Election Reflection

I am so glad the election is over....and yes, folks I voted but whom I voted for (or what since there was an important bond election in my district's election) will be my little secret. ;)

It seems as though President Bush has won a second term to the American presidency and I wish him the best, because ultimately his administration's decisions will affect my life as well as those I love. I hope he will continue his presidency with more wisdom and take this election as insight into the American people's concerns and not just as a pass into a second term. I am a big advocate of democracy, so what is left to do now is to respect the ultimate outcome of this election and continue to be engaged in the civic opportunities in my community, state and nation. No room for sore losers here!

My friend and I were talking about the electoral college last night and if it was really necessary and functional? Her argument was, how could an individual's vote ever count since it is the electoral college that ultimately decides who is president and not the popular cote. She saw it as unfair since a democratic vote would pretty much count for nothing in a red state (like Texas) and a republican vote would pretty much not count in a blue state (like New York). I can agree with that, but I can also appreciate that one of the functions the electoral college was placed for was to protect our consitutional rights from tyranny (which is similar to what happened when Hitler came into power in Germany). My friend's argument then was could a tyrant ever come to power in our nation, as diverse as it is? Good point...I for one am not sure about that... you know that saying..."You can convince some of the people some of the time but you can't convince all of the people all of the time"....well I am convinced even if you convince all of the people, just for a while, it's enough time to mess things up...

So anyways, just to lighten the mood...because this whole tension in the air has just driven me a weary...I shall share this moment of funny appropriation....


Here is a picture of John Kerry and George Bush looking eye to eye in competition over the state of Ohio! oooooo!


The image of Kerry and Bush immediately reminded me of the Yu-Gi-Oh! cartoon...where they look eye to over anime card-game combat!

Yes, I can add appropriation to just about anything...lol. Ok folks, I have to go now. Take cares and enjoy the nice cool weather! FINALLY!

A Conjunto Education

I am no expert on Conjunto music, I am a novice, and a really bad one at that because I have yet to be able to distinguish between Conjunto, Tejano and Norteño. But I do know Conjunto is a very big deal in the Valley and that is because it is a genre native to this region. And I also know that if you may have any questions or interest in conjunto, I can help point you in the direction....over to the folks at The Narciso Martinez Cultural Arts Center in San Benito!

Here is a page with pictures from their recent NMCAC Conjunto Festival, which was held in early October. Just click on the image with the sign that says "Welcome to San Benito".

Another interesting thing to see would be pictures of conjunto bands from all over the world! Click here to see. As a former coordinator in intercultural services for international students, you have to know I find this all very fascinating and exciting! Its pretty darn cool! (Yes, I am a geek. hehehe) I mean there is a conjunto band in Italy (my fave country!) Even conjunto in Aruba and Japan...yeah those suprised me the most as well.

Ok folks, I have to go. I am being mandated a bedtime! lol. Take care everyone!

