MARIO DIAZ LABASTIDA - PINTOR

"SOY UN AFICIONADO A LA PINTURA DEL SUR DE TAMAULIPAS, LE ENVIO UNA IMAGEN DE MI TRABAJO..."
SALUDOS

PARA MAS INFO:
MARIO DIAZ LABASTIDA
E. CARRANZA # 517 OTE. INT 106
TAMPICO TAMPS 89000

email:arqmariodiazl@prodigy.net.mx

Frida Kahlo - Brownsville Museum of Fine Art

The Brownsville Museum of Fine Art is located at 660 E. Ringgold St. across from the Gladys Porter Zoo.


Museum hours:
Sunday and Monday: Closed
Tuesday: 10 a.m. – 4 p.m.
Wednesday: 10 a.m. – 8 p.m.
Thursday-Saturday: 10 a.m. – 4 p.m.

During Market Days (Labor Day through July 4) the museum is FREE on Saturdays from 8 a.m. to noon.

Admission:
Adults: $5.00
Children 6-12: $3.00
Children under 6: Free
Wednesdays after 5 p.m. Free

ARTIST- www.callforentry.org

PRESS RELEASE:
Dear CaFE™ Artist,

New opportunities are listed on CaFE™, and many application deadlines are approaching. See what new opportunities you can apply to below. You can login to CaFE here http://www.callforentry.org/ to apply to one of these opportunities.
.

Artist - Claudia Garza

"Mujeres" at McAllen Artwalk
February 5, 2011 - March 4, 2011
The Art Village / McAllen Stained Glass
800 North Main St., Suite 400
McAllen, TX

Artist Claudia Garza draws inspiration from nature, travel and people. She has a BA from St. Edward's University and a MA from the University of Texas at Brownsville.

This collection, entitled "Mujeres," is an homage to the different women that have shaped Garza's life. Some are based on real-life characters, such as her regal great-grandmother, "Dona Adelita," who wears fine jewelry and a couture gown and others are simply a representation of the indigenous women of her native Mexico, as is "Nina con Sandia". Although seemingly juxtaposed, both women play an important role in the fabric of Mexico's culture and both paintings have a stylized, abstracted figure, reminiscent of Colombian artist, Fernando Botero.

CURRENT EXHIBITS:
Member's Exhibit
Brownsville Museum of Fine Arts
Brownsville, TX
December 11, 2010 - January 28, 2011

Viva Guadalupe!
Old City Cemetery Center
Brownsville, TX
December 10, 2010 - January 15, 2011

CONTACT INFO:
Claudia Garza - email:claugarza77@yahoo.com
claudia@babybluegallery.com
http://www.babybluegallery/

Art by Carlos G. Gomez

El Frijol by Carlos G. Gomez

AbsoluteArts.com:

Brief Biography

Born in Mexico D.F., Carlos G. Gómez found his first artistic expression in the “Tex – Mex” culture of the Rio Grande Valley in Brownsville where he was raised. “Brightly colored buildings and the surreal atmosphere of the Mexican border towns gave me the first appreciation of color, line, and the generalization that my chosen images would have to be bold and realistic," explains Carlos. He obtained his B.F.A. at Pan American University and attended Washington State University for his M.F.A. in painting and drawing. In the course of his studies he went, from an interest in Renaissance style art to social-abstract-surrealism and is currently exploring multi-technique painting.
He has received positive critical reviews from the media where he has presented
exhibitions. Most recently, he was included in Arizona State University Hispanic
Research Center publications; Contemporary Chicana and Chicano Art Work: Artist,
Works, and Education and CHICANO ART FOR OUR MILLENIUM, and a textbook:
K-8 Spotlight on Art, published by Pearson Scott Foreman.
Notable exhibitions include: The 24th exhibition of Painting and Sculpture held at Barnegat Light, New Jersey, which included monumental artist like: Ben Shahn, Leonardo Nierman, Betty Wesson, Samuel Rattner, and others. Other note worthy exhibitions he has participated in, include the 70th American Annual at Newport in Rhode Island, the Second National Jury Exhibition in Washington DC, The Latin Spirit of the 80's in Houston, the Art in Nature at the Museum of Natural History in Austin, Cara on Cara: Texas Faces in San Antonio, Tres Proyectos Latinos, Austin Museum of Art at Laguna Gloria, and the Eight Parkside National Small Print Exhibition held in Kenosha, Wisconsin. He has also exhibited with such notable artists as: Jasper Johns, Luis Jimenez, Benito Huerta, Cesar Martinez, Sam Coronado, John Hernandez, Leticia Huerta, Jesse Amado, Isben Espada, Pedro Rodriquez, and many others.
Currently, he is a Professor of Fine Arts at the University of Texas at Brownsville, where he teaches a wide range of classes in painting and drawing. He has also served as a volunteer wildlife illustrator for the Laguna Atascosa National Wildlife Refuge and the Gorgas Science Foundation.
Other exhibitions of merit were at Texas A&M Kingsville, where he exhibited 20 paintings in a One Man Show, the University of Houston Down Town campus O'Kane Gallery in the national group exhibition titled "El Quinto Sol: Chicano (a) Perspectives" sponsored by the Museo Guadalupe Aztlan, a three person show at the Guadalupe Cultural Arts Center curated by Kathy Vargas in San Antonio, followed by a group exhibition in Fort Worth, and several exhibitions in the Rio Grande Valley many of which were one man shows. Among them were “Provenance” at the Rio Grande Valley Museum in Harlingen Texas, “Pseudonym” at Richardson Art Gallery, “Serendipity” at STCC, and three group shows in Wichita Kansas, Boise Idaho, and Norm Okalahoma, among others. His latest and note worthy was a two-man show with renowned Chicano artist Cesar A. Martinez; “Dos Caras Del Sur de Tejas” at the Brownsville Historic Museum. Other one-man shows are “Presence” at La Pena Gallery in Austin, “The Human Condition” in Brownsville, “Orale” in Mexico, “Unplugged: Gomez on Paper”, with several on going group shows and group traveling shows around the US.
One of particular importance is the upcoming exhibit “Chicana/o Art for our Millennium,” a partnership between the Mesa Southwest Museum in Phoenix and the Hispanic Research Center which is based on the two volume book “Contemporary Chicana/o Art: Artists, Works, Culture and Education”. . In conjunction with the exhibit, Bilingual Review Press will produce an oversized catalog and resource guide with all of the 95 pieces featured in the exhibit complete with artist’s bios.
Aside from exhibiting his work, Carlos also is a very active curator and has curated more than one hundred shows. He is latest a project “Four from Brownsville”, an exhibition that documents a regional influences in extreme South Texas—mainly Brownsville. The exhibition was held the spring of 2006 at the Kellogg Gallery at Cal Poly Tech in Pomona, California.

