Friday, April 28, 2006
Mosaic of El Valle: Expresiones del Pueblo
AUSTIN, Texas (April 25) – Mosaic of El Valle: Expresiones del Pueblo, a unique community residency program scheduled for May 1-6 in the town of Mercedes, explores the legends of South Texas’ Rio Grande region as represented though traditional storytelling, dance, visual art, and music.
Choreographer Jesse Murguia, visual artist Rosendo Sandoval and traditional musicians Rosa and Joe Pérez will participate in performances, workshops, informal lectures, pláticas and exhibits during this residency, co-produced by Texas Folklife Resources and Mercedes Independent School District as part of an outreach program that celebrates Mexican-American cultural traditions. All events are free and open to the public.
Through their performances and pláticas, residency artists and community members will examine Valley leyendas such as “La Llorona,” “La Bikina” and “La Lechuza.” Included in the program is “Las Llogas de Agua,” a song by Rosa Pérez that tells a story of illegal immigration and reveals how art can effectively reflect current issues. It also demonstrates the processes by which experiences ingrained in a community’s life become part of local lore. Each performance shows the power of collaborative creative projects in forging the Rio Grande Valley’s identity. Through their life stories and representations of local legends, these artists help community members consider the historical significance of South Texas lore and its relevance to their cultural identity. Events take place at several venues including schools, senior-citizen centers, performing arts centers, libraries and auditoriums
Choreographer Jesse Murguia, a Rio Grande Valley native, studied dance and choreography at the University of Texas-Pan American in Edinburg and trained under several internationally renowned dancers. An instructor in the Mercedes Independent School District Fine Arts Program, Murguia founded the Brazos Rio Grande School of Dance in 2003 to produce programs that capture the Valley’s history, folklore and stories. Through an understanding of dance not only as a part of life, but as a way of life, Murguia aims to create cultural self-awareness among his students and encourage them toward creative outlets for expressions of their heritage and identity.
Self-taught musicians Rosa and Joe Pérez bring familiar tunes to life for new generations of South Texans. Weaving original poetry and song with vintage música ranchera, the guitar-playing duo performs as Rumbo al’ Anacua, traveling on the Texas-Mexicano path of cultural memory – remembrances of their parents and grandparents, the history of their barrios and the experiences of their community. Theirs is a presentation of “Cultura con Canción.”
Painter Rosendo Sandoval’s emphasis on composition, color and contrast bring Valley legends to life on canvas. He captures through art the story of his childhood memories of Mexico and his experiences in Texas, where his family immigrated in 1970.
The community is encouraged to attend all residency activities, particularly evening performances and exhibits at 7 p.m. May 1 and 3 at the Mercedes Memorial Library; “Legend Tripping” at 6 p.m. May 5 at the Graham historical building; and the final event at 2 p.m. May 6 at the Graham Auditorium. For a schedule or more information, contact Jesse Murguia at (956) 279-8238 (j_murguia_fdc@yahoo.com) or Michelle Wibbelsman at (512) 371-9128 (mwibbelsman@yahoo.com). For information about Texas Folklife, call (512) 441-9255 or visit our Web site at www.texasfolklife.org.
The program is made possible in part through funding from the National Endowment for the Arts, Humanities Texas and Texas Folklife Resources. Texas Folklife’s residency programs are designed to educate the public about Texas folk traditions by highlighting extraordinary local talent in rural communities throughout the state. Texas Folklife is a non-profit cultural organization that serves Texas folk artists and their audiences by helping to present and promote a diverse and living artistic heritage for all Texans.
Choreographer Jesse Murguia, visual artist Rosendo Sandoval and traditional musicians Rosa and Joe Pérez will participate in performances, workshops, informal lectures, pláticas and exhibits during this residency, co-produced by Texas Folklife Resources and Mercedes Independent School District as part of an outreach program that celebrates Mexican-American cultural traditions. All events are free and open to the public.
