This "Idea Statement" is a proposal for a possible exhibition at the Smithsonian Institution's National Museum of Natural History, currently being circulated amoungst the requisite committees. |
Idea Statement
BACKGROUND. Mexican
Magic: Festival Images by George O. Jackson, Jr. is an exhibition
of 150 color photographs of the religious
festivals of over 60 Indigenous communities from across Mexico, taken
between 1990 and 2001 by the Texas-based photographer George O. Jackson,
Jr. The
exhibition provides an unparalleled view of the diversity of Indigenous
Mexican festivals at the turn of the 21st century and of the complex
interaction of Indigenous and European religious traditions out of
which these festivals
emerged. Assuming that a NMNH venue is approved, it will contribute to
furthering our mission of providing our visitors a more profound understanding
and appreciation of the world’s cultural diversity.
Mr. Jackson is widely regarded as one of the most accomplished photographers
of Mexican ceremonial life today, and his images are both compellingly
beautiful and of great ethnographic significance. He has selected, from
the more than 100,000 photographs of Mexican festivals that he has produced,
a sample of the images that are of greatest aesthetic quality and ethnographic
import. These are included on the CD that accompanies this idea statement.
They also are available on a website that Mr. Jackson has created to facilitate
the NMNH review process.
Mr. Jackson will collaborate with Drs. Robert Laughlin and William Merrill,
NMNH’s two Mexican ethnology curators, to produce a version of
this exhibition especially for our museum. Together they will prepare
the texts
for the exhibition, plan the public programming that will complement
it, and design and implement a strategy to develop the required funding
for
it. They also are contemplating producing a scholarly catalog.
DETAILS. The exhibition includes images of Indigenous festivals from
across Mexico and is organized into five sections, each corresponding
to a region
of Mexico. The total of 150 photographs includes 30 photographs from
each region. Because of diversity of Mexico’s Indigenous societies,
each region includes many distinct societies that differ dramatically
from one
another and from the societies in other regions in both cultural traditions
and language. Although the total number of photographs in the exhibition
could be reduced, a smaller sample would not convey as effectively this
diversity.
SPACE RQUIREMENTS. A space of 600 linear feet is required to display
the exhibition, including both text and the 150 photographs (the average
dimensions
of the framed photographs are 26" x 36"). In discussions with
Joe Madeira, I understand that Halls 11 and 25 will be converted into
temporary exhibit spaces that could accommodate this exhibition.
PROPOSED DATES. The ideal opening date for the exhibition at NMNH would
be October 1, 2005. This date falls at the mid-point of Hispanic Heritage
Month (September 15- October 15) and allows us sufficient time to fine-tune
the exhibition for a NMNH venue, secure the funding to stage it, and
develop a series of complementary public programming activities. If,
however, appropriate
space is not available at this time, a later date will be acceptable.
LINKAGES. If approved, this exhibition will be a central
component of the 2005 calendar of activities of NMNH’s new US-Mexico Program,
which involves SI staff members from across the Institution as well as
scholars
from other Washington-area institutions. In addition, because of the
exhibit theme and the fact that Mr. Jackson is Mexican-American, it will
provide
a significant opportunity to enhance the collaborative relationship between
NMNH and the Smithsonian Center for Latino Initiatives. |