University of Miami Libraries is celebrating the month of love in a unique way. As part of an online series, Cristina Favretto, who oversees special collections, is hosting a webinar that will give participants a colorful look at the phenomena of love.
The webinar, “Love in the Stacks: Stories of Romance (and Heartbreak),” will “give the viewer a glimpse into the complexities of love as revealed in the Special Collections of the University of Miami,” explained Favretto.
The interactive webinar will also look at how love has been portrayed in writing through the centuries and across the boundaries of gender, ethnicity, religion, and sexuality.
“This is a great opportunity for people to learn about the vast amount of unique content we have in our collections,” said Favretto. “In this webinar, in particular, we are going to be diving into all kinds of materials like letters, diaries, photographs, maps, rare books, beautiful illustrations throughout the centuries, and more. I really think it’s a fun way to view some fascinating samples of the wide-ranging content we have that pertains to romance,” she said.
Another topic that Favretto will cover is the history behind Valentine’s Day cards. According to Favretto, it dates back to earlier than you may think.
“Valentine’s Day cards began during the Victorian era, but love letters in particular have been found throughout history,” said Favretto. “It’ll be very interesting to go back in time and discuss different cards we have from our own collection that are from the 1920s, ’30s, ’40s and ’50s.”
If you are interested in learning more about this event, register here.
The following is a list of more events during February.
UM Libraries
Every Wednesday, 4–5 p.m.
Mindfulness at Richter
The University of Miami Libraries offers introductory mindfulness sessions for cultivating calm and focus. These 45-minute sessions introduce the fundamentals of mindfulness with periods of guided practice and opportunities for reflection and questions.
Register here.
February 4, 11 a.m.
El efecto Mariel: Before, During, and After—"Diplomacia por la Libertad: Embajador Ernesto Pinto en conversación con Leticia Callava"
During the first days of the month in April of 1980, more than 10,000 Cubans stormed the compound of the Peruvian Embassy in Havana seeking political asylum, unleashing what would become known as the Mariel Boatlift—the massive exodus of more than 125,000 Cuban migrants from the port of Mariel to the shores of South Florida. At the center of these dramatic events emerged a key figure—Ambassador Ernesto Pinto-Bazurco Ritter—then a diplomatic envoy for the Peruvian government in Havana.
Join us for this unique opportunity to hear a firsthand account of events leading up to the crisis, as well as the details about the ambassador’s negotiations with Fidel Castro, the Carter Administration, and the Peruvian government during the days and weeks that followed. We will also learn about how this experience impacted Pinto-Bazurco Ritter’s career as a diplomat, as well as his personal life.
Register here.
Frost School of Music
February 6, 7:30 p.m.
Frost Wind Ensemble: Robert Carnochan, director
Register here.
February 9, 7-8:30 p.m.
Music, Memory, Monuments: a roundtable discussion on historical names and symbols in honor of Black History Month.
Register here.
February 15, 7:30 p.m.
Small Jazz Ensemble Concert: John Daversa, director
Register here.
February 19, 7:30 p.m.
Henry Mancini Institute Orchestra Concert: Scott Flavin, conductor
Register here.
February 20, 7:30 p.m.
The Bourgeois and the Emperor—Frost Orchestras: Gerard Schwarz, conductor, Santiago Rodriguez, piano
The Frost Chamber Orchestra performs suites from the 20th century. Maurice Ravel's “Ma Mère l'Oye,” a colorful work depicting children's tales will be followed by Richard Strauss' “Le Bourgeois Gentihomme” humorous incidental music for a Molière play. Santiago Rodriguez joins the Frost Symphony Orchestra to perform “Beethoven's Piano Concerto No. 5” known as the “Emperor Concerto,” preceded by “Beethoven's Leonore Overture No. 3,” a popular overture from his only opera.
Register here.
February 22, 7:30 p.m.
Celebration of Song—Frost Choral Studies: Amanda Quist, director; Scott AuCoin, Jamie Bunce, Victoria Nieto Betancourt, and Caroline Player, student conductors; Anita Castiglione, Alan Johnson, and Piotr Kozlowski, pianists.
Enjoy a night with the Frost graduate student conductors as they perform their conducting recitals. The Frost Chorale, Bella Voce, Symphonic Choir, and Chamber Singers will each perform a set of music, prepared and conducted by our incredible graduate students. The repertoire will include works from the Renaissance, Baroque, Classical, and Modern periods. The choirs will perform pieces by Joel Thompson, Zanaida Robles, Dale Trumbore, Rosephanye Powell, Joseph Haydn, Giacomo Carrissimi, Chiara Cozzolani, and Brittney Boykin.
Register here.