Dia de los Muertos Events in Port Isabel

Hi! I just got word of these events by email and they all sound muy muy chido! I suggest you all get yourselves to lovely Port Isabel and enjoy these special events!

~~~~~~~~~~~~~

"El Color de la Muerte: A Day of the Dead Celebration"
Saturday, October 30, 2004 from 3:00 p.m. to 8:30 p.m.
A Collaborative Celebration between the Museums of Port Isabel,
the Laguna Madre Museum Foundation,
the International Museum of Art & Science of McAllen ,
The University of Texas-Pan American and the
Texas Commission for the Arts!
Please join us for a day of ancient traditions, art, history, dance, and storytelling
celebrating “Dia De Los Muertos” a Mexican custom of celebrating death through life.
 
“Candles, Cockscomb, and Marigolds” – It’s the “Day of the Dead”.
Can’t you just smell copal burning in the Mexican cemeteries?
Let’s take a peek at what the living are doing there!
Schedule of Events

3:00 p.m.

“Telling Our Stories Program” Day of the Dead in Oaxaca , Mexico . The Day of the Dead, as celebrated in Oaxaca , Mexico (located between Mexico City and Guatemala ), will be the topic of October's "Telling Our Stories". George Gause and his wife, Virginia Haynie Gause will make this festive celebration come alive through both slides and various artifacts associated with the Day of the Dead.
George & Virginia Haynie Gause have lived in the Valley since 1973. George is originally from New York and Virginia from Alabama . Both are librarians from The University of Texas-Pan American in Edinburg . He is Special Collections LIbrarian and she is Systems Librarian. Both have traveled extensively in Mexico . George enjoys collecting Mexican folk art and books related to this subject, while Virginia pursues photography. Treasures of the Gulf Museum , 317 E. Railroad. Free Admission.
4:00 p.m.
Tour of the Port Isabel Cemetery by George and Virginia Haynie Gause. A special tour of the historic Port Isabel Cemetery will take place in conjunction with the Day of the Dead where decorations found there, will be examined for artistic symbolism. Port Isabel City Cemetery .
5:00 p.m.
The Laguna Madre Art League will be creating Day of the Dead Altars in a Hands-on Workshop. Families are invited to create their own altars. Supplies and instructions are provided. Treasures of the Gulf Museum .
6:30 p.m.
“El Color de la Muerte” Altars and Art Display Reception will feature various Valley Artists original artwork and altars depicting Day of the Dead. Treasures of the Gulf Museum and Port Isabel Historical Museum. Music by the Joe and Rosie Perez of San Benito and a special choreographed dance by the Brazos Rio Grande School of Dance with artistic directorJesse Murguia. Special appearance by La Calavera Catrina (the skeleton of the fashionable lady) as portrayed by Carmen Zacarias, Director of the Brownville Historical Association. La Catrina is the creation of Jose Guadalupe Posada (1852-1913), a Mexican engraver known for his illustrations of newspapers during the times of dictator Porfirio Diaz. He originally created La Catrina for the popular song “La Cucaracha” but later used the image to parody overdressed Mexican ladies that had an obsession for everything French. And the La Maguacata Theatrical Troupe of Matamoras will be presenting a 30 minute play about "Day of the Dead" during the reception. Treasures of the Gulf Museum .
8:30 p.m.
Ghost Stories at Port Isabel Lighthouse. Come in costume and hear some of the scariest local ghost stories while enjoying frightful images projected on the side of the Port Isabel Lighthouse.


MUSEUMS OF PORT ISABEL
317 E. Railroad Ave. • Port Isabel , Texas 78578
956.943.7602 • Fax: 956.943-4346
director@portisabelmuseums.com • www.portisabelmuseums.com

When It Rains It Pours

There is great deal of things going on art and culture wise, so I wanted to inform you all before I get distracted and you may wonder, "Hey Mayra, isn't this blog about art? Where is freaking art??? What is this stuff about geeks and shrimp heads?" lol.
I am fully aware I didn't mention many recent events like The Latin Jazz Festival or the Padre Island Sand Castle Days...and that's no good because those were very awesome events that I regret passing up...but you know life happens. So...here we go!

***
Below I posted information about the upcoming Anniversary Celebration on Friday October 29th at The Narciso Martinez Cultural Arts Center in San Benito. I suggest you all go check it out. All of the people I have met through the NMCAC have been awesome and very passionate about Valley culture and especially conjunto music...and also, my mom is going to be catering that event, so there will be good food too!

***
Another event I want to bring immediate attention to is an exhibition taking place at La Peña Gallery in Austin, Texas. It is called Capitol Selections and it will end this Friday on October 29th. It is a very special exhibition because it showcases the art of three art students from Lopez HS Fine Arts Academy in Brownsville. Here is a sample of an art piece that is in exhibition and which La Peña is using on their promotional postcards.


Impressive work isn't it? It looks better than some college level art I have seen.

