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.