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Wellesley Education Expedition
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Puebla:
Mexico’s Colonial Center of Craft and Culture
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2008
October 29 - November 4
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Join Wellesley alumnae and friends for a journey into
the rich cultural legacy of Puebla, Mexico. Guided
by Wellesley Professor James Oles, we will enjoy a
week in this amazing city, renowned for its
distinct Spanish flavor, rich culinary traditions,
and magnificent colonial architecture.
Founded in 1531,
Puebla boasts an unrivaled legacy of colonial art
and architecture, and has been declared a UNESCO
world heritage site. Its vibrant tree-filled
zócalo
is lined by Spanish arcades, as well as a magnificent, 17th-century cathedral.
Brightly tiled facades vie for your attention as organ grinders and marimba
players compete with the calls of street vendors.
Venturing into the
surrounding countryside, we will visit artists
in their native villages to experience the context
within folk expression that elevates
it beyond
the rules of the academy. We will also visit private and public art collections
that will further define the influence of folk art traditions in Mexican
high art.
Excursions to Tlaxcala and to
the archaeological ruins of Cacaxtla will enhance
our educational
voyage. In Tlaxcala, Hernán Cortés
established an alliance with the native lords
to conquer the Aztecs, an alliance that had
a profound impact upon the future of Mexico. The archaeological site of
Cacaxtla boasts many original colorful wall
decorations that are beautifully preserved
and can be appreciated in situ.
An integral part of the program
is Día
de los Muertos, or the Day of the Dead celebration. Tradition has it
that during this period, the gates between
the earthly world and the world beyond the grave are opened, allowing
the spirits of loved ones to return. Incense,
food, dance, and music fill the
days. Cemeteries
are blanketed with marigolds aglow with the light of thousands of candles.
Local markets overflow with a variety of crafts.
Our program features
luxurious accommodations at the Camino Real,
housed in a 16th-century Spanish convent in
the heart of the old city. Don’t miss this
opportunity to explore one of Mexico’s most graceful and historical
cities!
Optional Mexico City Extension:
November 4–7,
2008 |
James Oles is an assistant professor of art at Wellesley
College, where he teaches Latin American art, focusing on the history
of Mexican art from the ancient through modern eras. He is also an adjunct
curator of Latin American art at Wellesley’s Davis Museum and Cultural
Center. Professor Oles teaches at Wellesley in the spring semesters and
resides in Mexico City for the remainder of the year. In Mexico, he works
as an independent art historian and curator. Professor Oles earned his
B.A. in Latin American studies from Yale in 1984, and went on to earn
a J.D. from the University of Virginia in 1988 and a Ph.D. in art history
from Yale in 1995. He has published widely on modern Mexican art, has
curated numerous exhibitions of Mexican modern art and photography, and
is the author of South of the Border: Mexico in the American Imagination,
1914–1947. He recently reinstalled the permanent collection of
the Museo de Arte in Mexico City. |
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More Information
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Trip Details
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| For reservation
and/or a detailed itinerary of this tour, please
contact:
Jayne Lew, Assistant
Director of Travel
Phone: 781-283-2389
Email: travelprograms@alum.wellesley.edu
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Duration: 6 days
Activity Level: Moderate
Cost: $2995 (land
only)
Deposit: $750
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