***
Another event, which I have been helping with, is to take place on Nov. 11th in at Lopez High School Fine Arts Academy with the University of Texas at Austin College of Fine Arts. Professors from each department (Art, Music and Theatre & Dance) will be coming to give students workshops and a portfolio review. This will give many high school students who may have aspirations in the fine arts a glimpse into higher fine arts education and what expectations and experiences they will meet if they do pursue a career in the fine arts. As soon as I get a press release or see something in the news, I will post it to this blog.

***
I also want to give recognition to my friend Frank Diaz, who recently had a written piece published on the online magazine The Backword. His piece "A Weekend In The Valley", reflects on his observations and experiences of living life in the Valley. Frank is an awesome writer and his talent and right-on-target articulation is something that distinguishes his writing. Frank will always be welcomed to post at The Art of Brownsville. Congratulations Frank! :0)
Here are links to the posts he contributed to The Art of Brownsville:

Frank's Post #1, Frank's Post #2, Frank's Post #3, Frank's Post #4, Frank's Post #5, Frank's Post #6, Frank's Post #7, Frank's Post #8, Frank's Post #9, Frank's Post #10

***
I also recommend that you take a look at the online magazine The Backword. I have been in contact with their staff and they are very awesome people who wish to expand the writing spotlight on Texas to cover areas of the state that are underrepresented in the media..areas like The Rio Grande Valley. Like many people who wish to improve exposure for culture and the arts, they do their job on a voluntary basis during their free time. So please support this magazine simply by reading it and telling your friends about it.

Here is a link to an article called "Yo Quiero Brownsville!" Backword editor and founder Cesar Diaz (no relation to Frank Diaz) wrote. Keep an eye out for this guy, he's going to help change the face of Texas writing and he is perhaps one of the most suprising sources of Brownsville culture advocacy I have had the good luck of meeting (who ::gasp!:: is not in Brownsville).

***
There is a new exhibtion called "Carnaval de Fantasmas" coming up at TinSoupArtSpace in Brownsville. I was not able to get all the information but I wil put it up as soon as I get it and you can also keep updated at the Image Formula website.

***
Isn't it true?... the phrase "WHEN IT RAINS IT POURS".
The shower is just barely beginning in The Valley and I am most proud of the artistic storm that is beginning to brew! What an exciting time to be in the Rio Grande Valley! I am also sure there are so many other cultural events I didn't get to post. If you ever want to inform me of any arts and cultural events that are going on in the Rio Grande Valley or concerning Valley art and culture ( even if it's an art exhibition in India by an artist who was born in Los Fresnos), let me know! I will be glad to post it! You can email me at contact@mayracruz.net with the information. Articles, blogs and websites about Valley art, heritage and culture are also welcomed to be linked at The Art of Brownsville. Thanks folks for reading and remember to support the arts, you may not know it, but the arts are improving the quality of your life everyday. Here is an interesting report called The Creative Community you all should take a look at as well. Thanks folks for coming by The Art of Brownsville. Again, if you have any suggestions, do not hesitate to add comments or send an email my way.

---

“Only through art can we get outside of ourselves and know another’s view of the universe which is not the same as ours and see landscapes which would otherwise have remained unknown to us like the landscape of the moon.” —Marcel Proust

NMCAC Anniversary

For Immediate Release:
October 25, 2004
 
For more information contact:
Cristina Balli
NMCAC
(956) 361-0110
 
Tejano Walk of Fame Honoree will commemorate Narciso Martinez Birthday
 
WHO:  Narciso Martinez Cultural Arts Center
 
WHAT: 13th Birthday Celebration
 
WHEN:  October 29, 2004   7:00 PM
 
WHERE:  225 E. Stenger Street, San Benito, Texas
 
October 29th was the birthday of the late Don Narciso Martinez, "the father of Texas-Mexican Conjunto music," and marks the 13th anniversary of the Narciso Martinez Cultural Arts Center.  To commemorate the occasion, descendants of Narciso Martinez, NMCAC founders, board of directors, staff and volunteers will gather for a celebration that will include food, beverage, and plenty of conjunto music by Los Donnenos, Fruty Villareal, Los Patrulleros, Cande Aguilar and Juan Lugo.
 
Headlining the music presentations will be bajo sexto player and Tejano Walk of Fame Honoree Ramiro Cavazos of Los Donnenos.  Cavazos formed his duet with accordion player Mario Montez in Donna and recorded in the 1950s.  They were one of the first to infuse the regional Mexican music sound with vocal duets, which made them extremely popular on both sides of the border.  They toured extensively and filmed with noted Mexican comedian Lalo Gonzalez "El Piporro" throughout Mexico, the U.S. and even Cuba.  Montes died in 1994 and Cavazos keeps the tradition of musica regional alive in his music store in McAllen.  Cavazos was one of the last to record Narciso Martinez' music on his record label, R y N Music.  These two legends performed together for this recording, and Cavazos will be performing a tribute to Narciso Martinez the night after his induction into the Tejano Walk of Fame in Edinburg (October 28, 2004).
 
