National Library Week 2024

National Library Week

A stack of multicolored books.Libraries are full of stories in a variety of formats from picture books to large print, audiobooks to ebooks, and more. But there’s so much more to the story. Libraries of Things lend items like museum passes, games, musical instruments, and tools. Library programming brings communities together for entertainment, education, and connection through book clubs, storytimes, movie nights, crafting classes, and lectures. Library infrastructure advances communities, providing internet and technology access, literacy skills, and support for businesses, job seekers, and entrepreneurs. – American Library Association

Join us to celebrate at the following campuses:

RCPSE Campus Library
April 8th – 11 AM to 12:30 PM
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Pecan Campus Library
April 9th – 11 PM to 1 PM
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Nursing & Allied Health Library
April 9th – 11 AM to 1 PM
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Mid-Valley Campus Library
April 10th – 10 AM to 12 PM
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Starr Campus Library
April 10th – 11 AM to 1 PM
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Technology Campus Library
April 10th – 11:30 AM to 1 PM

Art and Memory featured image

4th Art & Memory Conference

STC presents the 4th annual Art & Memory Conference
Art & Mem
Event Days: April 1 – 4, 2024 at the STC Pecan Campus

The South Texas College Liberal Arts division, in conjunction with Library Services, presents the 4th Annual Art & Memory Conference with four days of lectures, a roundtable, film viewing, a reception and a two-part exhibition. This interdisciplinary collaboration will highlight aspects of memory through a humanities lens in the theme of “youth and memory.”

Starting on April 1, the four-day conference will kick off with a lecture titled, “Immigration and Childhood Trauma: The Case of Family Separation,” presented by Efrén Olivares, author and deputy legal director at Southern Poverty Law.

Throughout the week, there will be several other events, such as a release party for the yearly magazine Tierra Firme, with local high school students reading their published entries, an art workshop where participants will create art based on their memories and other interactive events sponsored by the STC English and Philosophy departments.

“The Art and Memory sessions serve as a unique platform for the community and South Texas College to explore memory’s significance through art. This year, our focus is on childhood. Youth will engage with STC’s instructors and express memories through the visual arts, poetry and storytelling,” said Andrés Molina Ochoa, Ph.D., conference organizer & STC assistant professor of Philosophy. “Parents can also refine artistic skills through workshops, films and expert-led conferences. Our goal is to nurture creativity, deepen understanding and foster connections within our community. Join us for an enriching experience where memories come to life through art.”

The Art & Memory Conference and Exhibition Reception will take place April 2, from 5 to 6 p.m. to celebrate continued collaborative efforts and events as well as two exhibitions. One exhibit features artwork from youth ages 6-18 and the other, curated by Melissa Terry and Andrés Molina Ochoa, showcases the works of five professional artists, including Conrado Gonzalez Brownsville elementary school teacher, Adriana Gordillo from the University of Minnesota, Leila Hernandez STC Art Instructor, Lisa Irby local artist and retired educator, and Carl Vestweber from the University of Texas Rio Grande Valley (UTRGV). Both exhibitions explore memory, experiences and emotions in and about childhood and adolescence.

The Art & Memory Conference exhibition will be on view from April 2 – May 15, 2024, at the STC Pecan Campus Library Art Gallery, Building F.

All events are free and open to the public.

For more information, contact Brittany Leckey at 956-872-5528, email bleckey@southtexascollege.edu, or visit https://library.southtexascollege.edu/3artandmemory.

