De la Tierra has multiple meanings: from the earth, from the ground, from the homeland. This exhibition draws from two collections of ceramic objects made by Indigenous creators in West Mexico. One is ancient burial offerings from the tombs of various communities in a region traversing what now comprises the Mexican states of Nayarit, Jalisco, and Colima. The other collection contains 20th-century sculptures by Purépecha creators in Ocumicho, Michoacán. De la Tierra celebrates Indigenous creativity and agency as well as Mexican cultural and linguistic diversity. It also critically reflects upon how and why these objects came to be here at Stanford University. This exhibition explores how the contemporary and ancient ceramics on display transcend temporal and spatial boundaries in a variety of ways, opening conversations between objects and between visitors and objects.

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De la Tierra was curated by students in the Spring 2024 course “Introduction to Museum Practice,” taught by Dr. Danielle Raad, Curator and Assistant Director of Collections.

On view at the Stanford Archaeology Center. Members of the public are welcome to enjoy a self-guided visit to the exhibit Mondays through Thursdays between 9am and 5pm and Fridays by appointment, with the exception of University holidays. Please email suarchcoll@stanford.edu to schedule a Friday appointment.