VISIT: www.absolutearts.com/portfolios/c/carlosggomez

Brownsville Museum of Fine Arts : Director ? Curator ?

The 2010 year has ended and the Brownsville Museum of Fine Art has yet to name the new "Executive Director" replacement for the late Barry T. Horn and replacement for former "Curator" Jennifer Cahn Ph.D . Currently still listed under the BMFA website is: Linda Marin as Interim Director and Laura Ochoa as Assistant Curator.

Board of Directors
Officers
Dr. Diamond Freeberg
President

Bertha Garza
Vice President

Lloyd Molina
Treasurer

Nellie Garcia
Recording Secretary

Eddie Knebel
Immediate Past President


Board Members
Cecilia Barnard
Marsha Betancourt
Sylvia Berry
Dr. Uvaldo Cantu
Paquita Chavez
Mark Clark
Morris Edelstein
Richard Garza
Peggy Klinger
Beatrice Lopez
Dr. Elena Marin
Betsy Price
Gerda Marie Settle
Rafael Vela
Charles Willette, Jr.


Advisory Board
Susana Reynoso
Mary Yturria
George Farish
Graciela Marks
Hans Van Doesburg

Al Garza - A Contemporary Artist

ART BY DEFINITION

There is certainly art everywhere, being produce at all levels, all over the United States. If you divide the US by regions where art is being produce, you can determine certain influences and styles, whether it is the landscape, the culture, the history, the people, even the climate that inspires the art. Its interesting to see how these factors influences or effects the art of each artist.
In some perspective I think local art, in interpretation may be misunderstood by some degree, perhaps with the ideology of Chicano Art. Visually they may carry the same tone but, in the overall aspect, local art has been more influenced by the region in specific border issues, and the merge of two cultures, and not necessarily by the struggles in the Chicano movements that drove the influences in Chicano Art throughout America.
Perhaps it must be classified for what it is "Border Art" making those who practice it "Border Artists". gt

Oh Yeah... Acrylic Painting

Acrylics on canvas, in the works... 4x5ft aprx. , in the oven.. thought I share, the work in progress...gt

On the news : Artist - Rigoberto Gonzalez

ARTIST: RIGOBERTO GONZALEZ

Rigoberto Gonzalez was recently selected to participate in the Texas Biennial for 2011 with the attached painting titled "Se Los Cargo La Chingada". You can click on the link and see the rest of the artists selected. Also below is a link to a story about border violance and art that came out in the San Antonio Express News a few weeks ago.


http://texasbiennial.org/2011_artists.html

http://www.sacultura.com/border_war_a_muse_for_south_texas_art_110529769.html

EVERY SATURDAY - ARTS AND CRAFT MARKET

Arts and Crafts Market Saturdays
Every Saturday

The Brownsville Museuem of Fine Art has partnered with the Brownsville Farmers Market to host Arts and Crafts Market Saturdays. It's the perfect place to shop for holiday goods. Every Saturday vendors can exhibit their crafts and art for free. Table rentals if needed can be rented at the museum for $10. Market hours are 9 AM - Noon. Admission to the museum is free during market hours.

Contact
Brownsville Museum of Fine Art
660 E. Ringgold Street
Brownsville, Texas 78520

Tel: 956-542-0941
Fax: 956-542-6931

Information Desk - 956-542-0941 Ext # 300

BARRIO ANTIGUO STUDIO - ART SALE

ART SALE !!!!!
THIS SATURDAY NOV. 27 !!!!!!!
This will be the artists selling work:

Marivel Graham
Hugo Sanchez
Felix Trejo
Celeste de Luna
Mauricio Saenz
Claudia Garza
Joe Solis
Ted Estrada

It will take place at:

Barrio Antiguo Studio
947 E. Monroe & 15th st.
BROWNSVILLE, TEXAS

Saturday Nov. 27, from 12 - 6 pm.

Thanks!!!!

CLONE ZONE

CANDE

opening: November 20, 2011
closing: December 10, 2011
reception: November 20, 2011, 5:00pm
artist: cande aguilar
title: Clone Zone
venue: Galeria 409, 409 E 13th St., Brownsville TX, www.galeria409.com/

the exhibition (Clone Zone) consists of cande aguilar's most recent multimedia abstract paintings. Whether it is art history or pop tv, the artist abstracts elements and conceives multimedia abstract images, using oil, acrylic, permanent marker, enamel marker, oil paint stick, oil pastels, spray paint, fabric paint, and various stains and inks.

