Cultural events set next week through October at Northern

Press release

Montana State University-Northern is celebrating culture and Hispanic Heritage Month starting with exhibits and activities during the week of Havre Festival Days.

“Feet, what do I need you for when I have wings to fly” is one of the most famous quotes of Mexican painter Frida Kahlo. The Multicultural Center at Northern is hosting a small art exhibit of the artist the week starting Monday.

Kahlo is an icon from Mexico whose art has transcended cultures and countries and today is one of the most recognized names in the international art world scene.

The inauguration will be Monday 6 p.m. in Norhtern’s Vande Bogart Library. Members of the Hispanic Heritage Month Planning Committee will have a short presentation that will include a brief biography of Kahlo and explanation of some characteristics of her artwork, and the reason for her popularity today. Light refreshments — churros — will also be provided during the event. Attendees will be able to view the art pieces: “Self-Portrait with Loose Hair,” “Self-Portrait with Monkeys,” “The Bus” “Frida and Diego Rivera,” “Self-Portrait as Tehuana” and “The Frame,” which have been rented from Traveling Exhibits. The whole Havre community is invited to view the exhibit at their convenience next week through Friday during Northern library hours, Monday through Thursday from 8 a.m. to 10 p.m. and Friday from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. People who would like to schedule a 20-minute group tour of the art exhibit, can contact Cristina Estrada at [email protected]/.

The cultural celebration in Festival Days week continues Friday when the Fifth Annual Festival of Nations will offer people a chance to experience A Day in Sri Lanka and Hawaii in north-central Montana.

Friday will see presentations on the Montana State University-Northern campus by featured guests Lethbridge Lankans, a member of the Southern Alberta Ethnic Association, whose members are Canadian residents of Sri Lankan heritage, and the University of Montana Pacific Islanders Club.

The groups will be performing traditional dances and music and giving presentations on their cultures.

Local residents will provide more cultural entertainment and education, giving musical and short theatrical performances and presentations, representing cultures as diverse as Irish, Native American and Kenyan.

The Office of Diversity Awareness and Multicultural Programs will also hold a silent auction fundraiser to help fund its activities, like this one, throughout the year.

The evening begins at 7 p.m. at the Little Theatre in Cowan Hall. Tickets are being sold to the general public for $4 for adults and $2 for youth at the door for $1 less per ticket ahead of the event.

Admission is free for Northern students, faculty and staff with a valid ID card.

For more information, people can contact Estrada-Underwood at 265-3589.

The second celebration for Hispanic Heritage Month, which is celebrated nationally from Sept. 15 through Oct. 15, will be an open-floor dance Friday, Oct. 5 from 6 to 8 p.m. at the Northern’s Student Union Building.

The event will start with dance lessons of basic steps in salsa, bachata and cumbia. The three music genres are very popular in many countries throughout Latin America. The Spanish classes from Havre High School will be displaying informational posters on different Hispanic countries and will also be decorating the SUB with their artistic flower-making skills.

Admission is free to all. A 50/50 raffle, a dinner raffle to Guadalajara Mexican Restaurant and various drinks will be for sale.

All funds raised stay in the Hispanic Heritage Month budget for planning of next year’s event. Donations for the continuation of these events are always welcomed to the Northern Multicultural Center.

For any questions or more information about the dance, people can contact planning committee member Jasmine Carbajal at [email protected]/.

The mission of the Office of Diversity Awareness and Multicultural Programs is to promote appreciation for cultural diversity by fostering positive human relations for all students with particular focus on needs of student populations historically underrepresented or underserved based upon race, ethnicity, socioeconomic class, age, gender identity, sexual orientation, and learning and physical exceptionalities serving as a resource for Northern regarding multicultural needs. This office assures the effective promotion of a campus climate that welcomes diversity through educational, cultural, artistic, and social programming and services.