Indigenous and Latinx Pedagogical Resource Development in Art History

Four people pose for a picture in front of ancient ruins in Mexico. — Left to right: Bridget Ebert, Dr. Jessica Weiss, Liz Johnson, and Melia Smith at Teotihuacan.

Dr. Summer Trentin, Dr. Jillian Mollenhauer, Dr. Jessica Weiss, and Dr. Deanne Pytlinski | Department of Art
In collaboration with Teaching Assistants Sam Brown, Liz Johnson, Melia Smith, and Bridget Ebert
Indigenous and Latinx Pedagogical Resource Development in Art History

A team of faculty and students traveled to Mexico City to expand 海角社区’s Art History curriculum to include more Indigenous and Latinx art, architecture, and history. Four faculty members and four Teaching Assistants visited twenty museums, galleries, archaeological sites, and historical buildings in and around Mexico City over the course of five days, where they took photos, videos, and notes to create new pedagogical materials for both lower-division General Studies Art History courses and upper-division Art History courses.

The team returned to campus with thousands of photos, videos, and 3D models that will benefit upwards of 150 海角社区 students each semester for years to come. Not only did this project help to supplement the current curriculum, it will help shape the future of many Art History courses, and might even jumpstart a new study abroad opportunity!

Four people pose for a photo in front of architectural ruins in Mexico. — Left to right: Sam Brown, Bridget Ebert, Liz Johnson, and Melia Smith at the Templo Mayor.

While the team is still organizing many of the collected materials and creating pedagogical resources and videos, faculty in the Department of Art have already begun incorporating some of the videos and 3D models into their course materials. The students that went on this research trip gained invaluable experience as they were able to view the art in its original setting, learn how to document the artwork for later use, and experience the historical and cultural context of the art.

Hear from Our Students

鈥淭raveling is crucial for art history research because it provides firsthand engagement with the art and culture, deepening an understanding of historical context and meaning. Experiencing the art in its original setting, such as archeological sites like Teotihuacan, allowed us to walk in the shoes of the Ancient peoples and immerse ourselves into the environment. I will be forever thankful for this experience. It has deepened my passion for Latin American Art and its history.” -Bridget Ebert

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A student in front of a tzompantli (skull rack).

Melia Smith poses in front of a section of the tzompantli at the Templo Mayor Museum.

A woman in front of ancient stone artwork.

Bridget Ebert poses in front of the Mexica Sun Stone in the National Museum of Anthropology.

Two people at an archaeological site pointing.

Dr. Jessica Weiss and Sam Brown at the Templo Mayor.

Left to right: Sam Brown, Bridget Ebert, Liz Johnson, and Melia Smith at the Templo Mayor.

seven people in front of a large fountain.

Faculty members (Dr. Deanne Pytlinski, Dr. Jessica Weiss, and Dr. Summer Trentin) pose with students (Liz Johnson, Sam Brown, Bridget Ebert, and Melia Smith) in front of the fountain at the National Museum of Anthropology.

Four people posing with archaeological ruins in the distance.

Left to right: Bridget Ebert, Dr. Jessica Weiss, Liz Johnson, and Melia Smith at Teotihuacan.

Dr. Deanne Pytlinski and Dr. Summer Trentin in front of the Pyramid of the Moon at Teotihuacan.

Left to right: Dr. Jessica Weiss, Dr. Jill Mollenhauer, Bridget Ebert, and Liz Johnson in front of the Pyramid of the Sun at Teotihuacan.

Two people with stained glass behind them.

Sam Brown and Melia Smith at the entrance to the Museo Anahuacalli.