The schedule for the conference is as follows:

DAY 1 | Monday, April 1 Location: STC Pecan Building D, Auditorium 4 p.m. Efrén Olivares Immigration and Childhood Trauma: The Case of Family Separation DAY 2 | Tuesday, April 2 Location: STC Pecan Building U 2.100 9:30 a.m. Tierra Firme Release with readings in Spanish from the Authors 1 p.m. Art Workshop: Creating with Memories led by Gina Otvos and Melissa Terry 5 p.m. 4th Annual Art & Memory Conference Reception (STC Pecan Campus Library) 6 p.m. Coco Screening DAY 3 | Wednesday, April 3 Location: STC Pecan Building D, Auditorium 1 p.m. Dr. Liana Anderson Literary Journal Alecart: Where the Youth of Romania takes the Pulse of Regime Change 6 p.m. Panel: Constant Change: Memory, History, and Art Dr. Andres Molina Ochoa, Dr. Trinidad Gonzales, Dr. Sarah Rowe, Andres Sanchez (The Gremlin, Downtown, McAllen) DAY 4 | Thursday, April 4 Location: STC Pecan Building D Auditorium 1 p.m. Art & Memory Fiction Reading: Life and the Craft of Literary Fiction Dr. Charles Alcorn and Joseph D. Haske 4 p.m. Dr. Claire Katz Professor of Education, Texas A&M University 5 p.m. Philosophy for Children Demo Led by Dr. Katz, Texas A&M University
Art and Memory flyer

4th Annual Art and Memory – LAG 2023em

Will’n in Weslaco Academic Lecture: Shakespeare’s Comedy of Ancient Athens

A Midsummer Night's Dream

STC Library is delighted to partner with Will’n in Weslaco to present this year’s academic lecture on Shakespeare’s A Midsummer Night’s Dream. Dr. Jan Blits, Professor Emeritus of the University of Delaware, will be presenting on the intricate themes and timeless relevance of this great comedy.

Join us on April 9th at 6PM through Zoom Webinar or on MidValley Campus in G288.

Speaker Dr. Jan Blits

Event Title: “Shakespeare’s Comedy of Ancient Athens”
Speaker: Dr. Jan H. Blits
Date: Tuesday, April 9th 2024
Time: 6PM CST
Register here: Link

 

Visions of the Heart: The Blind in Action

Local artist group “Visionaries” showcases artwork at STC’s Mid-Valley campus library
Exhibit Reception: April 9 from 3:30 – 4:30 p.m. at the STC Mid-Valley Campus Library

The South Texas College Mid-Valley Campus Library Art Gallery showcases a mixed-media exhibit of 13 artworks called, “Visions of the Heart” by local artist group Visionaries: The Blind in Action will be introduced in an exhibit reception on April 9.

Visionaries: The Blind in Action is a nonprofit organization committed to bringing together the community through workshops and events that involve people who are blind and the wider community.

Macarena Pena, the exhibit’s organizer, began painting in 1997 and lost her sight two years later. In 2015, she co-founded the Visual Challenges Art Project in partnership with the National Federation of the Blind. This project enabled her to reignite her love for art and rediscover her artistic abilities.

This exhibit includes community artists Mary Rios, Samantha Lopez, Jesus Garza, Macarena Pena, Zorayda Pulido, Dali Cantu, Carolina Gonzalez, Alejandra Perez, Reyna Wadhawan, Juani Rodriguez and Gabriel Pinon.

The “Visions of the Heart” exhibit will be available for viewing at the STC Mid-Valley Campus Library, located at 400 N. Border in Weslaco. The exhibit will be open from March 1 to May 1, 2024.

On April 9, visitors can attend an artist reception from 3:30 to 4:30 p.m. During this event, visitors can meet the artists, view their artworks, and enjoy light refreshments. The event and exhibit are free and open to the public.

The South Texas College Library Art Gallery curates exhibitions and educational programs to foster student understanding of art, support the academic curriculum and inspire engagement with artists, scholars and original works of art.

For more information, call 956-488-5820, email gotvos@southtexascollege.edu, or visit https://library.southtexascollege.edu/libraryart.

visit https://library.southtexascollege.edu/libraryart.

STC Architectural Students present Arch Thru Art

Reception: April 10, 2024, from 12 – 1 p.m. at the STC Technology Campus Library.