Through their performances and pláticas, residency artists and community members will examine Valley leyendas such as “La Llorona,” “La Bikina” and “La Lechuza.” Included in the program is “Las Llogas de Agua,” a song by Rosa Pérez that tells a story of illegal immigration and reveals how art can effectively reflect current issues. It also demonstrates the processes by which experiences ingrained in a community’s life become part of local lore. Each performance shows the power of collaborative creative projects in forging the Rio Grande Valley’s identity. Through their life stories and representations of local legends, these artists help community members consider the historical significance of South Texas lore and its relevance to their cultural identity. Events take place at several venues including schools, senior-citizen centers, performing arts centers, libraries and auditoriums
Choreographer Jesse Murguia, a Rio Grande Valley native, studied dance and choreography at the University of Texas-Pan American in Edinburg and trained under several internationally renowned dancers. An instructor in the Mercedes Independent School District Fine Arts Program, Murguia founded the Brazos Rio Grande School of Dance in 2003 to produce programs that capture the Valley’s history, folklore and stories. Through an understanding of dance not only as a part of life, but as a way of life, Murguia aims to create cultural self-awareness among his students and encourage them toward creative outlets for expressions of their heritage and identity.
Self-taught musicians Rosa and Joe Pérez bring familiar tunes to life for new generations of South Texans. Weaving original poetry and song with vintage música ranchera, the guitar-playing duo performs as Rumbo al’ Anacua, traveling on the Texas-Mexicano path of cultural memory – remembrances of their parents and grandparents, the history of their barrios and the experiences of their community. Theirs is a presentation of “Cultura con Canción.”
Painter Rosendo Sandoval’s emphasis on composition, color and contrast bring Valley legends to life on canvas. He captures through art the story of his childhood memories of Mexico and his experiences in Texas, where his family immigrated in 1970.
The community is encouraged to attend all residency activities, particularly evening performances and exhibits at 7 p.m. May 1 and 3 at the Mercedes Memorial Library; “Legend Tripping” at 6 p.m. May 5 at the Graham historical building; and the final event at 2 p.m. May 6 at the Graham Auditorium. For a schedule or more information, contact Jesse Murguia at (956) 279-8238 (j_murguia_fdc@yahoo.com) or Michelle Wibbelsman at (512) 371-9128 (mwibbelsman@yahoo.com). For information about Texas Folklife, call (512) 441-9255 or visit our Web site at www.texasfolklife.org.
The program is made possible in part through funding from the National Endowment for the Arts, Humanities Texas and Texas Folklife Resources. Texas Folklife’s residency programs are designed to educate the public about Texas folk traditions by highlighting extraordinary local talent in rural communities throughout the state. Texas Folklife is a non-profit cultural organization that serves Texas folk artists and their audiences by helping to present and promote a diverse and living artistic heritage for all Texans.
Thursday, April 20, 2006
Quinta Mazatlan Call for Artists and Artesans
Quinta Mazatlan the new world birding center in McAllen is having a grand openning for the general public May 6, 2006. Mayra Brown with McAllen's Art House will chair the Quinta Mazatlan Market Place where artists and arteseans will be able to sell their goods. The event will take place May 6, 2006 at Quinta Mazatlan in McAllen from 9:00 am to 6:00 pm. The cost to the artist will be $50.00 per booth that includes one 8 ft table covered. If anyone is interested, please contact Mayra Brown at 956-490-5507 or email me at arthouse1009@sbcglobal.net.
Musicians are also sought…of course other arrangements will have to be done with the musicians… thousands of people will be there that day to hear you and see your craft.
Musicians are also sought…of course other arrangements will have to be done with the musicians… thousands of people will be there that day to hear you and see your craft.
Sunday, April 16, 2006
Artist Directory
The Art of Brownsville is collecting an artist directory to publish on our website. The artist directory will basically feature contact and reference info about local artists. To be on the directory you must provide all of the following information:
Name: (First, Last)
Location: (ex. live in Brownsville, Texas)
City of Origin: (ex. raised in Matamoros, Tamps.)
Art Medium: (ex. Painting, Sculpture, Video Art, Installation, Multi-media, Ceramics, etc..)
Email:
Webpage: (must have atleast one picture of original work)
Artists must live or originate from the Rio Grande Valley/Tamaulipas Frontera and must have a current email and online gallery. Phone #'s and Mailing Addresses will only be provided to inquirers by personal request to the artist, at the discretion of the artist.
