Occasionally, all it takes for something to be truly appreciated is time: the public ignored Van Gogh's work until after his death, Rolling Stone savaged the first Led Zeppelin record, and Family Guy didn't fully catch on until it got canceled. Angela Villalba realizes this, which is why she's given a spotlight to the art found in Mexican promotional calendars distributed between the '30s and 60s in her book Mexican Calendar Girls. Though the context may be commercial, the images—showcasing fetching gals hawking wares while capturing a unique part of Mexico's culture—transcend their humble beginnings. Those wanting to learn more can do so straight from the source, as Villalba's leading an open-to-the-public lecture on the pop art at the Bowers. Signing follows the lecture, natch.
Sat., Jan. 9, 1 p.m., 2010
