Oil Painter Claudio Talavera Ballón to be Artist in Residence, April 1-5

International Languages and Cultures

College of Arts and Sciences

April 1, 2019

photo of Claudio Talavera BallonThe University of Portland will host renowned oil painter Claudio Talavera Ballón at Buckley Auditorium on April 3 at 7:15 pm. This talk will address the relationship between art and social issues, such as migration. It will also make reference to the role of women today in contexts that are adverse to social justice. The event is free and open to the public.

The Spanish faculty at the University have invited Talavera-Ballón, oil painter and muralist, as Artist in Residence April 1-5. During his residency, Claudio will teach a few sections of Spanish, including all intermediate Spanish classes, and the April 3 lecture focusing on his Patronas & Migrants series, Mujeres Luz, as well as a recently commissioned mural in San Francisco on human migration.

In advance of his visit, Claudio and the Spanish faculty will provide multi-media course materials on the migrant experience including, but not limited to, the role of the Patronas, women in Veracruz, Mexico who throw prepared foods at the migrant passengers making their way to the United States on the train called The Beast. Provided media (in Spanish and English) will include radio podcasts, interviews with Patronas, documentaries, films, art websites and books.

The high-impact practice of embedding course content with an interdisciplinary, topic-driven, project-based learning academic experience prepares students for undergraduate research and creative inquiry. Co-sponsors include International Languages & Cultures, Office of the Provost, College of Arts and Sciences, Office of Diversity & Inclusion, Garaventa Center, Moreau Center, Political Science, History and Clark Library.International Languages & Cultures' Andrea Castanette and Lora Looney will serve as the primary coordinators, with assistance from Belgin Inan.