Current Exhibits
75 Years of the University Times
Cal State LA’s University Times student journalists have produced thought-provoking, impactful coverage of the campus and neighboring communities. They’ve told riveting tales and documented historic moments. This exhibit celebrates some of the most exciting and insightful content produced by the University Times producers since its inception in 1948.
View 75 Years of the University Times on the first floor of Library North and more images of our University Times Collection online.
The Band Marches On: Photographs from an Afro-Caribbean Festival
In The Band Marches On: Photographs from an Afro-Caribbean Festival, Rafael C. Gómez showcases the Gagá festivities in San Luis, on the outskirts of Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic. Gagá, a Lenten Afro-Dominican religious festivity, is a celebration of music and dance with deep spiritual significance taking place between the eve of Lent and Easter Week.
The Gagá performances, which morph into long parade-processions through different towns and communities, are not just revelry but also a form of religious work for ancestral spirits performed by the Gagá bands. The Gagá is accompanied by the distinctive sound of Vaksin or bamboo instruments, which add to the reverence with their often-improvised lyrics. The music of Gagá crisscrosses from spiritual Vodou songs to sexualized and vulgar chants to social and political critiques. Similarly, the dancing in Gagá draws on different Afro-Caribbean dance practices depending on rhythm.
You can visit The Band Marches On in the stairwell between the first and second floor of Library North.
Disrupting the Dream: Undoculeaders United at Cal State LA
Disrupting the Dream: Undoculeaders United at Cal State LA celebrates the resilience and leadership of undocumented students advocating for equity. Showcasing personal stories, activism, and community initiatives, the exhibit uses multimedia displays and artifacts to highlight the undocumented experience and the fight for change. This powerful display honors the courage of the Undoculeaders who challenge systemic barriers, inspiring viewers to support an inclusive campus for all.
View Disrupting the Dream on the second floor of Library North.
Marvels of the Maya and the Mexica: An Exhibit in Homage to Mary Miller, Frances F. Berdan, and David Carrasco
Marvels of the Maya and the Mexica: An Exhibit in Homage to Mary Miller, Frances F. Berdan, and Davíd Carrasco showcases publications of the three scholars of Mesoamerican culture, who have also advanced the fields of Mesoamerican Art, Anthropology, and History of Religion with their publications and their teaching careers. This exhibit features Maya, Mexica (Aztec), Tarascan (Purépecha) and Mixtec cultures artifacts, and other objects of cultural importance. The Mixtecs were a people that paid tribute to the Mexica. The Tarascans (Purépecha) were a military enemy of the Aztecs, notable for successfully defending themselves against Aztec expansion. The central objects are Aztec and revolve around tribute, ceremonies, and religious symbolism (primarily of death, rebirth, and fertility).
View Marvels of the Maya and the Mexica, curated by graduate student assistant Robert Coronado, Jr., in the Special Collections Reading Room, Library South/Palmer Wing, Room 2079.