Exhibition focuses on work of UW-Madison’s Christiane Clados

The Latin American, Caribbean & Iberian Studies Program, in collaboration with the Center for Latin American and Caribbean Studies at UW-Milwaukee, and Latino Arts Inc. in Milwaukee, are presenting the art exhibit and lecture series “Christiane Clados: Reconstructing the Pre-Columbian World.”

The exhibit and series center around the work of archaeologist and artist Christiane Clados, a research associate of the Free University of Berlin and a post-doctoral fellow at UW–Madison. Clados paints “reconstructions” based on archaeological finds in Mesoamerica and the former Inca lands of South America. Like other archeologists, she uses sites reports, stratigraphic profiles and iconography, yet the uniqueness of her work resides in how she uses scientific method to create magnificent artistic reconstructions of Pre-Columbian life.

“It takes an artist-scientist to bring the shattered remains back to believable life,” says Professor Frank Salomon, Department of Anthropology.

“This is Christiane Clados’ mission,” he continues. “In her great reconstruction paintings…time-bleached feathers glitter afresh, polychrome vessels glow with color, jewelry flashes, and the proud eye of a pre-Hispanic prince glances out over the American world as it was a millennium before Europeans heard of it.”

Clados’ reconstruction paintings will be exhibited at the Latino Arts Gallery in Milwaukee, 1028 S. 9th St., from Sept. 17- Oct. 15, and at the Commonwealth Gallery in Madison, 100 S. Baldwin St., on Oct. 19, 21 and 25.

A lecture series has been organized in conjunction with the exhibit to enhance the public’s understanding of the art of reconstruction and the practice of archaeology on Pre-Columbian civilizations. Speakers include:

• Christiane Clados: “Reconstructing the Pre-Columbian World,” Friday, Sept. 24, 5 p.m. at the Latino Arts Auditorium and Tuesday, Oct. 19, 5 p.m. at the Commonwealth Gallery.
• Jean Hudson, UW-Milwaukee Department of Anthropology: “Peruvian North Coast Archaeology,” Tuesday, Sept. 28, 5:30 p.m. at the Latino Arts Auditorium.
• Jason Yaeger, Department of Anthropology: “‘Gold and Silver and Jade, OH MY!’ An Anthropological Perspective on the ‘Treasures’ of Ancient American Civilizations,” Friday, Oct. 1, 11 a.m. at the Latino Arts Auditorium and Thursday, Oct. 21, at 7:30 p.m. at the Commonwealth Gallery.
• Andrea Stone, UW-Milwaukee Department of Art History: “Words Made Visible: Ancient Maya Hieroglyphic Writing,” Friday, Oct. 1, 5 p.m. at the Latino Arts Auditorium.
• Frank Salomon, Department of Anthropology: “The Immortality of the Flesh: Why Ancient Americans Created Mummies,” Friday, Oct. 15, 5 p.m. at the Latino Arts Auditorium and Monday, Oct. 25, 7:30 p.m. at the Commonwealth Gallery.
• Jonathan Mark Kenoyer, Department of Anthropology: “Archaeology, Art and Interpretation,” Tuesday, Oct. 19, 5 p.m. at the Commonwealth Gallery.

For more information on the exhibits and lectures visit http://polyglot.lss.wisc.edu/laisp/.