If you do not have an email please consider using any of the free services available with any of the following sites: Hotmail, Yahoo or Gmail (by far The Art of Brownsville favorite...if you cannot get a hold of an invite or mobile phone, email The Art of Brownsville for a Gmail invite).
A online gallery or webpage is also required. Currently, the Art of Brownsville cannot maintain a gallery service through our website (though definitely a goal in the works), so we will need the artists to provide a visual reference for their work. Links to online articles, online picture albums and blogs with pictures are okay. Personal, non-art oriented blogs, albums or webpages (such as MySpace, Friendster, ect...) are not permitted. If you would like to create an artist webpage consider using any of the following simple to use sites:
Blogger
Flickr
World Wide Arts Resources
ArtistPortfolio.net
Espectro
AbsoluteArts.com
To join The Art of Brownsville Directory send an email with the requested information to artofbrownsville@gmail.com.
Name: (First, Last)
Location: (ex. live in Brownsville, Texas)
City of Origin: (ex. raised in Matamoros, Tamps.)
Art Medium: (ex. Painting, Sculpture, Video Art, Installation, Multi-media, Ceramics, etc..)
Email:
Webpage: (must have atleast one picture of original work)
Artists must live or originate from the Rio Grande Valley/Tamaulipas Frontera and must have a current email and online gallery. Phone #'s and Mailing Addresses will only be provided to inquirers by personal request to the artist, at the discretion of the artist.
If you do not have an email please consider using any of the free services available with any of the following sites: Hotmail, Yahoo or Gmail (by far The Art of Brownsville favorite...if you cannot get a hold of an invite or mobile phone, email The Art of Brownsville for a Gmail invite).
A online gallery or webpage is also required. Currently, the Art of Brownsville cannot maintain a gallery service through our website (though definitely a goal in the works), so we will need the artists to provide a visual reference for their work. Links to online articles, online picture albums and blogs with pictures are okay. Personal, non-art oriented blogs, albums or webpages (such as MySpace, Friendster, ect...) are not permitted. If you would like to create an artist webpage consider using any of the following simple to use sites:
Blogger
Flickr
World Wide Arts Resources
ArtistPortfolio.net
Espectro
AbsoluteArts.com
To join The Art of Brownsville Directory send an email with the requested information to artofbrownsville@gmail.com.
Thursday, April 13, 2006
Strengthening Arts Curriculum in Reforming Education
An interesting and valuable letter to the editor from Texas Senator Eddie Lucio advocating arts education was published in The Brownsville Herald on April 5th, 2006.
Here are some snippets:
..."Chairwoman Victoria Hodge Lightman of the Texas Commission on the Arts says, “We continue to see evidence that students involved in arts education programming perform better academically, are more likely to graduate and have fewer discipline problems than students without access to arts education programs. Unfortunately, we also see continued reduction in access to arts education as budgetary cuts result in the elimination of quality arts programming from our schools...”
"..Stanford University and the Carnegie Foundation for the Advancement of Teaching discovered in their study that the arts develop skills and habits of mind that are important for workers in the new “Economy of Ideas” (Alan Greenspan). Their findings link arts education with economic realities, asserting that young people who learn the rigors of planning and production in the arts will be valuable employees in the idea-driven workplace of the future..."
"...We need to fund public education fairly and equitably. We need to reduce the heavy burden of taxes on property owners. We need to give teachers pay raises. We need to expand facilities funding to build badly needed schools, gymnasiums, libraries and other edifices critical to a well-rounded education. We need to determine the best way to educate our children and reduce dropout rates. And somewhere in this heavy mix, we must do all we can to see that arts education remains or becomes a required segment of public education in Texas...”
TO READ THE FULL ARTICLE CLICK HERE.
***
Want to support arts curriculum in our public schools? Here is a way to start...attend any of the events listed on the BISD Fine Arts Spring Schedule.