Also performing a tribute to Martinez will be Fructoso "Fruty" Villarreal, who credits Ramiro Cavazos as one of his greatest influences and recently recorded some tunes made popular by Narciso Martinez.  Los Patrulleros (Rigo Garza and Jose Moreno) of San Benito will also take the stage, as well as former accordionist for Elida y Avante and abstract artist Cande Aguilar and NMCAC accordion instructor Juan Lugo.
 
The 30 minute documentary "Los Del Valle: Narciso Martinez" will be presented at 7:00 PM, followed by a reception and music.  Admission is $5.00.  For more information call (956) 361-0110.
 
###


Cristina Balli
Director of Programming & Development
Narciso Martinez Cultural Arts Center
P.O. Box 471
225 Stenger Street
San Benito, Texas 78586
(956) 361-0110

Survey: What is the Valley to you?

So today, I began my new internship and I worked on implementing an artsreach program for high school art students. But as I began to accumulate a mission statement for the program, I realized I had a wealth of scholarly resources to research, just so I won't misrepresent anything or say somehting totally out of context in concern to intercultural study and Rio Grande Valley art and culture in particular...

But then I got to thinking...I can read all the scholarly material out there, but if I only know how people with PhD's view the Valley, then what do I really know??? I need to also know how people from the Valley view themselves and how people who are not from the Valley think or feel about this region.

So my question to you all is:

What is the Rio Grande Valley to you? What is the Valley about? What makes up the Valley?

I mean, these questions are basically the same, but however you wish to put it, I would like to know your reflections on The Rio Grande Valley.

In the name of well intentioned research, comment today! Oh, and it would be cool if you call could sign it or leave an alias too. Thanks folks and I do hope an awesome forum of reflections on Rio Grande Valley life can develop! So don't be shy and please contribute your comments/reflections. Thanks!

My Geek Potential Has Risen!

I have probably had the geekiest weekend EVER...You see, a lot of my time was dedicated to my computer...I love my computer..I love my little Mac...cuz you know, once you go Mac you don't go back!

So what I did was upgrade my OSX Jaguar to OSX Panther...grrrrr!!! And I am now breezing at even faster speeds and then I installed my Adobe Creative Suite (which I got before I obtained Panther, but Creative Suite will not run on anything lower than OSX.3)... and now I can actually use Photoshop, Illustrator, InDesign, Go Live! and Acrobat on my comp and make websites (no more lame Netscape Composer), graphics and pamphlets and work on my photography (I have a wedding I am taking photos for on Nov. 20th! yay!)...

And then, my friend Angela convinced me to get Yahoo! Messenger. It was a bit of an ordeal at first..because I didn't want it...I can barely handle my AIM iChat...many can attest to that (hehehe)....but for my friend Angela I did it, because she is super cool and now we can communicate better between New York and Brownsville...so we start chatting about cartoons and she introduced me to Invader Zim after I introduced her to Neurotically Yours. We laughed over this cartoon, but I fear it may be because we can relate...lol.

So now, I have 2 instant message programs so there goes another point towards my geekdom quota. And with my recent upgrades to RoadRunner, OSX Panther, Adobe Creative Suite, recent discussions about comics and cartoons and for plans to acquire a G5 desktop and AirPort within a year or so... (maybe a bit more than a year since I am poor and little moths fly out of my wallet)...and I also converted a non-believer to blogdom (welcome to the dark side Angela)..I believe I may have met my geekdom quota! I can very well turn in a full fledge geek...I will be fighting against all odds to keep morphing into this guy....


Hey, Screech was muy chido!

So yes, my geek potential has risen...or have I been one all along...???....if that is true...well then, GEEKS RULE!

A Shrimp Without His Head...updated

I read this news in the Herald today and I had a good laugh. Local seafood restaurant Captain Bob's mascot, Mr. Shrimp's head has been stolen! It's a bit mean to laugh at this, especially at restaurant's loss, since we just closed ours...but I promise its not out of spite. I love going to Captain Bob's! They have good shrimp, and even though I may be allergic to shrimp, I still go! I like their seafood specials! So anyways, they would usually have Mr. Shrimp stand outside the restaurant with a stereo playing loud music trying to lure customers with silly dancing and waves. I tried to find a picture of Mr. Shrimp, but the following picture was the closest I could find.



