Here is our latest update about upcoming events of the Guatemala Art and Culture Connection project :
(also see the News and Events page for more details and photos)

A Mayan Tapestry- Ancient Wisdom, Traditional Life and the Modern World

an exhibit of Mayan art at the Augusta Savage Gallery at UMass Amherst from September 14 – October 9.  

Discussion with the organizers and artist Henry Mendez on September 29 from 7:00 – 8:30 at the Gallery. 

This exhibit features a broad spectrum of art styles depicting daily life, Mayan cosmology and the impact of colonization and the modern world. It poses the question: “How can the essential values and wisdom of ancient cultures survive the forces of globalization?”  The Augusta Savage Gallery is located in the New Africa House, 180 Infirmary Way on the UMass campus. You may get directions and more information on the website: https://fac.umass.edu/Online/default.asp?BOparam::WScontent::loadArticle::permalink=MayanTapestry&sessionlanguage=

We are very happy to have been able to help two of the artists obtain visas to attend the show.  Henry Mendez Chavajay is one of the featured painters and Co-Director of the Ayudame a Pintar Mi Futuro after school art program. Josue Navichoc is a young gifted photographer. One of his pieces includes images of Mayan woman from the age of one to seventy seven.

Cultural Survival Bazaar in Amherst  

Amherst Commons, October 10-12 from 10:00-5:00., Amherst, MA

We will also be selling the Mayan art and crafts we bring from Lake Atitlan at Cultural Survival Bazaar in Amherst. Henry Mendez will be at our booth for this Bazaar to present his art and the work of the youth of Ayudame a Pintar Mi Futuro. We also were able to connect some of the artists from the artist collective, Canal Cultural, in San Pedro with Cultural Survival and they will have a booth there to present the work they do and one of the artists, Rene Dionisio, will perform RAP in his native Mayan Tzu’tujil language on issues of his culture and the environment. As you may know, the Cultural Survival Bazaars feature indigenous arts and crafts from all over the world and are a great way to support the artists and artisans, their communities and the work of Cultural Survival.

This happens to be a very opportune time to be bringing attention to Guatemala. The country is now at historic cross roads. The president was forced to resign due to a popular uprising and is standing trial for corruption. It is uncertain whether the ruling oligarchy will retain their power and there will be continued repression and corruption or the people will be successful in uniting to move their country towards a true democracy and justice.

As you may know, our vision is to connect people across borders and cultures and to increase awareness of the economic, political, environmental and social issues impacting indigenous peoples. We hope our work can help to raise awareness of and encourage support for the cause of the Guatemalan people. The project also helps support the artists and local programs of the communities we work with.

Thank you again for your interest in and support of our project and please feel free to share this with anyone you think may be interested.

Yours in Peace and Justice

Imre and Lorna