Here are some snippets:
..."Chairwoman Victoria Hodge Lightman of the Texas Commission on the Arts says, “We continue to see evidence that students involved in arts education programming perform better academically, are more likely to graduate and have fewer discipline problems than students without access to arts education programs. Unfortunately, we also see continued reduction in access to arts education as budgetary cuts result in the elimination of quality arts programming from our schools...”
"..Stanford University and the Carnegie Foundation for the Advancement of Teaching discovered in their study that the arts develop skills and habits of mind that are important for workers in the new “Economy of Ideas” (Alan Greenspan). Their findings link arts education with economic realities, asserting that young people who learn the rigors of planning and production in the arts will be valuable employees in the idea-driven workplace of the future..."
"...We need to fund public education fairly and equitably. We need to reduce the heavy burden of taxes on property owners. We need to give teachers pay raises. We need to expand facilities funding to build badly needed schools, gymnasiums, libraries and other edifices critical to a well-rounded education. We need to determine the best way to educate our children and reduce dropout rates. And somewhere in this heavy mix, we must do all we can to see that arts education remains or becomes a required segment of public education in Texas...”
TO READ THE FULL ARTICLE CLICK HERE.
***
Want to support arts curriculum in our public schools? Here is a way to start...attend any of the events listed on the BISD Fine Arts Spring Schedule.
NBC-TV 23 Call for Art and Poetry
NBC 23 is working on putting together a small publication called "The Art of Healing". The publication will feature art and poetry by valley artists and supported by advertising, mainly from the medical community. The publications will be distributed for free.
To participate:
Art Submission - paintings, photography and sculpture
Email a print quality digital image of your piece to the.wendy.lady@gmail.com
subject line: Art of Healing
Title & medium
where you live
website, email or phone contact information
please also feel free to include a short statement about yourself and/or the piece.
Poetry Submission
Email me a copy of your poem preferably in Word to the.wendy.lady@gmail.com
subject line: Art of Healing
where you live
website, email or phone contact information
please also feel free to include a short statement about yourself and/or the poem.
Deadline for submission is May 1, 2006.
If you have any questions email Wendy Gilbert.
To participate:
Art Submission - paintings, photography and sculpture
Email a print quality digital image of your piece to the.wendy.lady@gmail.com
subject line: Art of Healing
Title & medium
where you live
website, email or phone contact information
please also feel free to include a short statement about yourself and/or the piece.
Poetry Submission
Email me a copy of your poem preferably in Word to the.wendy.lady@gmail.com
subject line: Art of Healing
where you live
website, email or phone contact information
please also feel free to include a short statement about yourself and/or the poem.
Deadline for submission is May 1, 2006.
If you have any questions email Wendy Gilbert.
Sunday, April 09, 2006
BISD Fine Arts Events
Mark your calendars for the following Spring Brownsville Independent School District Fine Arts Events. Let's support our local young artists and performers!
April 28, 2006
“Middle School Art Competition”
Brownsville Museum of Fine Art
230 Neale Dr.
4:00 – 6:00 pm
May 5, 2006
“A Night of Percussion”
High School Drumlines
Sam’s Stadium
7:30 pm
May 8-12, 2006 “Fine Arts Festival”
Middle & High School Fine Arts Students
Jacob Brown Auditorium
7:00 pm
May 8 – Rivera Cluster
May 9 – Hanna Cluster
May 10 – Porter Cluster
May 11 – Lopez Cluster
May 12 – Pace Cluster
May 15, 2006 “High School Art Competition”
Brownsville Museum of Fine Art
230 Neale Dr.
4:00 – 6:00 pm
For more information, contact the BISD Fine Arts Department at 982-3730.
April 28, 2006
“Middle School Art Competition”
Brownsville Museum of Fine Art
230 Neale Dr.
4:00 – 6:00 pm
May 5, 2006
“A Night of Percussion”
High School Drumlines
Sam’s Stadium
7:30 pm
May 8-12, 2006 “Fine Arts Festival”
Middle & High School Fine Arts Students
Jacob Brown Auditorium
7:00 pm
May 8 – Rivera Cluster
May 9 – Hanna Cluster
May 10 – Porter Cluster
May 11 – Lopez Cluster
May 12 – Pace Cluster
May 15, 2006 “High School Art Competition”
Brownsville Museum of Fine Art
230 Neale Dr.
4:00 – 6:00 pm
For more information, contact the BISD Fine Arts Department at 982-3730.
