The Americas and the Generative Power of Fire

The Americas and the Generative Power of Fire is a special panel discussion and a feature of the IBES event What Fire Does. This discussion is organized by Lenore Manderson (Brown University/University of the Witwatersrand) and chaired by JCB Director and Associate Professor of History Neil Safier. The panel will feature presentations by Andrew Scherer of Brown University ("Ceremonies of Smoke and Flame among the Ancient Maya"), Matt Liebmann of Harvard University ("When the Little Firekeeper Ran Away: Pueblo People, Franciscan Missions, and Wildfires in 17th Century New Mexico"), Guilhem Olivier of the Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México ("The New Fire Ceremony: Religion and Power in Ancient Central Mexico"), and Alessandra Russo of Columbia University ("Fury and Beauty: Fire in the Limits of Conquest"). Following the panel discussion, Jake Frederick (Lawrence University) will present the exhibition The Americas on Fire, co-curated with Júnia Furtado (Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais). A performance by Wendy Woodson (Amherst College) and reception will follow. The event is free and open to the public.