Highly recommended...ART EXHIBIT OPENS NOV. 18TH - 6:30PM

The Definition by Gabriel Trevino

"When I think of art, I think of all things, life , death, a thought, society, a feeling, the sky , the moon, everything without limmit or care for reason. The art that I produce carries the same way of thinking, I don't intend my work to be a single style or about a certain subject nor is it directed to a certain type of viewer. Living on the border and living inbetween two cultures, it is easy to be influence, but it is not the purpose of my art to reflect on the diversity. " GT

CALL FOR ARTISTS - EVENT DECEMBER 5th...

If you are interested in participating in our free event on the 5th of December at the Brownsville Sports Park , please call me with any questions. (See Attachment) The event will host an all day concert featuring recording artists like Ramon Ayala, Grupo Mazz, Signo, Control and many more. We will also have a free car show directed by the UTPA Automotive department which are reporting more than 100 cars, a free kiddieland with rides for the kids and a Mercado. This is where I would love to feature and highlight the assets that only Brownsville (you) have along with the other artisans and craftsmen from all over Mexico . Again the event is FREE to the public and will advertised on Telemundo, Digital, La Ley and the Bargain Book…, as well as the already sold advertisers places of business.

Sponsors include: Brownsville Day & Night Clinic, Ford, Bud Lite, Taco Palenque, O’Reilly’s, Brownsville Recycling Center , Brownsville Injury Center , Hermes Music and the Bargain Book.
Again if you should have any questions, please do let me know. Look forward to hearing from all of you. Thanks



Linda Hinojosa

KTLM-TV Telemundo 40

(956) 686-0040 p

(956) 686-2728 f

JOSE MANUEL SALAS - BREAKING THROUGH CULTURE

CABALLO CAFE - TECNICA MIXTA
BAÑISTA - CARBON Y PASTEL

CABALLO AZUL - TINTA Y PASTEL


PIÑA Y FRESAS - TECNICA MIXTA

ARTISTA - INSTRUCTOR
JOSE MANUEL SALAS
ART CLASSES - ALL AGES
CONTACT:956-372-4589
BROWNSVILLE, TEXAS

Franchute - Brownsville Museum of Fine Arts

Exclusive TAOB Artist Interview with Adan Hernandez

CHICANO ARTIST: ADAN HERNANDEZ
EMAIL: adanarte@sbcglobal.net

Adan created all the original artwork for the character Cruz in the barrio classic: Blood in Blood Out. This feature film has become a cult classic worldwide, most notably, to Latinos here in America and especially in the barrios. The reason for the film’s incredible success was the artwork created by Adan. Latinos saw art that reflected their reality for the first time in a feature film or any film for that matter.

The Art of Brownsville Blog Interview

by: Gabriel Trevino

TAOB: Adan, first of all tell us about your childhood, what do you most remember about being a kid and what was it like growing up?
Adan:I grew up in Robstown Texas, close to Corpus in the fifties. We used to call my town- ''Robestan''. We were cotton pickers and migrant workers who followed the crops all the way up to Colorado. In Robestan, both my grandfathers were ''trokeros'', men with their own big canvas covered trokas that took the gente to the fields or carried them to other towns for work in the fields. It was a simple and brutal life, but we all helped each other out and had many laughs in spite of it all.

TAOB: How did you get interested in producing art? What can you tell us about your first paintings (what type of imagery and or style ). What or whom was the firsts inspirations ?
Adan:I first started drawing at an early age, 7 or 8 yrs. old. My first inspiration were the Mayan and Aztec calendars my parents had in our home. Later, I would draw Batman or Superman on the notebooks for the chavalos in elementary school where I went. I went to San Antonio College on a scholarship when I was 18, but didn't learn anything because all they had us doing was drawing the model for months on end. I didn't want to be an artist if all I could paint were images glorifying European thought or cowboy art, so I dropped out and worked construction or painted houses. It wasn't till I was 30 yrs. old that I realized I could do Chicano art and make a living at it.

TAOB: Can you tell us a little about how you got chosen to produce the artwork for the movie "Blood in Blood Out" , perhaps tell us what you were doing before and any stories of how the deal came about ?
Adan:Before my art was discovered for Blood In Blood Out, I was at one of the lowest points of my life. Other older Chicano artists that I looked up to, didn't want me showing with them and shunned me completely. That Friday, the gallery where I was exhibiting, told me I had been cut from the artshow with my peers because I didn't qualify to show with them. That Sunday, I got a call from the gallery that there was a man there from Hollywood who wanted to include my arte in this feature film about Chicanos in LA. I was so brainwashed from all the bullshit handed to me lately that I hung up on them. The phone rang again and it was Bruno Rubeo, Production Designer for the film and he told me that this was very important and that the director of the film, Taylor Hackford, was flying in the next day to talk to me. I told Bruno that I wasn't gonna set foot in that gallery unless it was to pick up my artwork.
I had 20 or more paintings in there and while they were moving artwork around for the artshow I wasn't going to be in, they placed two of my pieces in the gallery's downtown window where Bruno saw them. Bruno told me to meet him in a hotel across the street, He said that it was very important and to come now. We met and the next day the director flew in and told me the whole story of Blood In Blood Out. I was excited but told him I didn't do any commercial work, only my vision. He said I didn't have to even change my style and that I would have a say so in every piece I did. I had to create over thirty pieces of artwork.