Annexation: Celebrating 150 years of Texas Statehood
Brownsville-The Brownsville Heritage Complex, located in historic downtown Brownsville, invites the public to view Annexation: Celebrating 150 Years of Texas Statehood, a Humanities Texas exhibition. The exhibit opens on April 10, 2006. The exhibition at the Brownsville Heritage Complex is made possible through the support of the Brownsville Community Improvement Corporation.
Texans enjoy a special status because their state was once an independent republic, a nation among nations. This fame, however, was more or less thrust upon Texas by political issues that occupied the United States, Mexico, and various European nations for almost a full decade following the Texas revolution. It was not until 1845 that U.S. support for the doctrine of “manifest destiny” brought about the annexation that an overwhelming majority of Texans had so fervently desired.
This fascinating story has been told through an exhibition of original documents and artifacts organized by the Capitol Complex Visitors Center in Austin; and it is now retold for all Texans to view in a traveling photo-panel exhibit organized and circulated by the Humanities Texas.
Annexation: Celebrating 150 Years of Texas Statehood is designed for humanities projects that focus not merely on Texas history but on the mythic power of events that help define a community, state, or nation and on the ways in which people learn history. The photo-and-text panel exhibit was produced by THRC with support from the Humanities Texas.
The exhibit will be on view until April 29, 2006. The exhibit is included with the cost of general admission to the Brownsville Heritage Museum. General admission is always free for Brownsville Historical Association members.
The Brownsville Heritage Complex is managed by the Brownsville Historical Association. The Heritage Complex is located at 1325 E. Washington in Brownsville. The Brownsville Heritage Complex includes The Stillman House Museum, The Brownsville Heritage Museum, The Aiken Education Center, and the Heritage Resource Center.
For more information please call 956-541-5560 or visitwww.brownsvillehistory.org.
Texans enjoy a special status because their state was once an independent republic, a nation among nations. This fame, however, was more or less thrust upon Texas by political issues that occupied the United States, Mexico, and various European nations for almost a full decade following the Texas revolution. It was not until 1845 that U.S. support for the doctrine of “manifest destiny” brought about the annexation that an overwhelming majority of Texans had so fervently desired.
This fascinating story has been told through an exhibition of original documents and artifacts organized by the Capitol Complex Visitors Center in Austin; and it is now retold for all Texans to view in a traveling photo-panel exhibit organized and circulated by the Humanities Texas.
Annexation: Celebrating 150 Years of Texas Statehood is designed for humanities projects that focus not merely on Texas history but on the mythic power of events that help define a community, state, or nation and on the ways in which people learn history. The photo-and-text panel exhibit was produced by THRC with support from the Humanities Texas.
The exhibit will be on view until April 29, 2006. The exhibit is included with the cost of general admission to the Brownsville Heritage Museum. General admission is always free for Brownsville Historical Association members.
The Brownsville Heritage Complex is managed by the Brownsville Historical Association. The Heritage Complex is located at 1325 E. Washington in Brownsville. The Brownsville Heritage Complex includes The Stillman House Museum, The Brownsville Heritage Museum, The Aiken Education Center, and the Heritage Resource Center.
For more information please call 956-541-5560 or visitwww.brownsvillehistory.org.
The Poor Man's Printing Press Seeks Space
Museo {i}menos is currently looking for spaces in the Rio Grande Valley and the bordering Frontera Tamaulipas to host its monthly stencil Making workshop entitled
The Poor Man's Portable Printing Press
We have had three in Hidalgo county already, with two of them in Donna, Tx. , and the first in Weslaco. We have had more offers in Hidalgo County but we really want to spread the workshop around to allow more people to participate. We are seeking alternative spaces, ideally residences, public parks, colonias or social activist groups.
We are not really considering museums, galleries, or public libraries because we are in effect an outreach program.
So if any of you would like to host a workshop, or know of someone who might, outside of Hidalgo County {but in the RGV or Front. Tamps area} in an alternative space, then contact the Museo so that we can get the ball rolling...
