ATHENS, Ohio -- Jonathan Maffay, who is currently writing a Ph.D. dissertation on Diego Rivera for the Ohio University School of Comparative Arts, will present, "Diego Rivera: The Art of Nationhood," on March 7 at 7:30 p.m. in the Athens Public Library. His informative talk will include slide images, Mexican music and video clips obtained on a recent research trip to Mexico.

In the years following the Mexican Revolution, Diego Rivera and many other artists were involved in a concerted government-funded program to help heal the wounds of warfare through the arts. In particular, Rivera was intrigued by the possibility of reconnecting the Mexican national identity to its ancient Amerindian past. Many of his monumental fresco murals evoked his country's rich history. It is to these works we turn for this library lecture.

The program is part of a 2001-2002 series of talks on interdisciplinary arts co-sponsored by Friends of Athens Public Library and Ohio University's School of Comparative Arts.