University of New Mexico Professor of German Peter Pabisch has been bringing the language and culture of the German speaking world to students in the Rio Grande Valley for more than 30 years. For almost a decade before his arrival, the study of German was part of the curriculum in Modern and Classical Languages, now Foreign Languages and Literatures, in UNM’s College of Arts & Sciences. Pabisch retires in May, at semester’s end.
In honor of the program, its accomplishments and goals, Pabisch has organized, “Pioneering ‘German Studies’ in the Trans-Atlantic Context: 40 years innovative German program at the University of New Mexico 1964-2004,” an interdisciplinary conference April 12-19 at UNM.
“The content of the program reminds us that at UNM we have been instrumental in furthering German Studies on an international level,” Pabisch said.
“German Studies is more than the study of the language and the conference is more than an academic event,” Pabisch said. History, political science, education, economics, fine art and music are all featured during the event as well as being reflected in German Studies curriculum.
The conference features “open doors,” or an opportunity for participants to sit in on German classes from introductory conversation courses through advanced classes on
German literature and a graduate seminar on the plays of Schnitzler, Freud, Mahler and Klimt.
“German at UNM,” a display of interdisciplinary activities and programs, will be on exhibit all week in Ortega Hall.
Another exhibit features the work of Viennese artist Georg Eisler at the Univeristy Museum.
In keeping with Pabisch’s tradition of bringing experts from the German-speaking world to New Mexico, Stefan Pickl, from Cologne, presents, “The Kyoto Protocol as a Concept for the Atlantic Bridge Idea,” on Monday, April 12 from 7:30-8:30 p.m. in the Ortega Hall Reading Room.
On Friday, April 16, a lecture series is presented. Among speakers is former UNM faculty George Peters, now at Michigan State University, presenting, “Jewish Life and Culture in Berlin Today.” UNM-Gallup Professor Peter Handeland presents, “A Transatlantic Effort: Teaching German to Navajo High School and College Students.”
On Friday evening from 4-6 p.m., the music of Hanns Eisler will be featured in Keller Hall. UNM music department faculty Falko Steinbach and Leslie Umphrey will be featured as well as Krzysstof Zimowski, concert master, New Mexico Symphony Orchestra. The event is free and open to the public.
A concert by Musica Antigua de Albuquerque is featured Saturday, April 17 from 5:30-7 p.m. in the Ortega Lounge. “They will present Renaissance music at the courts of the Habsburgs Maximilian I and Charles V,” Pabisch said. This semester he is teaching a course on the connections between the European Habsburgs and New Mexico.
“The Atlantic Bridge connects us to the European Union, especially Germany, Austria and Switzerland while maintaining strong ties with Mexico through Camino Real activities. Our goal is to show people that New Mexico’s history and people have long been connected with Europe, not just Spain but the entire continent,” Pabisch said.
Among honorary committee members is Governor Bill Richardson, Austrian Consul General Peter Launsky-Tieffenthal and Governor Dieter Patt, Kreiss Neuss, North-Rhine-Westphalia, Germany.
Among sponsors is the Max Kade Foundation, Austrian Cultural Forum, German Academic Exchange Service and the Austrian-American Consul of New Mexico as well as many UNM schools, colleges and departments.
For a complete list of conference activities, call Monica Fresquez at 277-5335.
Contact: Carolyn Gonzales (505) 277-5920
Posted by kwentworth at April 9, 2004 09:06 AM