Preserving Identities
Background
The antiquity of Roman culture and Rome’s position in the world make it a world center for the study and preservation of world cultural heritage. Internationally, with the current waves of immigration, cultural destruction and resource decline, there is a new urgency and a greater need for expertise in cultural preservation. As a result, in 2016 while traveling to Rome a group of UTEP Humanities and History students designed and executed a series of creative projects to study cultural heritage and cultural heritage preservation. Students researched and documented the theme of identity and different methods of preservation and revitalization of cultural artifacts, sites and monuments. In addition, they documented new ideas in marketing and new media being utilized to enhance the tourism experience and to raise funds for preservation. Students focused on four sites and monuments: the Colosseum, the Mausoleum of Santa Costanza, the Obelisks of Rome and the harbor city of Ostia Antica.
In preparation for the Rome experience, before leaving for Rome, students visited several museums in El Paso to study how local museums are funded, how they use technology, and how each makes use of space when creating exhibits. This comparative analysis allowed students to develop a set of skills that have wide applications and are transferable to national, international and local situations.
While in Rome students had the opportunity to observe a variety of heritage preservation strategies. They began by investigating the basic collecting practices that first gathered cultural artifacts into the palaces and display halls of the local gentry. In turn, they experienced modern museums and museum light show demonstrations such as the Domus Romana, (Roman House) and the Forum of Augustus. Students had the opportunity to interact with important Italian officials such as the PR Director for the public museums department of Rome. They consulted with current experts and museum directors such as Dr. Darius Arya of the American Institute of Roman Culture, who explained his work in digital preservation and introduced students to the Institute’s ongoing excavations in Rome’s ancient harbor town at Ostia Antica. The group also traveled to Pompeii, where they experienced a huge heritage site now managed by a private company and beset with a host of preservation problems attributable to the large size of the site—an issue students had not encountered previously.
Schedule for "Preserving Identities" Exhibit
FEB. 7 – MAR. 31, 2019
Preserving Identities exhibited at the Centennial Museum at the University of Texas at El Paso and was also a part of the showcasing exhibitions for the Texas Association of Museums 2019 Conference in El Paso.
SEPT. 4 – SEPT. 20, 2018
UTEP Faculty works with Eastlake H. S. teachers to incorporate Preserving Identities Exhibit into curriculum. The exhibit was asked to return next year, where students will also create their own Roman exhibit to showcase as an extension of Preserving Identities.
NOV. 6 – DEC. 15, 2017
The next stop for the Preserving Identities exhibit is Del Valle High School.
OCT. 2 – OCT. 15, 2017
Preserving Identities exhibit makes stop at College of Liberal Arts building as part of the 50th Anniversary of the Liberal Arts. The exhibit is in the hallway opposite of room 302 and will remain up until Oct. 15.
SEPT. 18 – OCT. 30, 2017
“Preserving Identities” exhibit opens at first stop of the high school tour at Coronado H.S.
MAR. 23 – JUL 16. 2017
“Preserving Identities” makes its debut opening at the UTEP Library.
The Exhibit
In 2016-17, UTEP students developed their research in Rome into an interactive, bi-lingual, multimedia exhibit, which combines traditional exhibit practices with digital media. Their goal was to draw the attention of young people to the condition of cultural landmarks, the need for the preservation of historical artifacts and the current efforts to maintain historical monuments. By focusing on Roman life and culture, the exhibit emphasizes the role of cultural heritage in the development of cultural ties across the globe. Exhibit displays highlight new strategies in preservation practices and emphasize new techniques being applied to enhance the learning atmosphere at cultural sites.
The exhibit is a combination of the physical materials of traditional installations and digital applications via smart device. The physical component is composed of images, maps and text combined with QR codes that link to smart devices to access videos produced by students and faculty, along with current articles and academic studies. Simulations and reconstructions in 3D and 360 degree with POV allow users to drop right into specific sites and vicariously view these Roman wonders. In the future, students of the Layers of Rome Study Abroad Program will continue to add to the Preserving Identities traveling & online exhibit by exploring and documenting a different Roman site or monument each year.
Preserving Identities Exhibit (digital version)