So imagine, something like this guy, waving you down from a corner with a goofy dance. Some local teens must be having a real kick holding poor Mr. Shrimp's head hostage. I sure will miss seeing Mr. Shrimp when I pass by either restaurant and I hope who ever stole his head may feel guilty enough to atleast leave it at the restaurant's front door or something! $2,000 is a lot of money for replacing a shrimp's head and that for sure is no laughing matter. If not, well you suck loser shrimp head theives!

Saying Goodbye

I am going to post something that hits very close to home and heart.

My family's owned restaurant, Asi Es Mi Tierra (or better known just as "Mi Tierra"), will be closing its doors forever this Friday, October 22nd, 2004. My parents have ran our restaurant since 1983, and before that, they used to sell fruit, barbacoa, tortillas and potatoes from a stand on the very same property where the building my father built with his now hands now stands. Within half a year, the building will be demolished to make way for a parking lot that will belong to an office building my parents are investing in for their eventual retirement.

It is the most bittersweet feeling to know this and as the days inch closer to Friday, it is impossible to believe that we won't be there come Saturday or next Monday. My memories begin at this restaurant and I can't remember a time in my life when it wasn't in the picture. I remember when my parents used to run a tortilleria in the back where our kitchen is now located. I can remember being fascinated by the machinery of the tortilla making machines. I remember passing the worst of Hurricane Gilbert within its walls while trying to capture "Pee Wee's Big Top", getting really bad reception from our little televison set (but then there was a hurricane outside). I remember going there after school with my sister from our elementary to pick up our soft-drink and a bag of chips, then we would go home and watch cartoons.

I remember a time when there was rail switch yard located in the front before there was the federal courthouse. I remember when we used to get packed on holiday gift giveaways at the police station. I remember once a group of 30 Miss USA pageant contestants and friends came to eat after they were given a tour of the police station and it was just my aunt, my mom and I who held the fort down. I remember trying to explain the dishes to them and passing out dishes of the best rice and beans they would ever have.

I am going to miss the look on people's faces when they see how big our flour tortillas really are. I am going to miss our customer's faces of satisfaction after eating the most delicious plate of Mexican food they've had in a while or how "mama" used to make it. I am going to miss the customers. I am going to miss the sound my dad makes when he carefully does the dishes. I am going to miss my mom's yearly family pozole lunch for new years. I am going to miss the smell of tamales and buñuelos overcome the building duing the holiday season. I am going to miss watching the seasons go by from the glass doors.

Yes there is going to plenty to miss and many memories to keep. We are going to be open until Friday, so if you wish to come and say goodbye we would like your visit.

We are located at:
1104 E. Jackson St., Brownsville, Texas
corner of Jackson and 7th across the police station
open 6:30 am - 2pm
956-541-9236

We will be going into catering though so if you all want good food for your next catered event, consider us. Its almost a guarantee to make any event a big hit.

MI TIERRA CATERING
Authentic Mexican Food For All Occasions

Over 20 Years of Restaurant Experience
De Nuestra Cocina A Tu Mesa
email: mitierra@rgv.rr.com

The Up and Coming Hannaha Han

I suck because I forgot my friend's birthday and I suck big time for that. How many times can I fit suck into a sentence to even begin to redeem myself? I am so sorry Hannaha. Hannaha is one of my closest friends from college. We bonded as kindred spirits in the dizzying world of art school and she remembered my birthday this year...and I here I went forgeting hers....so I suck. suck.....suck. suck.

Where has my mind been? I don't know! I may be getting accelerated alzheimers or going into prolonged states of unconsciousness (which may explain that sleeping thing I do at night)...but whatever happened must have been pretty severe, cuz there is no plausible way I could forget such an awesome person's birthday.

But I did and I am so sorry. So in hopes of redeeming myself I want to share with you the awesome art of Hannaha Han.....the next Annie Leibovitz amongst us...but you know what she doesn't even need to be "the next Annie Leibovitz"...she is Hannaha Han and that is way more than good enough and her work will blow you away. So here we go....

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Hannaha Han



So I speak for myself when I talk about Hannaha's art, because it can be one thing for her and another thing for you and any other person...but let me tell what it is to me...

When I look at Hannaha's work I am affronted by the automatic tone of her photography and of the awareness of self and of environment....I know it makes no sense....well here it goes...

