Appalachian Cultural Center events celebrate Hispanic and Latin cultures

Carson-Newman University’s Appalachian Cultural Center invites the public to a special evening as it hosts celebrated author R.E. Toledo on Monday, Feb. 21. The 7 p.m. event is free and will be held in Thomas Recital Hall located in Tarr Music Building on campus.

Born in Mexico City, Toledo serves as Distinguished lecturer of Spanish in the Department of Modern Foreign Languages and Literatures at the University of Tennessee. Her poetry and short stories have been published in “Letras Femeninas” and “Label me Latino/a.” Her first two collections of poetry “Pregonero despertar de voces,” and “Azules sueños naranjas” were published in Mexico. She coedited an Anthology of Bilingual-BiculturalTexts, “Nos pasamos de la Raya/We Crossed the Line.” Toledo is currently working on the Second Volume of “Nos pasamos de la Raya/We Crossed the Line” and on her third poetry collection, “Vacíos/Hollow.”

The Appalachian Cultural Center is also hosting the exhibit “One Hundred Years” by artist Michael Giles through March 5. Giles, who was born in Maracaibo, Venezuela, works primarily in painting and drawing. Exhibits that have featured his work include SITE: Brooklyn in Brooklyn, New York; Core New Art Space in Denver, Colorado; Channel To Channel Gallery in Nashville. He serves as associate professor of art at Lincoln Memorial University.

The Appalachian Cultural Center is open Monday, Wednesday and Friday from 2-3 p.m.; Tuesday, 3-4:15 p.m.; Thursday, 10:30-Noon and 3-4:15 p.m.

“The Appalachian Cultural Center is excited to offer Voces de los Apalaches (Voices of Appalachia) as we celebrate Latin/Hispanic voices and artists in our region,” said Dr. Jennifer Hall, C-N’s director of The Appalachian Cultural Center. “Appalachia is blessed with great cultural diversity, and both Michael Giles and R.E. Toledo will help us honor part of this amazing culture: the Latin/Hispanic community. As we engage with Michael’s paintings and R.E.’s poetry, we hope to honor this integral and vibrant part of our Appalachian community.”

Founded in 1851, Carson-Newman is a Christian liberal arts university located in Jefferson City, Tennessee, among the foothills of the Great Smoky Mountains. The University offers 50 undergraduate majors, as well as associate, bachelor’s, master’s and doctorate degrees.