In honor of Hispanic Heritage Month, Milwaukee Public Museum is celebrating the multi-ethnic traditions of Latin American cultures from Sept. 15 to Oct. 15.
In addition to a pair of Saturday celebrations organized with the community, there will also be weekday educational programming.
Cultural dance performances, demonstrations by local artisans, looks at the museum's collection of objects from Latin America and more are included with regular museum admission.
“This Hispanic Heritage Month, we are celebrating the extraordinary diversity within Latin American identities – from Indigenous ancestry to African traditions and European influences, these cultures have blended to create something vibrant and unique,” says MPM's Director of Education & Public ProgramsAdriana Vázquez.
“We are excited to highlight this blend of lineages with events and programs at the Museum all month long focusing on the multiethnic roots of Latin American dance, music, artistry, food, language and more.”
On Saturday, Sept. 20, with Celebración Latina: Cultivating Raíces (Roots) includes performances by Cultura Viva showcasing the quick rhythms and vibrant outfits of Afro-Latin and Caribbean dance at 11:30 a.m. and 1 p.m. in the Steigleder Special Exhibits Gallery on the second floor.
On Saturday, Oct. 11, Celebración Latina: Hands-on Heritage takes place from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m., with Latino artists and makers sharing their craft and cultural knowledge, including repujado (metal embossing), macramé, embroidery and more, scattered throughout the exhibits.
“By partnering with community members for our Hispanic Heritage Month events, we are sharing and celebrating living culture – not just what is preserved in the museum’s galleries, but what is still practiced every day,” Vázquez says.
“This collaboration allows authentic voices to share their expertise passed down through generations with our visitors. Their artforms are a reminder of the creativity and cultural richness that thrives in the local community.”
In addition, during the Saturday Celebración Latina events, as well as on Wednesdays-Fridays throughout Hispanic Heritage Month, museum educators will be stationed in the galleries offering hands-on learning opportunities inspired by museum exhibits and collections items related to Hispanic heritage, including the science and cultural significance of chocolate; the history of Latinos in Milwaukee; musical instruments from Latin America; the life of Mexican-American archaeologist and anthropologist Zelia Nuttall, who studied ancient Mesoamerican civilizations; Monarch butterfly migration between Mexico and Wisconsin; and the significance of el maíz (corn), which originated in Latin America.
For more information, visit mpm.edu.
Born in Brooklyn, N.Y., where he lived until he was 17, Bobby received his BA-Mass Communications from UWM in 1989 and has lived in Walker's Point, Bay View, Enderis Park, South Milwaukee and on the East Side.
He has published three non-fiction books in Italy – including one about an event in Milwaukee history, which was published in the U.S. in autumn 2010. Four more books, all about Milwaukee, have been published by The History Press. A fifth collects Urban Spelunking articles about breweries and maltsters.
With his most recent band, The Yell Leaders, Bobby released four LPs and had a songs featured in episodes of TV's "Party of Five" and "Dawson's Creek," and films in Japan, South America and the U.S. The Yell Leaders were named the best unsigned band in their region by VH-1 as part of its Rock Across America 1998 Tour. Most recently, the band contributed tracks to a UK vinyl/CD tribute to the Redskins and collaborated on a track with Italian novelist Enrico Remmert.
He's produced three installments of the "OMCD" series of local music compilations for OnMilwaukee.com and in 2007 produced a CD of Italian music and poetry.
In 2005, he was awarded the City of Asti's (Italy) Journalism Prize for his work focusing on that area. He has also won awards from the Milwaukee Press Club.
He has been heard on 88Nine Radio Milwaukee talking about his "Urban Spelunking" series of stories, in that station's most popular podcast.