The gallery didn't have a contract with me and now they were shitting in their pants. The director told me he had heard what they had done to me and told me I didn't need them and they could go to hell. But I reminded him that my work had been discovered at the gallery and that it wouldn't be right to exclude them from this lucrative deal. I signed a very simple contract with them.
Soon, my artwork that had been kicked around from one prospective buyer to another in San Anto, was selling like crazy in LA to Hollywood insiders. Paintings which were priced at $4500. were now selling for $25,000, thanx to the gallery. When ten years of my work had been sold in LA in a matter of months, the gallery told me that my peers, who had shunned me, wanted to know if I could take their portfolios to LA to see if someone would buy something. I did, but everyone I showed the portfolios to, told me that they had heard how they had treated me and that they could go to hell.

TAOB: You have had tremendous success since the film " Blood in Blood Out", you have done shows in different countries, your work is collected by many famouse people and museums, you have had your first novel published, perhaps everything an artist can hope for as a Chicano Artist, do you still or have ever felt there was limitations for being Chicano Artist ?
Adan: There is tremendous racism against Chicano art with museums across the board, though the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York acquired two of my pieces for their Permanent Collection. Blue Chip galleries are also in cahoots with this mainstream idealogy as well as Universities which don't recognize Chicano art in scholarly terms. After the film wrapped, I was invited by the MET in New York and the Smithsonian in Washington, to have an exhibit and talk to college professors about Chicano art. When I asked the how many other Chicno/a artists were in their collection, they told me I was the only at the MET. When you collect our arte with the same zeal as you collect white art, I'll be more than happy to have an exhibit, I told them. I never heard back from them again. Artist Jesse Trevino went in my place because the museums were getting hassled by Latino organizations for totally overlooking our contributions to art history. The Smithsonian wouldn't even buy one of his pieces. Businessmen here in San Anto had to put money together to donate one of his paintings to the museum.

TAOB: Tell us about your painting habbits, do you produce work everyday, how do you go about producing a painting, do you spend alot of time in the studio ?
Adan: I practically live in my studio which is located in my backyard. When I'm not producing art, I'm always thinking about it. This is all I do. I don;t have a 8 to 5, but somehow I survive and even thrive because collectors around the world, find me and buy my work.

TAOB: Tell us about being part of Cheech Marin - Collection and "Chicano Vision" , which also include younger artists, Alex Rubio, and Vincent Valdez both also of San Antonio, are you in contact with them and is there ideas of producing more future shows?
Adan:Cheech is a big collector of my work and he did everything he could to get our art into museums and their permanent collections and into blue chip galleries, but it was a complete failure. I know Rubio and Vincent and we have remained friends. Currently, there are no plans for future shows.

TAOB: Other than art what else is important to you?
Adan: That my RAZA realize that we are talented in any field and no matter how the mainstream tries to ignore us or belittle our accomplishments, we have the survival skills to overcome any adversity. Our elders did it with far less and they went through hell to get us where we are today. We should not react by getting into gangs or going to jail, but rise above our meager beginnings.

TAOB:Do you think the idea, and or style of Chicano Art differs by region in Texas, California, Chicago and New York? Has the idea of producing Chicano Art changed throughout time and what do you think has caused it ?
Adan: Todos semos del mismo rancho'', as my abuelito used to say. No matter where we end up, this pride and resistance against oppression runs deep because we get treated the same. Chicano art started with the civil rights movement of the sixties as political art, but has matured into high art with the political aspect still strong as far as my art is concerned.

There are many Hispanic artists today who have been brainwashed by the educational system into believing that they can be ''so much more'' than a Chicano artist. But, as Cheech once told an auditorium in the San Diego Museum filled with stiff suits from the artworld, ''Chicano art stands for something and it is about deep meaning and oppression. It is a symbol of survival and it nurtures the soul. These artists were not even supposed to be artists because of you and instead were meant to be your slaves! The art in your collections now, stands for nothing and it is about nothing!'' You could hear the jaws drop.

TAOB: Tell us what advise do you have for young artists, can you give advise perhaps what paints, brands, you use, do your prefer oils to acrylics?
Adan: I started out with pencil drawings because I was afraid of color. I am self taught, really, so I would spend hours at the library studying the colors used by the masters, especially the Impressonists. I started with acrylic paints but now I work with oils and pastels. with oils, I use Windsor and Newton because they are the best quality. With pastels, I use the most expensive brands.

TAOB: Indulge us for a second: Have you ever been to Brownsville, Texas and or anywhere to the Rio Grande Valley for an Art Show ? Or perhaps heard of a any artists and or heard of any notable exhibit, venue in the growing art community here in the south Texas ?
Adan: Sadly, I haven't but have known many gente from there. Some scholar from there was trying to get me some money to go down there and do a slide show and lecture for his college, but it never happened. I know Grace Vega and I lectured at her school last November, thanx to her efforts to get me there.

TAOB: Describe one of your most recent paintings , tell us about the title, style and imagery?
Adan: I just did a 57''x85'' oil painting for a good friend from LA. the piece is titled: ''Diez Y Ocho ''Ilegales'' Pressure Cook in a Boxcar #2''. I'll send you a picture with this E-mail. This actually happened in 1987 in the middle of summer in Arizona. They were trapped in a boxcar and the heat was so great that their stomachs exploded. The newspaper article was aboutfive lines long and i didn't find out till ten years later that there were two women in the boxcar with them. Only a sixteen year old boy survived because he found a spike and scratched a small sliver of a hole only big enough to stick his nose through and breathe air. These are the kinds of things in our culture that inspire me. I didn't use any models for this piece or most of my pieces, but make them up in my head.