Lowe Art Museum
February 11, 5:30-6:30 p.m.
Lowe Connects: Landscape Kimonos by Markow & Norris
Join artistic duo Eric Markow & Thom Norris as they reflect on their five-year journey through four woven glass, life-size kimonos.
Register here.
Tuesdays 1:00 p.m.
The Art of Mindfulness
Join the Lowe Art Museum for a live virtual guided Mindfulness practice each week! The Lowe’s Art of Mindfulness sessions session lasts about 40 minutes (30-minute guided practice with 10-minute reflection and Q & A).
Register here.
February 19, 2:30-4:30 p.m.
Usketch (in-person, meet at the Lowe)
Sketch classes are for all levels of proficiency and provide students the opportunity to hone their drawing skills while also meeting and greeting other UM students. Students will learn to draw with pencils, pens, charcoal, and pastels. Class will be led indoors and outdoors.
Register here.
Public Sculpture Program
The Lowe Art Museum curates an extensive collection of public art, displayed throughout the Coral Gables Campus. The works in the University’s Sculpture Park were generously donated by a number of remarkable philanthropists and are available for all to enjoy, both in person and virtually.
Visit http://www.fop.miami.edu/ref-departments/cpd/sculpture-program/index.html for more information.
Center for the Humanities
Wednesday, February 3 at 12:00 p.m.
Interdisciplinary Discussion of The Geography of Insight
In his recent book, “The Geography of Insight: The Sciences, the Humanities, How They Differ, Why They Matter,” Richard Foley attempts to compare the purposes and strengths of the humanities, social sciences, and natural sciences, drawing on his own experience evaluating tenure files at New York University and Rutgers University. Faculty members from across the university are invited to participate in an informal discussion on how disciplines can be complementary rather than rivals. Karl Gunther, associate professor of history, will provide a brief introduction before welcoming attendees to share their own insights and to reflect on their disciplines.
Register here.
Thursday, February 4 at 2:00 p.m.
"The Crusades and the Jews in Europe and the Holy Land"
The Miller Center for Judaic Studies, the Feldenkreis Program in Judaic Studies, and the Center for the Humanities present a lecture by Hugh Thomas, professor of history and director of the Center for the Humanities.
Wednesday, February 10 at 8:00 p.m.
Online Book Talk with Heather Diack
Documents of Doubt: The Photographic Conditions of Conceptual Art
Why do we continue to look to photographs for evidence despite our awareness of photography’s potential for duplicity? “Documents of Doubt” critically reassesses the truth claims surrounding photographs by looking at how conceptual artists creatively undermined them. Studying the unique relationship between photography and conceptual art practices in the United States during the social and political instability of the late 1960s, Heather Diack offers vital new perspectives on our “post-truth” world and the importance of suspending easy conclusions in contemporary art.
Register here.
Wednesday, February 17 at 2:00 p.m.
Lecture with Marcia Jo Zerivitz, author of “The Jews of Florida’’
In her recent book, “The Jews of Florida,” Zerivitz, founding executive director of the Jewish Museum of Florida (FIU), offers a comprehensive history of the Jews of Florida from colonial times to the present with a sweeping tapestry of voices spanning centuries. Zerivitz discusses how Jews have been integral to every area of Florida’s growth, giving readers an incomparable look at the long and crucial history of Jews in Florida. This event is presented by the Miller Center for Contemporary Judaic Studies, the George Fendelkleis Program in Jaudaic Studies, and the Boca Parliament History Club.
Thursday, February 18 at 7:00 p.m.
One Book, One U Author Event with Ijeoma Oluo
The One Book, One U common reading program is pleased to present a virtual event with Ijeoma Oluo, author of this year's selection, “So You Want to Talk About Race.” The event is free and open to the public and attendees are encouraged to read this year's selection prior to attending.
Register here.
Wynwood Gallery
Exhibition by Courtney Schmidt: “Me, Myself & I”
On view until February 28.
A Master of Fine Arts exhibition by Courtney Schmidt features all black and white photographs that use self-portrait to visualize her journey of self-growth. Referring to this body of work as “visual therapy,” she uses her graduate studio practice to make peace of past traumas and further her personal development in the contemporary era. Within her exploration of identity, self-transformation, and self-acceptance, she uses the female nude in a manner to express emotions both literally and metaphorically. Through her own process of channeling life experiences through gesture and expression in her imagery, Schmidt channels and finds strength through acceptance of her own vulnerability.
The University of Miami Gallery is open on a limited basis to University of Miami faculty and students. To schedule a visit, please contact Milly Cardoso, gallery director, at m.cardoso1@miami.edu, or call (305) 284-3161.