The South Texas College Technology Campus Library Art Gallery and Architecture Department proudly presents Arch Thru Art, an exhibit by STC Architectural History students. In this showcase, students visually reflect on structures from ancient civilizations through the evolution of architecture over time using contemporary designs. Their artwork shows how buildings have changed, revealing the creative ways architects adapt to different times. Visitors can explore the exhibit to see the unique blend of history and modern ideas that these students bring to life through their art.

**Title**: Arch Thru Art **Artist**: South Texas College Libraries **Venue**: South Texas College **Dates**: April 2022 **Event**: Art & Architecture Series **Description**: The poster features an artistic representation of a stone arch bridge over a blue stream, surrounded by green grass. A QR code provides additional information about the event. For more details, contact **(956) 872-3488** or email **gotvos@southtexascollege.edu**. ![QR Code](https://i.imgur.com/QRCode.png)

The exhibit will be on display from January 8 – May 1, 2024, with a reception on April 10, from 12 – 1 p.m. at the STC Technology Campus Library Art Gallery, Bldg. A, at 3700 W. Military Hwy. in McAllen, TX. The exhibition and reception are free and open to the public.

STC’s Library Art Gallery Program organizes exhibitions and educational programs to engage students’ understanding of art and its role in culture, support the academic curriculum, and inspire continued education through direct engagement with artists, scholars, and original works of art.

For more information, call 956-872-6120, email gotvos@southtexascollege.edu, or visit https://library.southtexascollege.edu/libraryart.

The ‘T’ is Silent by Japheth Asiedu-Kwarteng

Contemporary Ghanaian artist explores themes from traditional ceramic and mixed-media art at STC’s Mid-Valley Library Art Gallery.

South Texas College Library Art Gallery presents artist Japheth Asiedu-Kwarteng’s ceramic and mixed media exhibit. Asiedu-Kwarteng was born in Ghana and earned a Master of Fine Arts in Ceramics from Illinois State University. He was awarded a fellowship through the National Council on Education for the Ceramic Arts (NCECA) and has exhibited on the east and west coast of the U.S. Asiedu-Kwarteng has previously served as a studio and lab Teaching Technician in ceramics for eight years at Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology in Kumasi, Ghana. He is now a Lecturer at the University of Texas Rio Grande Valley in Edinburg, Texas.

“My work acknowledges the legacy of Ghanaian ceramics history and contemporary presence without restriction and often utilizes complex cultural symbols, such as those associated with Kente, the meanings of which are specific, layered, and nuanced. I make an imminently contemporary statement and exemplify an approach to my work which transcends form and questions the relationship between tradition and modernity, cultural exchange, and tension.”

 

Title: “The ‘T’ is Silent” Art Exhibition Artist: Japheth Asiedu-Kwarteng Venue: Mid-Valley Campus Library Dates: February 7th to April 30th Event: Artist Talk & Reception on March 6th, 10-11am Description: The flyer features an abstract collage artwork with architectural elements, printed text, and colorful patterns. Contact details include a phone number (956-872-3488) and a website (library.southtexascollege.edu). A QR code provides additional information. !QR Code

There will be an artist talk and reception on March 6 from 10 to 11 a.m.

The exhibit opens on Wednesday, February 7, and will be on view until April 30, 2024. The display and event will be at the South Texas College Mid-Valley Library Art Gallery, E-1.210, located at 400 N. Border in Weslaco, TX.

The exhibition and reception are free of charge and open to everyone who wishes to attend.

The South Texas College Library Art Gallery organizes exhibitions and educational programs to engage students’ understanding of art, support the academic curriculum, and inspire continued education through direct engagement with artists, scholars, and original works of art.

For more information, call 956-447-6663, email gotvos@southtexascollege.edu, or visit https://library.southtexascollege.edu/libraryart.

1910 – 1920: Life & Death on the Border

Life & Death Banner

An early 1900s history exhibit travels to STC’s Starr Co. Campus. Lecture: April 17, 1 – 2 p.m. at the STC Starr Co. Campus, Bldg. E auditorium.

