p.m. on Sunday. For information or to arrange a tour, call (402) 472-2461. Additional information is available on the Sheldon Web site, www.sheldon.unl.edu.

CONTACT: Tom White, Public Relations Manager, Sheldon Memorial Art Gallery, (402) 472-1197