Celebrate the opening of our new special exhibition Exploring Art of the Ancient Americas: The John Bourne Collection Gift with a special AfterHours event. Enjoy food, a cash bar, a discussion about “authentic” Mexican food, and free entry to the exhibition. This chat between museum Director Gary Vikan and food scholar Jeffrey Pilcher will examine the historical struggles between globalization and national sovereignty in the creation of “authentic” Mexican food.

6 p.m.-8:45 p.m.      Drinks, food and access to the exhibition
7 p.m.-8 p.m.         Spotlight with Gary Vikan: Planet Taco

People often ask, "what is authentic Mexican food?” The burritos and taco shells that many people think of as Mexican were actually created in the United States, while Americanized foods have recently been carried around the world in tin cans and tourist restaurants. By telling the stories of the “Chili Queens” of San Antonio and the inventors of the taco shell, it will show how Mexican Americans helped to make Mexican food global. This talk will examine the differing historical perceptions of Mexican food as well as the contemporary struggle between globalization and national sovereignty represented by the clash of fast food and Mexican regional cuisines.

About the Speaker

Jeffrey M. Pilcher first tasted Mexican food at the age of eighteen in Las Cruces, New Mexico. After recovering from the initial blast of salsa, he dedicated himself to studying the history and cuisine of Mexico, earning a doctorate in history at Texas Christian University in 1993. Now a professor at the University of Minnesota, he is the author of several books on the history of food in Mexico and around the world.