TAOB: Adan many thanks for your time and response to this interview...last question, what advise do you give artists about pricing there artwork? Is producing art as important selling art?
Adan: If being an artist is all you do, you have to sell artwork to keep going. Most of us don't have rich grandmothers or aunts to keep us going. but, like anything you dedicate yourself to, you have to live your dream everyday and everyday you have to do something about it. As far as pricing, that all depends on the demand for your work and your status as an artist. But, you must put a price on yourself on your own or others will do it for you and most of the time, it will be a disappointment. Also, give thanx everyday no matter how bad things may be and think of yourself as the luckiest person in the world and life will give you many more things to be grateful for. Try to love everybody, even your enemies and you will receive love back from life and nature.
I would like to plug my graphic novel: ''Los Vrysoso ( the Radiant Ones) -A Tale From the Varrio'' published in 2006. www.starquestbooks.com. I recommend all my Raza read it so they will be proud of who they are and will give them the power to excell in life. thank you, for letting me share with my Raza my love and commitment to them. Adan

Pictures of the Brownsville Latin Jazz Festival

Adan Hernandez - Chicano Artist

Adan Hernandez Artist/Author Brief Bio/’08

Adan Hernandez grew up on the Westside of San Antonio, TX. He has been a serious artist for thirty years. His work is included in the permanent collection of the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York City and has been exhibited in museums and galleries throughout the U.S. , Europe and Mexico . His collectors include many Hollywood insiders including Taylor Hackford (‘’Ray’’., ‘’Proof of Life’’), actor, comedian Cheech Marin, Hellen Mirren, Sean Ferrer, CEO Ruby Payne, CEO Intravision, Walter Ulloua, Stratton Leopold, Film Producer (‘’Mission Impossible 3’’), among others. His work is shown regularly in Los Angeles .

Adan created all the original artwork for the character Cruz in the barrio classic: Bound By Honor. This feature film has become a cult classic worldwide, most notably, to Latinos here in America and especially in the barrios. The reason for the film’s incredible success was the artwork created by Adan. Latinos saw art that reflected their reality for the first time in a feature film or any film for that matter.

His work has recently been included in Cheech Marin’s blockbuster traveling exhibition ‘’Chicano Visions: American Painters On the Verge’’, which has broken attendance records in museums across America and will travel to Mexico , Europe and Tokyo in the next few years. At the Smithsonian, eight hundred thousand people saw the show. This show is currently in exhibit at the LA County Museum; summer 2008.

In 2006, Adan had his first novel published. ‘’Los Vryosos’’ (‘’Los Vrillosos’’) (‘’The Radiant Ones’’) – A Tale From the Varrio. This pictorial novel is about barrio life set on the Westside of San Antonio, TX. His novel, which Adan worked on for thirteen years, contains over forty original works of art and a screensaver CD with all the images, most in color. www.starquestbooks.com.

Adan is currently available for slide show and lecture appearances. Since art classes have been severely slashed recently, Adan’s visits have sparked student’s imagination, especially in the barrios, where low self esteem is the main cause of many drop outs.

Adan has been presenting at high schools and colleges for years. He has visited Memorial High School , Edgewood Fine Arts Academy, Kennedy High School , Saint Mary’s University, UTSA campus, The University of Houston, Cuachella High School in California where he and actor Jesse Borrego lectured three thousand students in two days.

Most recently, Adan did a slide show and lecture for the Bilingual Teacher’s Association’s annual conference. To schedule an appearance, please contact Adan @ 210-473-0934.

BROWNSVILLE LATIN JAZZ FESTIVAL SCHEDULE & BROWNSVILLE LIVING ART EXHIBIT

THE 14TH ANNUAL BROWNSVILLE LATIN JAZZ FESTIVAL

WHO: The Brownsville Society for the Performing Arts (BSPA)

WHEN: Thursday October 7 through Sunday October 10, 2010

WHERE: Various Locations in Brownsville, Texas



The Brownsville Society for the Performing Arts (BSPA) invites you to its Annual Brownsville Latin Jazz Festival, to take place this coming October 7, 8, 9 and 10. Inaugurated by the late great Tito Puente in 1997, it's become the pride of Brownsville and one of the most anticipated events in the Rio Grande Valley’s cultural calendar. The Brownsville Latin Jazz Festival has hosted countless Latin Jazz artists of the highest caliber, advanced multi-cultural diversity, generated tourism, improved our quality of life and entertained thousands for fourteen years! It is widely recog­nized as the premier Latin Jazz Festival in all South Texas and one of the best in the USA! Recognizing this achievement, the National Endowment for the Arts (NEA) has awarded the Festival a generous grant for the third year in a row and the Texas Commission on the Arts (TCA) has likewise awarded BSPA with a prestigious organizational grant, citing the Festival as “an admirable event”. Both are the largest grants ever awarded by NEA and TCA to any performing arts presenter in the RGV!



The four-day weekend will feature top of the line artists, not only performing but also sharing their talent and experience with us locals, courtesy of the Festival! FREE AMATEUR SALSA CLASSES by Sabor Vallero are taking place NOW in selected clubs throughout the RGV; some of the top dancers in the world will give FREE MASTER SALSA CLASSES to a limited amount of dancers during Festival weekend; a FREE IMPROVISATION CLINIC by visiting flute and sax master Pete Whitman, pianist Laura Caviani, drummer Wayne Salzmann, and local bassist Matt Johnson will take place on Friday, October 8; and visiting pro vocalist Lucia Newell will also offer a FREE BRAZILIAN VOCALS CLINIC. Please contact Rosie Coronado at 956-831-9590 for times and locations. The Festival program is as follows:



THURSDAY OCTOBER 7 / KICK-OFF JAZZ JAM AT BARCELONA NIGHTS!

