Exhibit Celebrates the Color and Vivacity of Female Mariachis

On Sunday, May 29, 2016, the Chapman community not only praised the festivities of the Musco World Cafe, “The Heartbeat of Mexico,” it also symbolized the opening of a brand new exhibit in the Leatherby Libraries. Located on the first and second floors of the library, 
¡Viva el Mariachi Femenil!
  is presented by the Mariachi Women’s Foundation and depicts the history of women in mariachi music from 1903 to 2016. The trials and tribulations of the pioneers of women in mariachi and the evolution of all female groups into the present day are demonstrated through historic photographs, documents, artifacts, and displays of mariachi suits. The exhibit was lovingly curated by Leonor Xóchitl Pérez, Ph.D.

Along with the opening and festivities, there were many performances that related directly to the exhibit. Firstly, Dr. Pérez, the exhibit’s curator and an expert in the history of women in mariachi, gave a presentation on the Musco Center stage. After Dr. Pérez’s presentation, a live mariachi band lead the crowd from the Musco Center to the Leatherby Libraries, where the exhibit officially opened. Visitors had a chance to browse the collections on both floors and take in the beautiful displays. At 2:30 p.m., two more mariachi experts – Dr. Lauryn Salazar and Dr. Jessie Vallejo – shed more light on this exciting art form. With food and refreshments, visitors took photos with the costumed mannequins, and experienced the colorful and lively exhibit.

Visit the space to learn more about the world of female mariachis and the cultural history of this art form. The exhibit will be on display through June 30. For more information, please read the library’s
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on the exhibit.