The West Virginia University Health Sciences Library is hosting the National Library of Medicine traveling poster exhibition Everyday Miracles: Medical Imagery in Ex-Votos from Jan. 19 to Feb. 24.

Ex-votos are devotional paintings created to thank saints or deities for a healing, blessing, or significant event. These expressive works provide insight into how ordinary people thought about and coped with disease and healing.

Coinciding with the exhibit, there will be a lecture at 3 p.m. Feb. 7 in Health Sciences Library’s Learning Center Classroom 1 that will examine the artistic and historical context of ex-votos.

Dr. Janet Snyder of the WVU Art History program will speak on “Reciprocity in Ancient and Medieval Ex-Votos.” In her talk, Dr. Snyder will discuss votive offerings and ex-votos, including three-dimensional and sculpted pieces. Light refreshments will be served following the presentation.

The exhibition posters are mounted in the library seating area and are available for viewing during the Health Sciences Library’s operating hours: 7:30 a.m.-midnight Monday-Thursday, 7:30 a.m.-8 p.m. Friday, 10 a.m.-6 p.m. Saturday, and 1-11 p.m. Sunday.

For more information on ex-votos and the traveling exhibit, visit the National Library of Medicine’s website, www.nlm.nih.gov/exhibition/exvotos, or contact Lori Hostuttler, Reference Librarian and History of Medicine Liaison, at 304-293-1922 or lori.hostuttler@mail.wvu.edu.

-WVU-

CONTACT: Monte Maxwell, WVU Libraries,
304-293-0306, monte.maxwell@mail.wvu.edu

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