Postcards from Mexicoa digital photo exhibition by art students who studied in Guanajuato, Mexico, last summer, will be on view at the West Virginia University Mountainlair Feb. 23-27. The photos were taken during the WVU course in graphic design and art history held during May 2003 in Guanajuato and Mexico City.

Sponsored by the WVU Division of Art and the International Studies program, the three week summer course was coordinated by WVU Graphic Design Professor Cliff Harvey and Kristina Olson, professor of art history.

The course offered students a unique opportunity to experience the art, design, architecture and culture of Mexico. While there, they completed the photography project, under the direction of Professor Harvey and graduate student Juan Giraldo.

The students used facilities at the Universidad de Guanajuatos School of Design, and learned from Universidad de Guanajuato design professor Carmina Barrosso. They also visited many historic sites, museums and cities to study architecture and art. Many of the photos were taken in Guanajuato and Mexico City.

Guanajuato is located about 230 miles northwest of Mexico City. With an altitude of 6,583 feet, it is an historical and picturesque town that has preserved much of its colonial charm. The city is a maze of cobblestone streets and alleys that wind around steep hillsides, opening on to vistas of beautiful churches and small plazas.

The course in Mexico will be offered again May 10 28 and will be led by Harvey and Giraldo.

This year,Visual Workshops in Mexico,will provide an experience in traditional or digital photography and art history, but it will also provide an opportunity for students to learn and apply basic book arts structures to document the Mexican/Latin American culture. Students will have the option of applying six credits toward elective hours, Photo 2 in the Division of Art, or a non W upper level art history course. Those who would like to receive art history credit will be required to write an eight page research paper and make a short visual presentation.

For more information about the exhibition, or the summer course in Mexico, call the WVU Division of Art office at (304) 293 2140 ext. 3228, or email Harvey at cliff.harvey@mail.wvu.edu .