The Festival’s opening night will kick-off Brownsville’s newly created Historic Downtown Entertainment District on Adams Street between 12th and 13th Streets with a FREE STREET PARTY & CONCERT featuring the award-winning UTB/TSC One O’clock Jazz Band and the veteran all-star lineup of the Charles Hearn Sextet. Between sets, BSPA will inaugurate its brand-new 16’x9’ giant outdoor movie screen with HBO’s El Espiritu de la Salsa courtesy of CineSol Film Festival. Enjoy great pizza and wings by Barcelona Nights and cool drinks by Joe Kenney’s Cobblehead’s Bar & Grill. Be there by 7:30 PM and stay ‘til after midnight. Help us launch the hottest entertainment district in South Texas!



FRIDAY OCTOBER 8 / BRAZILIAN JAZZ JAM AT SHENANIGANS!

It’s another FREE OUTDOOR CONCERT featuring a Musical Tribute to Brazilian Music with Twin-Cities based pro vocalist Lucia Newell, pianist Laura Caviani and flute and sax master Pete Whitman, Austin celebrities Liz Morphis on vocals and Wayne Salzmann on drums, all hosted by BSPA producer and jazz guitar virtuoso Clay Moore & His Frontera Jazz Quartet. The audience will be treated to an amazing guitar-flute session by Dr. Michael Quantz, BSPA’s Vice-President martial-arts sensei and classical guitar guru, accompanied by flute professor Dr. Cristina Balliatori. Music outdoors starts at 7:30 PM and ends midnight… but stay for the indoor jam session until 2:00 am! Festival partner Shenanigans Irish Pub & Grill is located at 2451 Pablo Kisel Blvd. in north Brownsville, right in front of Best Buy.



SATURDAY OCTOBER 9 / NIGHT AT THE COPA WITH PONCHO SANCHEZ!

It’s the Festival’s headline event in an ambiance reminiscent of a classic Latin dance club with legendary congüero and Grammy Award Winner PONCHO SANCHEZ from Los Angeles and an opening set by the RGV’s top Salsa band Grupo Aché. Come dance and enjoy a spectacular Salsa show by the world’s top dancers: Ritmo y Sabor from Oaxaca… current ESPN Salsa Team World Champions! Delicious festival food and drinks by Joe Kenney’s Cobblehead’s Bar & Grill. Doors will open at 7:00pm at the Jacob Brown Auditorium, 600 International Blvd.. General admission is $30 per person and Reserved VIP Tables for six are only $300.



SUNDAY OCTOBER 10 / DEL CASTILLO AT THE CAPITOL THEATRE!

It’s everyone’s favorite FREE OUTDOOR CONCERT! Excellent music, dance, art, food and wholesome family entertainment from 2:00 to 10:00 pm in front of the Capitol Theatre on the corner of 11th and E. Levee Streets in Historic Downtown Brownsville, featuring the Charles Hearn Sextet, Guajiro 14, the Austin Samba School (Acadêmicos da Ópera) and none other than DEL CASTILLO… the world-touring, award-winning Brownsville super band! Hard-core Cowboys football fans can keep an eye on the game inside the Capitol Theatre in our giant 16’x9’ screen. Wrapping up will be Grupo Aché so dance the night away! Bring grandma, grandpa & the kids for quality entertainment they won’t forget!



Beautiful tropical art from Imágenes Studio and Friends will be on display at every event and available for purchase! ARTWORK BY: TONI HUDSON, ANTONIO ANTINORI, GABRIEL TREVINO



Buy tickets for Saturday’s Poncho Sanchez Concert at the door or, better yet, buy them online with PayPal or your credit card at www.brolatinjazz.org. Call BSPA at 956-831-9590 directly, or email us at info@brosociety.org to buy or reserve VIP tables for six.



Printer friendly attachments are included, please print and distribute. SEE YOU AT THE FESTIVAL!


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Brownsville Living - Art Celebration: Art Exhibit

VIP RECEPTION: OCTOBER 7th - (5pm to 7pm)

Art by : Jennifer Rose Seagrest, Gabriel Trevino, Marilyn Brown , Carole Spencer and
Oscar Alvarez


If you have any other questions I can be reached at (956) 545-9856 or via email at brownsville.living@gmail.com Thanks!

Sincerely,

Salinas, Claudia
Director of Publicity & Events
Browsville Living. Be part of it.
(956) 545-9856 Cell


BrownsvilleLiving.org
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Brownsville Museum of Fine Arts - Call for Artists

CALLING ARTS, CRAFTS & ARTISAN VENDORS

The Brownsville Museum of Fine Art is partnering with the Brownsville Farmer's Market to combine our community efforts to support local artisan crafts and farmer's produce.

Painters, artisans, jewelry-makers, craftsman & more, let us know if you'd like to show and sell your work on the Brownsville Museum of Fine Art grounds.


Kicks off SATURDAY OCTOBER 2
9am - Noon
660 E. Ringold St. (Next-door to the Gladys Porter Zoo)
Set up time is 8 am


You can set-up your area for free at the BMFA grounds or you can rent tables from us at $10 per table.