When I see Hannaha's art, I am hit with a sense of solitude...not to say Hannaha is lonely...but the subject of her photograph is...the lonely toaster, the lonely candle, the lonely cooking pan...but the way she captures and delights in these lonely objects with such rich detail for color, lighting and compostiton makes them beautiful as well...it is something that we would only notice if we were alone in a room with these objects..because if you think about it...if you were in a room full of people, you would never notice such everyday objects around you...it is not until we are completely alone that we truly take notice of our environment...and to some people this is a very scary thought, to be alone...but when I see Hannaha's art, I see the solitude as a comfort, as a stable security and even an object of reverence.

Solitude...it is something that we can all relate to and often fail to recognize in each other...we spend so much time trying to prove that we indeed are not lonely creatures...that we have things going on...have lives and somehow have it under control....but many times in life..we find ourselves alone..in our homes and everything outside that front door feels like its is hanging by a thread...like career, relationships, school, ect, ect...but when we come home we can take comfort in the little that we have really secured...like the candle,the stove, the cooking pot and the toaster...and by revering these simple objects...Hannaha has made those objects most brilliant and beautiful by relating them to the human experience...

So that is my own art analysis of Hannaha's photos above...I hope I didn't cause mass confusion or annoyance with my sentiment towards Hannaha's art or pull something like that guy with his camera and floating plastic bag in the movie "American Beauty"...as mocked below in a picture from the movie "Not Another Teen Movie"...with the beautiful weirdo



Yeah, pehaps I am just a beautiful weirdo and you may have already decided to not even read this far after the whole comparing human solitude to a toaster...hahaha...yes.....

I am going now....but if you like Hannaha's art let her know...you can contact her via email at:
hannaha@hotmail.com

Salvador Dali

I heard that there is a new Salvador Dali exhibit in Matamoros at the Museo de Arte Contemporanéo de Tamaulipas. I was not able to find a link concerning the event but I know it's there and I heard the exhibition reception was this past week. The museum is located at:

Ave. Constitución y Quinta S/N. Col. Jardín, H. Matamoros, Tamaulipas

...which is behind the Best Western hotel about a few blocks away from either the Matamoros-Brownsville Bridge (El Puento Viejo) or the New Bridge (which still gets called El Puento Nuevo after being proceeded by Los Tomates Bridge, and looks older than the newly renovated puento viejo..hehe).

You should all go check out the amazing paintings of this surrealist painter that streched (literally and figuratively) the visual and iconic components of our conscience into the poetry of dreams...yeah, that's my romanticized defintion of surrealism but if you want more info on surrealism click here.


Persistence of Memory by Salvador Dali (1931)

I know this is his most famous piece and I don't think it will be at the Matamoros exhibition because it is currently housed at the Museum of Modern Art in New York, but you all should go and check out the show in Matamoros. Considered by the mainstream art world to be one of the heavyweight contributors to modern art in the 20th century, it would be an interesting exhibition to go see.

Art Dream Inspires

My past few week and a half have been kinda draining. So today I worked on some things and I went to bed early because I was exhausted and all I dreamed about was art, isn't it funny? Not like a powerpoint slideshow of art kinda dream, but where I see the images and I just kinda go with it. Like I am inside the painting and its like a different world I am experiencing. So what images did I see? Well, I am horrible with remembering dreams, but I definitely remember seeing so much. It was like going to an awesome exhibition and being overwhelmed visually it hurts your heart because you are so completely moved. But the last place where I actually felt so dizzy with art was in The Houston Museum of Fine Art Impressionist Exhibition like 2 years ago (I spent about 1 hours in one room). I mean, I have felt great going to local galleries and museums in Dallas, Austin and in the Valley, but this dream just reminded me of those dizzy experiences. The best "dizzy" experience I had was art The Uffizi in Florence. I remember I spent about 3 hours there and there was so much to see, but when I found out I missed out on the section with the Venetian Renessaince I ran back up back this 5 flight circular staircase (apparently 15th century Italians didn't believe in elevators, hehe). You see, I had missed out on Titian and he is my absolute favorite artist, so when I got there and I spent another 2 hours there alone since my group had moved on to lunch. I didn't care, Titian over lunch would be my choice anyday. So yeah, after this dream I realized that I need to get back into my art and devote more time to the things I am passionate about. So here is hoping to better weeks ahead.