The South Texas College Starr Co. Campus Library Art Gallery and History Department proudly present “Life and Death on the Border: 1910-1920”, a 42-panel Texas history exhibit that features postcards, court documents, photographs, and artifacts from the early 1900s in the Rio Grande Valley. These histories inspired Tejano literature, art, and music and influenced the creation of the Mexican American civil rights movement.

Dr. Trinidad Gonzales, a History Professor at STC and co-founder of the Refusing to Forget project, collaborated with colleagues across the state and nation to research and curate this exhibit.

“The award-winning Life and Death Along the Border: 1910-1920 exhibit is the first time the State Museum of Texas addresses the history of state-sanctioned violence by Texas Rangers against Mexicans and Mexican Americans. The history of the Rio Grande Valley cannot be understood without fully acknowledging these events that affected hundreds of families and how they survived and overcame them,” said Gonzales.

The exhibit will be on view from February 7 – April 30, 2024, with a lecture April 17 from 1 – 2 p.m. at STC Starr Co. Campus, Bldg.—E, 142 FM 3167 in Rio Grande City, TX. The exhibition and lecture are free and open to the public.

To view the original exhibition this panel exhibit is based on, visit the Bullock Texas State History Museum link.

The South Texas College Library Art Gallery organizes exhibitions and educational programs to engage students’ understanding of art, support the academic curriculum, and inspire continued education through direct engagement with artists, scholars, and original works of art.

For more information, call (956) 488-5820, email gotvos@southtexascollege.edu, or visit https://library.southtexascollege.edu/libraryart.

Juan Ochoa Author Talk

Juan Ochoa Author Reading

Juan Ochoa Author Reading

Author Juan Ochoa

Author Juan Ochoa

Join us in-person in F102 or online through Zoom Webinar for this reading by STC faculty and author Juan Ochoa from his newest book. Pa’l Otro Lado, a prequel to Mariguano, spans five generations of violence and tragedy in the Cortina family while narrating their forced migration to the United States from Northern Mexico. It is the tale of every working-class family who has come to realize that “you just can’t win.” Hunger and poverty drive the characters in this novel to abandon all hopes of attaining the American Dream and to resign themselves simply to survive. P’al Otro Lado is full of the baddest hombres and the nastiest women we all know, love, and call family.

Event Title: “Juan Ochoa Author Reading”
Speaker: Professor Juan Ochoa
Date: Thursday, January 25th 2024
Time: 5PM CST
Register here: Link


 

Cold War Retrospective Film Series (Spring 2024)

The Cold War Retrospective Film Series
STC Library is thrilled to work with the STC History Department and the Liberal Arts Division to present a film series focused on The Cold War and sentiments at that time. All screenings listed below will take place in the Building D Auditorium on Pecan Campus.

Tuesday, January 30 @ 5:30PM
Dr. Christopher Davis – “Atomic Anxieties and Mutually Assured Destruction”
Dr. Strangelove or: How I Learned to Stop Worrying and Love the Bomb (1964)

Tuesday, February 13 @ 5:30PM
Martha Cantu – “McCarthyism and the Red Scare”
Invasion of the Body Snatchers (1956)

Tuesday, March 5 @ 2:30PM
Dr. Kevin Holton – “Set My People Free!: Religion and Politics in Cold War America”
The Ten Commandments (1956)

Tuesday, April 9 @ 3:30PM
Dr. Jeff Justice – “Bureaucracy, McCarthyism, and the Red Scare”
Oppenheimer (2023)

Wednesday, May 1 @ 5:30PM
Presenters Dr. Jaclyn Miller, Dr. Mark Allen, and Jason Chapa – “Atomic War”
The Twilight Zone Block 2
“Third from the Sun” (Season 1, Episode 14), “Two” (Season 3, Episode 1), and “The Shelter” (Season 3, Episode 3)