Past Events Spring 2005

As part of a campus-wide celebration of the 400th anniversary of Cervantes’ classic novel Don Quixote,
a portion of the unique collection of Professor Enrique Rodríguez-Cepeda from the Department of Spanish and
Portuguese was displayed in all seven exhibit cases on the second floor. The exhibit featured selections from
his collection of books, objects, comic books, postcards, stamps, trading cards, along with smaller examples
from his large Talavera tile collection, all which depicted scenes from Don Quixote or the life of Cervantes.
Rodríguez-Cepeda’s collection began with some ceramic tiles his father had purchased in the 1930’s.
The library contributed posters from movies depicting the Don Quixote theme.

During May and June in the Young Research Library, there was an exhibit entitled “Celebrating Cervantes:
The Quatercentennial of Don Quixote” which showcased early Don Quixote editions owned by the UCLA Library, as well as some prints from Professor Rodríguez-Cepeda’s collection.

Photos by C. Brown

In addition, there were two related “Month of La Mancha” events held in Powell Library:

Sponsored by the graduate students from the Department of Spanish and Portuguese as a fund-raiser,
the entire Book One was read by students, faculty, alumni and other campus and community volunteers
between 9 am and 9 pm over two days. Most of the reading was done in Spanish, but portions were also
read in English, Portuguese, French, German, Korean and sign language. A photo of the event was
published in the Spanish language newspaper La Opinion, along with an interview of Professor
Rodríguez-Cepeda.

Photos by C. Brown

A special ball featuring dances from the early 17 th century was held as part of the “Month of La Mancha”
festivities. Professor Emeritus Emma Lewis Thomas provided some instruction in these rare historical
dances. Many people including members of the Los Angeles community, faculty and graduate students
came in costume. Some even did research as to the correct costume to wear! Instructors and organizers
James Zimmer and Cynthia Harper gave a demonstration of the “Spagnoletta.” During an interlude,
guest vocalists Daniel Plaster, Melodee Fernandez and Nathaniel Reynolds performed songs of the
period and guitarist Bridget Risemberg performed pieces by 16 th century Spanish composers.

Photos by C. Brown

The beautiful Balkan (formerly Bulgarian) Women’s Choir returned to Powell after two years, performing
three to six part arrangements of traditional and modern Balkan region folk songs for an audience of sixty,
under the direction of Professor Tzvetanka Varimezova, Department of Ethnomusicology.

Photos by C. Brown

Examples from a record nine collections were featured from such diverse collections as a collection
on the art and craft of artists’ books to the “feminine bildungsroman.”

Photos by C. Brown

Student Sponsored Exhibits

Co-organized with the Office of Residential Life, this photo exhibit sought to raise awareness
about UNICEF’s campaigns around the world. Topics included girls’ education, immunization,
HIV/AIDS and children’s rights. It was part of a larger campus event called “World Fest.”

Photos by C. Brown

A Struggle Illustrated: The Fight Against Breast Cancer
May 30-June10, 2005
Elizabeth Kislik and Avital Ungar, curators

This exhibit featured the work of artists Lavialle Campbell, Margaret Lazzari, Sandra Rowe,
Art Myers, Joanne Beaule Ruggles, and Kanika who depicted minority women coming to terms
with their breast cancer experiences.

Photos by C. Brown

In their first appearance as a group in Powell Library, the UCLA Guitar Ensemble performed
tangos by Astor Piazzolla, caprices by Niccolo Paganini, and Latin-American music by
Carlos Chavez and Heitor Villa-Lobos.

Photos by S. Sherwin

Hollywood Magic: Dance in Film
Saturday, May 14, 2005

As part of this evening celebrating the history of dance in the American musical, Miles Kreuger,
founder and president of The Institute of the American Musical Inc. which includes a large
archive chronicling the history of the stage musical in the U.S., gave a talk and showed rare video
clips from Broadway musicals from the 1930’s - 1960’s before a rapt audience of sixty people
who attended the dance.

As part of a day of student arts events on campus called “Traditions” this double bill was sponsored by
the Student Committee for the Arts, Powell Concerts was pleased to welcome back these two
Ethnomusicology Department instrumental ensembles, led by graduate students Ben Harbert and Nasir
Syed respectively. Seven members of the Near Eastern Ensemble performed selections composed by
Director A.J. Racy as well as traditional pieces. Four members of the Music of India Ensemble
performed semi-classical ragas (harmonic modes) on sitar and talas (rhythmic patterns on tabla).

Photos by C. Brown

Photos by C. Brown

Special guest teacher John Hertz, choreographer, Friends of the English Regency, led a group of 90
participants in English waltzes and set dances from the period 1790-1820. A number of undergraduates
and others attended in Regency costume.