Monday, September 22, 2003
USI Professor to share magic of Mexico
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Years of teaching, travel, and creation will combine Wednesday, September 24, when Michael Aakhus, USI professor of art, presents “The Ancient Art of Mexico” from noon to 1 p.m. in rooms 201-202 of the University Center on the University of Southern Indiana campus. “Mexico is a magical place, and its unique culture can capture your eye and imagination. I first went there in 1977, and they have not been able to keep me out since,” Aakhus said. Aakhus’ presentation will focus on his many trips to Mexico as well as highlights from many of the ancient sites he teaches about in ART 253: Art of Ancient Mexico. A painter and printmaker, he also has created images for several fine art books. “I also want to share how this material eventually gets into my painting. I usually work from photographs taken on the site and turn them into oil painting and prints. These works are based on images from travels in Middle Americas and touch on themes related to the indigenous cultures,” he added. “The paintings and artist books take a magical realist view and use an intense pallet of visionary color that reflects the sight of an inner eye, transforming the mere realism of sight into improbable juxtapositions of landscape, architecture, and plants.” Since 1996, Aakhus has conducted annual student tours to different areas of Mexico during spring break. This year, the group will travel to Veracruz March 6-13. When fall classes conclude, Aakhus will begin a sabbatical, and he already is preparing for an exhibit of his paintings that will be on display in the spring at Tecnologico Autonomo de Studios Superiores de Monterrey Campus Mexico City. During the sabbatical, he also will be creating bronze sculptures with Miguel Peraza, a sculptor, professor, and author, who is academic director at two campuses of the Tecnologico. Aakhus joined the University in 1977 and holds an M.F.A. from Southern Illinois University. His lecture is sponsored by the Multicultural Center as part of USI’s observance of National Hispanic Heritage Month, September 15-October 15. A schedule of the month’s other activities is on the Web: www.usi.edu/threads/nhhm.asp. |
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