Photography exhibition of "parteras"

Quito, viernes 19 febrero 2021
The traditional practice of
The traditional practice of "parteras"

 

A photography exhibition titled "Las parteras: una herencia cultural en Muisne" was presented by Iris Pico, a graduate of the master's degree in Cultural Management in our university. The aim was to present this ancient and traditional practice of a "partera", a woman who helps other women when they are giving birth.

The photographs show the human process of giving birth, it presented symbols in which "parteras" are the protagonists, together with the women from the community. The research is the result of the degree project carried out by Iris Pico and her tutor Teresita Carbonell, UPS professor.

Iris Pico said that what she wanted to spread the process of giving birth which represents the intangible heritage of the canton and invited people to keep this ancestral tradition alive. The exhibition pays tribute to these women and intends to show her work to the world.

Diego Peñaloza, head of Postgraduate degrees at UPS, highlighted the works Iris Pico has carried out: in 1999, an article on migrants in "Valle del Chota"; in 2013, the documentary "Capacidad" about labor inclusion of people with disabilities in companies; in 2019, "Artis" project, a space for research and promotion of cultural heritage and occupational rehabilitation; in 2020, the preparation of the manual of care for pregnant women and the research on the transmission of knowledge of the Afro-descendant "parteras" of the canton of Muisne.

María Sol Villagómez, vice president of our branch campus in Quito, stated that this work shows forms of transmission of knowledge and highlights the work of UPS with the community
Showing one of our country's tradition's that is still present in some provinces, is possible thanks to the university's master's degree in Cultural Management, which educates students to be protagonists of cultural processes. Blas Garzón, national Director, and Laura Falceri, coordinator of the Master's degree in Cultural Management, invite you to take part in this program, registrations are now open. For more information go to: posgrados.ups.edu.ec