The Robert and Frances Fullerton Museum of Art (RAFFMA) at Cal State San Bernardino will present “Mark Strickland: A New Humanist,” a lecture and discussion led by Gregorio Luke, well-known lecturer, author and specialist in Latin American art and culture.

The lecture will take place at the museum on Saturday, May 12, 2-3 p.m. and will be followed by a closing reception for the exhibition “All Too Human: The Art of Mark Strickland” from 3-4 p.m.

Luke will discuss Strickland’s career and provide a historical context to his major masterpieces.  Many of his works deal with issues of our time that many have been involved in or read about in the news. Luke will explore how Strickland can take themes like immigration or youth issues and transform them into powerful icons that help us think and see them in a different light. Such is the case with two works featured in this exhibit: CHOICES and THE RESURRECTION OF LIBERTY.

Luke is an expert on Mexican and Latin American art and culture. He is the former director of the Museum of Latin American Art, Consul of Cultural Affairs of Mexico in Los Angeles and the first secretary of the embassy of Mexico in Washington, D.C. ​

Luke has given more than 1,000 lectures in museums and universities in Mexico, Europe and the United States. He has spoken at institutions such as The Library of Congress, The Smithsonian Institution, the San Diego Art Museum, the Detroit Institute of Art, and universities such as Harvard, Columbia and Georgetown. ​

His accolades include: the Irving Leonard Award by the Hispanic Society of the Library of Congress (1995); the Life Achievement Award by the Ebell of Los Angeles (2005); the El Angel Award by the Bilingual Foundation of the Arts (2006); and the KCET Local Heroes Award (2008). In addition, he was recognized in 2007 by CATE (California Association of Teacher’s in English) for promoting literacy in public schools.

About RAFFMA

The Robert and Frances Fullerton Museum of Art is a nationally recognized museum accredited by the American Alliance of Museums. The only accredited art museum in San Bernardino, RAFFMA has accumulated a permanent collection of nearly 1,200 objects focusing on Egyptian antiquities, ceramics and contemporary art. Located at Cal State San Bernardino, RAFFMA houses the largest permanent and public display of Egyptian art in Southern California.

General admission to the museum is free. Suggested donation is $3. Parking at Cal State San Bernardino is $6 per vehicle and $3 on weekends.

The museum is open Monday – Wednesday and Saturday, 10 a.m.-5 p.m., Thursday, noon-8 p.m. and closed Friday and Sunday. For more information, call (909) 537-7373 or visit the RAFFMA website at raffma.csusb.edu.