September 24, 2019 Library of Congress Hosts Events Celebrating Hispanic Heritage Month

Hispanic Heritage Month runs between Sept. 15 and Oct. 15. The Hispanic Division and the Hispanic Cultural Society at the Library of Congress will host workshops, displays and readings that celebrate Hispanic identity, civilization and culture inside the Hispanic Reading Room. The reading room is located on the second floor of the Thomas Jefferson Building, 10 First Street, S.E., Washington, DC 20540.  

Highlighting the month is the America’s Award Ceremony and workshop, with awardee Duncan Tonatiuh on Friday, Sept. 27 from 5:30 – 7:30 p.m. The Americas Awards ceremony celebrates all nominees. This year, author and artist Duncan Tonatiuh, the Consortium of Latin American Studies Programs, the Library’s Learning and Innovation Office and the Hispanic Division offer a hands-on workshop inspired by Tonatiuh’s award-winning codex: “Undocumented: A Worker’s Fight.” Participants will work with the author to document and combine their own life stories in an accordion-folded book. The Hispanic Reading Room will display this work throughout Hispanic Heritage Month. The event is free and open to the public, but workshop seating is limited. Free tickets are available via Eventbrite: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/americas-award-ceremony-and-workshop-tickets-71701983563

Friday, Sept. 27; 11 a.m.
Author Reading with Francie Latour
Author Francie Latour will read from “Auntie Luce’s Talking Paintings” (2019 Américas Award Honor Book). This story is about a young American girl who visits family in Haiti and finds herself through her Haitian auntie’s paintbrush. Book sales will follow. 

The Américas Award encourages and commends authors, illustrators and publishers who produce quality and classroom-ready children’s and young adult books portraying Latin America, the Caribbean, or Latinos in the United States. Free tickets are available via Eventbrite: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/author-reading-with-francie-latour-tickets-71723818873 

Thursday, Oct. 3; 6 p.m. 
Homie House Press: a Collection Display and Workshop
Explore Homie House Press’ newest publication, “First Fronteras,” and create a collective work about what stories live within us and where they take up space. “First Fronteras” is a sensitive project that looks at the ways we handle the barriers we face. These are not simply walls; they are wounds that impact the trajectory of our lives. Free tickets are available via Eventbrite: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/homie-house-press-a-collection-display-and-workshop-tickets-71518753517 

Saturday, Oct. 5; 10 a.m. 
Wikipedia Edit-a-thon 
During this event, we will improve and create Wikipedia articles related to Latinx Heritage, including women’s voting rights, Latinx authors and Latinx history, among many other topics. Laptops are required. Please bring your own. Registration is required, and the event is limited to 30 people. Free tickets are available via Eventbrite: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/celebrating-hispanic-heritage-month-a-library-of-congress-wikipedia-edit-a-thon-tickets-62268388426?aff=ebdssbdestsearch 

Thursday, Oct. 10; 6 p.m
Marta Pérez-García: Artist Talk and Workshop 
The Hispanic Division will host a display and mural-making program with artist Marta Perez-Garcia. Her work is known for its color and force where the feminine world mutates into savage nature, animal forms and repetitive patterns. Her art establishes a dialogue with an enduring Caribbean baroque style and contrasts the work of other graphic artists in Puerto Rico, also present in the Library's collection. Her work addresses the dichotomies of life and death and oppression and empowerment where elements of nature and symbols of culture intertwine in an unpredictable fusion of fierce colors and layered textures. Marta Pérez García will talk about her printmaking work in the reduction process and the themes present in her work. Free tickets are available via Eventbrite: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/marta-perez-garcia-artist-talk-and-workshop-tickets-71528065369 

Display
Monday, Sept. 16 - Tuesday, Oct. 15– Hispanic Heritage Collection Display
8:30 a.m. – 5 p.m.; Hispanic Reading Room (LJ-240) 
This collection display highlights important connections between Latinx cultures throughout the greater Caribbean, including works created by featured guests and newly acquired materials from Puerto Rico and Florida by way of Cuba. Visitors can expect a diversity of formats and languages as well as contextualization from expert librarians in the Hispanic Division. Collections displayed are offered in coordination with Rare Books and Special Collections, African, Latin American and Western European Division, Manuscript Division and Geography and Maps Division. Tickets are not required.

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