September 5, 2012
Evita Museum Comes to New York for Three Weeks
Mark Thompson READ TIME: 3 MIN.
New York, NY - "Evita: Passion and Action," an exhibition of works on loan from the Museo Evita in Buenos Aires, will open at the Consulate General of Argentina in New York on September 7, 2012.
Sponsored by the Ministry of Tourism of Argentina, the Consulate General of Argentina in New York and the Argentina National Institute of Tourism Promotion, the exhibition will showcase some 50 works including paintings and photographs of Evita and examples of her clothing. There is no other way to see this collection without traveling to Argentina.
Dedicated to one of Argentina's most revered figures and one of the 20th century's cultural and political icons, the exhibition commemorates the 60th anniversary of the death of Eva Peron and the 10th anniversary of the founding of Museo Evita. This marks the first time an exhibit from the museum has come to New York.
Established 10 years ago in July 2002, the Museo Evita, or Eva Per�n Museum, was created as part of the "Instituto Nacional de Investigaciones Hist�ricas Eva Per�n" (INIHEP) under the auspices of the National Secretariat of Culture. The INIHEP continues the study of Eva Per�n's role in Argentine history, functioning as a center for research, an archive for documents and oral histories, and a publication center for investigative studies.
The museum was founded by Evita's great-niece, Mar�a Cristina �lvarez Rodr�guez, who continues to be closely involved in its operations and is Honorary President of the Eva Per�n National Institute of Historical Research.
The Museo Evita is located in the fashionable Palermo section of Buenos Aires. Housed in the early 20th century mansion of the Carabassa family, constructed as a single family residence by architect Estanislao Pirovano in Plateresque and Italian Renaissance style, the building that is now the Museo Evita was declared a National Historical Monument in 1999.
The building has a long connection with Eva Per�n. It was acquired by the Social Help Foundation Maria Eva Duarte de Peron in 1948. The so-called Transit Home Nr. 2 was established with the purpose of sheltering women in transition while they found employment and housing. Evita's social work resulted in the creation of orphanages, homes for senior citizens, the General San Mart�n Home for Women Employees, the Children's City and Students' City, the School of Nurses, the Hospital Train, the Cooperatives and the Agrarian Reform Plan, and much more.
The journey through the museum is presented chronologically from Evita's childhood, her family, the early and adolescent years, her trip to Buenos Aires from Los Toldos, her beginnings in show business (radio and cinema) followed by meeting Juan Per�n, her role as First Lady, her trip to Europe, the Feminine Ballot, the creation of the Feminine Peronist Party and her work with state policies. The narrative covers her seven years in public life, her active role and her social initiatives, even her historic decision not to run for office and the disease that led her to an unexpected death.
The museum's collection contains paintings and photographs, shoes, clothing, jewelry and objects, historical documents and other memorabilia, many loaned by the �lvarez Rodr�guez family. The items on display in New York were selected from the main collection by Museo Evita curator, Gabriel Miremont, who is a prominent expert on the life and contributions of Eva Per�n.
The Consulate General of Argentina is located at 12 West 56th Street (between Fifth and Sixth Avenues). Exhibition hours are 10:00 AM to 5:00 PM. The exhibition is closed on Saturdays and Sundays, except September 22 and 23 when it will be open from 9:30 AM to 5:00 PM. Admission is complimentary.
The Ministry of Tourism of the Argentine Republic promotes and positions Argentina as an international tourism destination. Last year, more than 5.5 million travelers visited Argentina, including about 500,000 Americans.
For information about travel to Argentina, go to www.argentina.travel
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A long-term New Yorker and a member of New York Travel Writers Association, Mark Thompson has also lived in San Francisco, Boston, Provincetown, D.C., Miami Beach and the south of France. The author of the novels WOLFCHILD and MY HAWAIIAN PENTHOUSE, he has a PhD in American Studies and is the recipient of fellowships at MacDowell, Yaddo, and Blue Mountain Center. His work has appeared in numerous publications.
