Mexico is Culture! At the 2010 Miami Book Fair International

The 27th edition of the nation's finest and largest literary gathering, Miami Book Fair International, presented by the Florida Center for the Literary Arts at Miami Dade College (MDC), will take place November 14 - 21, 2010, at the college's Wolfson Campus in downtown Miami. The popular Street Fair runs Friday through Sunday, Nov. 19-21 with more than 200 exhibitors from around the country selling books in a festive atmosphere.

This year, the Book Fair will pay homage to Mexico's rich literature and culture during the 200th anniversary of its independence and centennial anniversary of its revolution. In commemoration of this special milestone, Mexico will be the featured country at Book Fair, which will present some of its most recognized authors, as well as stunning visual art, theater, exquisite cuisine, music, and crafts.

Mexico is the world's largest Spanish-speaking country, with a population of more than 107 million. Its contributions to global literature are exceptional, such as Carlos Fuentes, a special guest at the Fair this year, Juan Rulfo, Amado Nervo, Sor Juana Inés de la Cruz, and Octavio Paz, to name a few. In addition to Fuentes, who will present at a Book Fair conference on Sunday, Nov. 14, a slew of prominent Mexican authors will participate at various sessions, including Laura Esquivel, Gonzalo Celorio, Rosa Beltrán, Mario Bellatin, Estela Leñero, David Huerta, and Victor Mendiola.

The presence of Mexican culture will be felt throughout the Fair, beyond words and books. At the Mexican Pavilion, for instance, fairgoers can enjoy premier art works and savor traditional cuisine. In the theater arena, renowned actress Alma Muriel will perform Para ti…Sor Juana and actor Odín Dupeyron will present a monologue titled A Vivir! Book Fair will also present Mexican classic films, such as Pedro Páramo, Los albañiles y Como agua para chocolate. For a taste of Mexican poetry, music, drinks and more, visit Café Bohemio Siqueiros. Music will be provided by the Colectivo Nortec, Ballet Mexcaltián and street performers Cornisa 20, who will be performing Mariachi Clown. There will be splashes of Mexican culture everywhere for fairgoers of all ages.

During the Street Fair, Children's Alley will feature a Plaza Mexico, where children can enjoy numerous activities, such as storytelling, arts and crafts. MDC's Art Gallery System will present an exhibition at the Freedom Tower by master Francisco Toledo titled Cuento del Conejo y del Coyote, which is dedicated to his daughter, Natalia, a writer of children's books. In addition, an exhibition of works by celebrated artist Jose Nuño, titled Bicentenario-Itinerante-Empacado, examines centuries of Mexican art and the Aztec peoples ‘struggle for identity.

Mexico is Culture! is a joint effort of the Florida Center for the Literary Arts at MDC, the Mexican National Council for Culture and Arts, Mexico's Secretary of Foreign Affairs, the General Consul of Mexico in Miami, and the Mexican Cultural Institute in Miami.