Mil Gracias,
René Z. Garza
--
René Z. Garza
Museo {i}menos
623 S. Indiana Ave.
Weslaco,TX
78596 USA
1.956.534.1997
museoimenos@gmail.com
¡ Para los que hacen mas con menos !
The Poor Man's Portable Printing Press
We have had three in Hidalgo county already, with two of them in Donna, Tx. , and the first in Weslaco. We have had more offers in Hidalgo County but we really want to spread the workshop around to allow more people to participate. We are seeking alternative spaces, ideally residences, public parks, colonias or social activist groups.
We are not really considering museums, galleries, or public libraries because we are in effect an outreach program.
So if any of you would like to host a workshop, or know of someone who might, outside of Hidalgo County {but in the RGV or Front. Tamps area} in an alternative space, then contact the Museo so that we can get the ball rolling...
Mil Gracias,
René Z. Garza
--
René Z. Garza
Museo {i}menos
623 S. Indiana Ave.
Weslaco,TX
78596 USA
1.956.534.1997
museoimenos@gmail.com
¡ Para los que hacen mas con menos !
Call for Mail Art
Museo {i}menos is launching a call for mail art for its official inauguration on AUGUST 8th 2006. The site for the inauguration is to be determined closer to the opening date. The site will be from the geographic center of the Rio Grande Valley and the bordering Frontera Tamaulipas.
We have been collecting Mail Art from all over the world to be exchanged for Art from The Rio Grande Valley, TX and the bordering Frontera Tamaulipas .
365 Openings… is a Mail Art Exhibit pulling from Mail Art's Eternal Network. RGV and Front Tamps residents can exchange their own Mail Art and postage for original Mail Art from around the globe, during the event. This is an exhibit that truly belongs to the people. It is our goal here to create art correspondence with this area and the rest of the world for future collaboration. It is free and fair trade/exchange of culture and ideas. It is a globalization from below .
As is the case with mail art: no juries, no fees, no returns, & no social control!
DOCUMENTATION PROVIDED TO ALL WHO PARTICIPATE.
Deadline: JULY 28th, 2006
To participate send Mail Art Submission to: 365 OPENINGS ...
Museo {i}menos
623 S. Indiana Ave.
Weslaco, TX 78596
USA
Museo {i}menos is a different kind of museum without walls, formal attire or admission fees. We pop up wherever we can and even in some places that we can not. Museo {i}menos is a work of art. We are an independent arts museum currently developing mail art and stencil art events, collections and workshops (but many more independent arts exist and need to be included). Our goal is to make art public and the only real way to do that is to have the public produce its own art. It is only through active participation that art becomes truly public.
We have been collecting Mail Art from all over the world to be exchanged for Art from The Rio Grande Valley, TX and the bordering Frontera Tamaulipas .
365 Openings… is a Mail Art Exhibit pulling from Mail Art's Eternal Network. RGV and Front Tamps residents can exchange their own Mail Art and postage for original Mail Art from around the globe, during the event. This is an exhibit that truly belongs to the people. It is our goal here to create art correspondence with this area and the rest of the world for future collaboration. It is free and fair trade/exchange of culture and ideas. It is a globalization from below .
As is the case with mail art: no juries, no fees, no returns, & no social control!
DOCUMENTATION PROVIDED TO ALL WHO PARTICIPATE.
Deadline: JULY 28th, 2006
To participate send Mail Art Submission to: 365 OPENINGS ...
Museo {i}menos
623 S. Indiana Ave.
Weslaco, TX 78596
USA
Museo {i}menos is a different kind of museum without walls, formal attire or admission fees. We pop up wherever we can and even in some places that we can not. Museo {i}menos is a work of art. We are an independent arts museum currently developing mail art and stencil art events, collections and workshops (but many more independent arts exist and need to be included). Our goal is to make art public and the only real way to do that is to have the public produce its own art. It is only through active participation that art becomes truly public.
Friday, April 07, 2006
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Art by Rosendo Sandoval - Title:"La que bailo con el diablo " contact: galloblanco03@yahoo.com
Historic Brownsville Museum
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