3/10/2004

Contact: K.E. Schwab  -- 724-738-2199;  e-mail: karl.schwab@sru.edu

March 19-26 -

'FACES OF HISPANIC WORLD' TO BE FEATURED AT SRU HISPANIC CULTURES WEEK

           SLIPPERY ROCK, Pa. - Slippery Rock University will offer a week-long exhibition of portrait photography under the theme "Faces of the Hispanic World" March 19-26 as part of its second annual Hispanic Cultures Week. The photos illustrate the diversity of the cultures of the Spanish-speaking world through music, literature, cinema, art, dance and food while highlighting activities that showcase the Hispanic culture.

In addition to the Carruth Rizza Hall exhibition, a lecture by Spanish author Joaquín Albaicín, an overview of the diversity of the Hispanic culture presented by SRU faculty members, an exhibition of cultural iconography of the Virgin Mary, performances of Mariachi and Andean music, and two films in Spanish are planned. The week culminates with a "Gran Fiesta Latina" on March 26, and the on-campus, student-run radio station, WRSK-88.1 FM, will broadcast live from Carruth Rizza Hall as part of the showcase.

           All events are free and open to the public, with the photo exhibition featuring works by Tito Caula and Melissa Teodoro, assistant professor of dance at SRU, and the "Cultural Iconography of the Virgin Mary" exhibition offered throughout the week in Carruth Rizza.

           The week opens at 4 p.m. March 19 with a lecture titled "Gypsies, a Mysterious People?," in the Eisenberg Classroom Building Auditorium.

           At 4 p.m. March 22 an overview of the diversity of the Spanish-speaking world will be presented in Room 203 of Carruth Rizza.

           At 12:30 p.m. March 23 a Mariachi band will perform in the University Union followed at 4 p.m. with the Cuban animation film "Vampires in Havana" shown in Room 203 of Carruth Rizza.

           At 12:30 p.m. March 25 a Piñata Workshop will be held in Room 202 of Carruth Rizza, followed at 6 p.m. with the music and dance of Hispanic people featured by Dr. Deb Cohen, professor of modern languages and cultures, on her WRSK broadcast. Andean music will be presented by Musuhallpa at 7 p.m. in Carruth Rizza Hall.

           From 10 p.m. to 1 a.m. March 25, the "Gran Fiesta" is planned offering a Latin dance social featuring music by Azúcar, a Pittsburgh-based Latin band. The event is being headed by Teodoro.

           The week is sponsored by the Office of International Initiatives, Office of the Dean of the College of Humanities, Fine and Performing Arts, Office of Intercultural Programs, modern languages and cultures department, English department, Office of Human Resources and Diversity, the Title VI European Studies Grant and the SRU Spanish Club.

           For more information, contact Dr. Ana María Caula at 724-738-4473.

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