We are welcoming all artisans, but we especially want to feature artisans selling items that incorporate recycled materials or crafts made by hand.

Please call the BMFA to reserve your space 542-0941.



Laura Ochoa

Curatorial Assistant
Brownsville Museum of Fine Art
660 E. Ringgold St.
Brownsville , TX 78520
Phone: (956) 542-0941
Fax: (956) 542-6931

PORT ISABEL CALL FOR ARTISTS

IMMEDIATE RELEASE


CALL TO ARTISTS
PORT ISABEL ART WALK

The Merchant’s Committee of Port Isabel is pleased to announce the 6th annual “Port Isabel Art Walk” to be held on Saturday, November 6th, 2010 at the historic Lighthouse Square. We are now accepting reservations from artists wishing to participate. The Art Walk will feature many artists working in oil, watercolor, mixed media, photography, glass sculpting, jewelry design, pottery and more.

All works exhibited must be the work of the participating artist. No rent or commission will be charged, however, each artist must supply their own table, chairs, tent and umbrellas for shade (if desired) and lighting. Exhibitors must be set up by 2:45 pm and stay until at least 7:00pm. Please register early. For more information or to register please contact Kitty Ayers at the Purple Parrot Art Gallery (956) 943-2004, or by e-mail: drawon@sbcglobal.net . Location assignments will be made when registrations have been completed, however we will try to accommodate artists requesting particular spaces (first come, first served). Please register by October 25th.

You don’t want to miss this year’s event. Music and refreshment will be provided at various locations.

ART CLASSES BY JOSE MANUEL SALAS

ART CLASSES

JOSE MANUEL SALAS
ACADEMIA DE SAN CARLOS/ UNAM

DRAWING
WATERCOLOR
ACRYLIC
PASTEL
OIL

ART CLASSES - BY JOSE MANUEL SALAS
FRIDAY - 5:30PM TO8:00PM
SATURDAY - 10:30AM TO 1PM

SALON DE CONSEJERIA
4150 COFFEE PORT
BROWNSVILLE, 78521
CONTACT:956-372 -4589 / 956 -08-8770

http://www.jsalasart.com/

Rigoberto Gonzalez - TAOB Artist Interview

The Art of Brownsville Interview with local artist Rigoberto Gonzalez
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

TAOB: First of all many thanks for taking time to do this interview, tell us a little about your childhood, where were you born and what do you most remember about being a kid ?
RIGOBERTO: Thanks for the kind words and for allowing me to share my work through your blog. I was born in Reynosa Tamaulipas . What I most remember from my childhood would be my family life with my four older sisters and brother. One of my fondest memories would be of watching my mother draw to keep me entertained as a child and also seeing my older brother draw and been very impressed by him. I would say that is what initially motivated me to be an artist.


TAOB: When did you first get interested in art, painting, who , where did your first inspirations come from ?
RIGOBERTO: first inspiration, that takes me back. Seeing something so beautiful that motivated me to try and replicate its beauty. I have to say that the first fresh green sprouts of either sorgum orsorghumthat my father used to grow in his ranch/ farm. I remember as a five year old picking up colored pencils and making a drawing of the field with green leafs sprouting from the dark brown dirt. Natures first green is gold, so writes Robert Frost.
Later on in life what motivated to start painting was a book titled Living with Art by Rita Glibert which my brother was using when he was taking Art Appreciation at UTPA. It is a great book contained a lot of great information regarding artist biographies, art materials, and art theories.


TAOB: Tell us about your education back ground, where did you go to school and were there any strugles to achive your goals and perhaps what helped you over come them ?
RIGOBERTO: I have a Bachelors in Art from UTPA in Edinburgh and a Masters in Painting From the New York Academy of Art. But looking back at my educational career I feel I am largely self taught. Making art is always a struggle, from money, discrimination, jealousy from peers, narrow minded professors but you have to be self motivated and have firm goals and you can't let anything stand in your way.


TAOB: What local shows have you done in the valley, and what future plans do you have to exhibit locally ?
RIGOBERTO: The most notable shows I have had in the valley would be solo shows in 2005 at University of Texas at Brownsville, and La Casa de La Cultura in Reynosa, 2006 At The Art House in Mcallen, and 2007 At the Harlingen Heritage Museum. Currently I am in the process of negotiating an exhibit in a local museum in Brownsville for 2011-12. I am also have a show for 2011 at the Rubin center at UTEP in El Paso and another show in San Francisco at a non for profit art space.


TAOB: As an artist -painter what do you hope to achieve, what importance do you hope people walk away with , when they see your work?
RIGOBERTO: I hope to be able to create profound images. Images that moves the viewer intellectually, emotionally and makes them more aware of the world around them.


TAOB: Besides producing art, what else is important in your life ?
RIGOBERTO: Right now the big project between my wife and I is taking care of our two week old baby.


TAOB: What is a process that you have when producing art, any rituals, methods that you may have to get things done as an advise to other artist who are just starting out ?
RIGOBERTO: I do a lot of preparation work, before I start a painting. Numerous sketches, perspective drawings of the setting for a scene, before I settle on a composition. Although I prefer to work from life this is not always possible. For many of the images in my work I work with groups of models that act out the scenes I want to depict. Once I decided on a composition I transfer the drawing to my canvas using a grid method and paint the entire scene in monochrome and add color at the final stage. I also work with a palette of carefully gradated colors that I premix before I start painting. So my advice to young artist is don't listen to people who emphasise spontaneity, freedom and expressiveness when painting. That type of advice is nothing but worthless out dated modernist, post modernist, - post deconstructivist art school instruction cliche.

