Celebrate Art and Bilingual Storytelling
Saturday, August 22 @ 1pm
Discover a story full of life, history, and wit. This August, join us at the Dennos for a brief lecture, book reading, and pop-up art exhibition celebrating The Most Beautiful Cemetery in the World by Jorge Iván Cevallos (aka "Crazy Horse") of Ecuador. Cevallos is also the curator of the Intercontinental Biennial of Indigenous Art currently on exhibit at The Alluvion through August 20.
Presented in both English and Spanish, this charming tale for all ages follows a spirited community’s quest to inaugurate their new cemetery. Meet the author Jorge Iván Cevallos (aka "Crazy Horse"), and hear him speak about his creative journey, and view a special pop-up exhibit of the book illustrator’s John Carlos Herrera Rodriguez original paintings in the Janis Community Room. Books will be available for purchase at the event.
Author Bio
Jorge Iván Cevallos (b. July 1, 1967, Quito, Ecuador), also known artistically as Crazy Horse, is a self-taught independent writer, producer, and art curator. His diverse background includes legal studies and specialized training in theater, dance, music, literature, painting, and photography across Ecuador, Peru, Canada, Colombia, Norway, England, and the United States.
A prominent figure in the promotion of Indigenous arts, Cevallos is the founder of several cultural initiatives and collectives. Most notably, he established the Indigenous School of the Arts Foundation and the Intercontinental Biennial of Indigenous, Millenarian, or Native Art. Founded in Ecuador in 2004, the Biennial celebrates its 11th edition in 2026.
As an author, Cevallos has published several books spanning poetry, short fiction, and the mural-novel genre. He awarded second prize in the National Novel Contest, organized by the Ecuadorian Episcopal Conference and the UN Refugee Agency (UNHCR). His editorial work includes History of the Indigenous Movement of the Ecuadorian Highlands: ECUARUNARI, Indigenous Women's Memoirs, and The Legend of Uncle Wolf by the celebrated painter and researcher Gustavo Toaquiza Ugsha.
For over five years, Cevallos coordinated the Art and Culture Department of the Confederation of Indigenous Nationalities of Ecuador (CONAIE), where he instrumentalized the creation of international festivals dedicated to Indigenous film, video, dance, music, and theater.
Book Reviews:
“The Most Beautiful Cemetery in the World is a charming and humorous tale, that is presented in both Spanish and English. With its illustrations by John Carlos Herrera, which are rustic and evocative, it is a book for all ages.
The characters are presented both lovingly and with a wink for their determination to inaugurate their new cemetery! This is a very enjoyable read, with cultural wisdom imparted in a playful manner. The main story of a community coming together to create the most Beautiful Cemetery, is full of life while being respectful of death. A side story, about how the town of Ancon came into being and was named, adds a sense of history and wit. --Jill Beauchamp”
Image: Illustration from the book by John Carlos Herrera.
*Please be advised that photographs and/or video may be taken at this event for use on the Dennos website, press, marketing materials, social media, and/or other NMC publications. By entering this event, you consent to the Dennos Museum Center photographing and using your image and likeness.
The Dennos Museum Center builds community, sparks conversation, and inspires change for audiences of all ages through its exhibitions, programs, and the collection and preservation of art.
Opened in 1991, the Dennos Museum at Northwestern Michigan College is a premier cultural facility in northern Michigan offering a dynamic array of exhibitions and programs in the visual arts, sciences, and performing arts. The Dennos includes temporary exhibition and permanent collection galleries, an elegant sculpture court, and a hands-on Discovery Gallery. The permanent collection features regional, national, and international art from the 19th-21st centuries. The Milliken Auditorium hosts events and concerts with performers from around the world. Visit the Museum Store for great shopping, including a fine selection of Inuit art for collectors.
The Museum's signature collection is Inuit art of the Canadian Arctic, one of the largest and most historically complete collections of these distinctive sculptures and prints in the United States. A significant collection of outdoor sculptures by noted international and Michigan artists surrounds the Museum on the beautiful campus of Northwestern Michigan College. In 2000, the Dennos was recognized by ArtServe Michigan with the Governor's Award for Arts and Culture. The Museum expanded its original building in 2018, adding new galleries and auditorium spaces with wide support from the community.
In 2021, the Dennos joined a network of more than 200 other Smithsonian Affiliates in the U.S., Puerto Rico, and Panama. Established in 1996, the affiliations program is designed to facilitate a two-way relationship among Smithsonian Affiliates and the Smithsonian to increase discovery and inspire lifelong learning in communities across America. Smithsonian Affiliates are collaborators on many of the Smithsonian’s strategic priorities, adding local content, context, and expertise to national initiatives to help tell a fuller story.
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