TAOB: Is there any local artist here in the valley whose work you follow, any local inspiration or perhaps tell us what artist work inspires you ?

RIGOBERTO: There are several artist who I wish I could have kept in touch with one of them is Noel Palmenez we were both students at UTPA I always thought his work was ambitious but I have not seen his work in years. I would imagine his work has improved. One artist whose advice I occasionally seek out is Phillip Field who was my main instructor at UTPA. Another interesting artist and personality I respect is Carlos Gomez. Vincent Desiderio is an artist who I studied under in New York and I find his work very intriguing. I think his work is incredibly ambitious. But my true inspiration is Caravaggio, Jose de Ribera, Velasquez and Peter Paul Rubens. Another source of inspiration is the Mexican magazine Alarma, and the conversations I have had with Mexican Bartenders, waiters and cabdrivers from Matamoros up to Ciudad Juarez.


TAOB: Rigoberto Gonzalez , many thanks for your time and response to this interview, we hope to hear more from you soon., tell us last, how did you here about this blog, The Art of Brownsville ?
RIGOBERTO: Google told me all about you. Many thanks to you too.
Here are some links to some news coverage I have been getting for my artwork. I just spent two years in an artist residency in New Mexico and currently living in Harlingen. I believe they are interesting and worth your time.


http://www.khou.com/community/blogs/angela-kocherga/Border-violence-inspires-artist-to-chronicle-the-impact-on-canvas-100939109.html

below is a news report from an El Paso newsprogram they did a story on my exhibit in Las Cruces. forward the video to minute 8:10. that is when my story starts.

http://www.kvia.com/video/24460825/index.html

Rigoberto Gonzalez Alonso
email: ribera73@yahoo.com

GRACE BARRAZA-VEGA at GALLERY 218 - HARLINGEN, TEXAS

Gallery 218
218 W. Jackson Street
Harlingen, Texas 78550
Contact:
Anna Marie Varela
(956)262-1762




Press Release

Sangre y Herencia

Grace Barraza-Vega has been known for organizing art related events in Corpus Christi and in the Valley. Her most recent exhibitions were at the TMC and De la Paloma gallery in Corpus Christi and Chimaya gallery in California. She also exhibited in Saudi Arabia and England. Thematically her works have direction. It is important for her ideas to sprout relevance in her life. Her works carry a notion of who she is as an artist. Ever since her days in Junior High, her interest has grown towards the arts. Where it all began was when she was involved with the higher education program called the Mother and Daughter Program that was sponsored by NASA at the University of Brownville that set an action towards this goal. Her imageries are filled with indigenous genre of people of everyday life. She said that “I am a product of Mestizo Culture.” Not just culture in its influences but other artist has left a mark in Grace’s works as well. Vincent Van Gogh’s expressive color power and Henri Matisse abstracting the form with color both have inspired many artists and Grace is no exception. She said “I look at various masters that I feel had similar emotions and dreams.” Perhaps Frida Kahlo, Diego Rivera, and David Siqueiros had inspired thematically Grace’s works because she is compelled to demonstrate her idea about life through painting. She has exhibited in numerous places such as California, Texas, and New Mexico. Graces Barraza-Vega’s works will be displayed at Gallery 218, “Going Beyond the Visual Spectrum on Saturday, September 18, 2010 from 7:00 PM until 11:00PM. Alan Duval’s band from Brownsville will be playing his classic rock. For more Information, contact Anna Marie Varela at (956) 457-9401 or Benjamin Varela (956) 457-4093. Our home phone number is (956) 262-1762. You can also look us up on Facebook under Anna Varela beyondgallery218 or email us at beyondgallery218@yahoo.com Gallery hours are Saturdays from 1:00PM to 5:00 PM.

With warm regards

Anna Marie & Benjamin Varela

Email us, if you are attending

CALL FOR ARTISTS - CONTACT: BROWNSVILLE LIVING

Brownsville Living

CALL FOR ARTISTS

OCTOBER 7, 2010-THURSDAY

We need to get artists and possibly some local acoustic musicians for the BL VIP event in the Sweney building Thursday, October 7. We are looking to showcase local artists in a great gallery type environment above E Adams the night of the opening for the 14th Annual Latin Jazz Festival.

Please call me as soon as you can so we can discuss. It will not cost the artists anything but time and they will get some great exposure and they can sell their work if they want.

Craig 832-4458

"AN ILLUSTRATED HISTORY"-HISTORIC BROWNSVILLE MUSEUM ASSOCIATION

The Art of Brownsville - Questions Chicano Art and Immortality

"Here we are - ese" -the borderland, the land of as they say "diverse culture"- dos culturas, "que se siguen desaparesiendo dentre una alotra", the land of the New Chicanismo pride - baught my tacos at the Stripes, the land of "quien trabaja como guey to barely pay the rent- y esos que viven chupando el sistema con las estampillas", the land of making money , dollares, y credit cards -forgot to go to church on Sunday", the land of compadrismo and dirty politics mordidas for those que alcancen, the land where we grew up is the land who made me who I am.

The idea was irritating, like a bad hangover. I sat at the end of my bed wondering about my youth. The picture faded into a nude expression in the haunting eyes of the young and innocent. As kids we played in the flooded streets after days of rain, without fear of drowning in the opened drains the neighborhood watchers kept so that the waters receipted. I had always wondered what if I had drowned in one of those opened drains and my life existed only as a memory some how gliding in the whistling wind, perhaps so careless of time.