NMCAC "El Second Weensdee"

The Narciso Martinez Cultural Arts Center
presents
 
"El Second Weensdee"
an oral history series on conjunto music
 
October 13, 2004 - 7:00 PM
 
featured guest -  Cecilia Balli,
award-winning journalist,
who will present work on regional Mexican music
and accordion king Ramon Ayala
 
at the San Benito Community Building
210 E. Heywood St. (behind NMCAC)
 
$3.00 admission at the door
 

a reception co-sponsored by
the San Benito Chamber of Commerce,
Grand Marnier, Jose Cuervo
and Texas Monthly
will follow at NMCAC
 
(956) 361-0110

Cristina Balli
Director of Programming & Development
Narciso Martinez Cultural Arts Center
P.O. Box 471
225 Stenger Street
San Benito, Texas 78586
(956) 361-0110

Feliz Feliz Cumpleanos deseamos para ti...!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY goes out to my big sis Angie and my bestest friend. We have come a long way as sisters and I want you to know that I cherish and love you very much. And I promise no flowers! Even though my present could very well possibly suck big time, here is the gift I wish I could give you.... Nice, pretty, comfy non-old lady looking shoes over $35! hahaha. Here is a picture of what I would give you.



But until that time when I can get you shoes that totally rock, enjoy your birthday with lots of love and happiness from your family and friends! The things that we pretend that matter when we are poor. hehehe

Good Will's Wisdom

I saw the last 20 minutes of the 2nd Presidential debate and I was quite satisfied with the results. I won't say whom I am going to vote for because I am a moderate independent and I don't want to give the impression that I support one party over the other. Sometimes I wish political parties didn't exist. Partisan politics just brings a dualistic perspective to government (one way or the other, good or evil, black or white, up or down, right or left...), and I think it just adds murk to true governing for the people (sometimes its governing for the party) and funnels our perspective of the world rather than help us understand it better. Did you know that the first president of the United States, George Washington warned and discouraged against partisan politics? But did the first delegates listen? noooooo. But you know, political parties are such an embedded presence in modern democracy that I don't think the partisan system will topple. I think it suits us to have a partisan political system. American culture is very much dualistic due to America’s initial founding as a Christian nation, which teaches overcoming evil in our lives to achieve a better good. That perspective would be incredibly difficult to change and I for one wouldn’t want it to because even it may keep us ignorant sometimes, it will keep us idealistic and hopeful all of the time. American Idealism (mostly based on egalitarian philosophy) is what makes the US great because it allows one to hope and try to pursue a better life, no matter what your station may be or may have been. Idealism is what allowed Martin Luther King Jr. to believe in his dream and endeavor to make our nation a place where children of all backgrounds could play on the same streets and be in the same classroom without retribution. If he didn’t hold to his ideals in tough times boy would our times be tougher now.

But if you really want to know whom I’m voting for, read the following quote from the film "Good Will Hunting" and you can pretty much decipher which candidate my vote is going to. I love this quote.

* So Will (Matt Damon) is answering Sean's (his shrink played by Robin Williams) question about why he didn't take a job with the National Security Agency, offered to him because of his super, genius mathematical miracles…

"Will : Why shouldn't I work for the N.S.A.? That's a tough one, but I'll give it a shot. Say I'm working at N.S.A. Somebody puts a code on my desk, something nobody else can break. So I take a shot at it and maybe I break it. And I'm real happy with myself, 'cause I did my job well. But maybe that code was the location of some rebel army in North Africa or the Middle East. Once they have that location, they bomb the village where the rebels were hiding and fifteen hundred people I never had a problem with get killed. Now the politicians are sayin', "Send in the marines to secure the area" 'cause they don't give a shit. It won't be their kid over there, gettin' shot. Just like it wasn't them when their number was called, 'cause they were pullin' a tour in the National Guard. It'll be some guy from Southie takin' shrapnel in the ass. And he comes home to find that the plant he used to work at got exported to the country he just got back from. And the guy who put the shrapnel in his ass got his old job, 'cause he'll work for fifteen cents a day and no bathroom breaks. Meanwhile my buddy from Southie realizes the only reason he was over there was so we could install a government that would sell us oil at a good price. And of course the oil companies used the skirmish to scare up oil prices so they could turn a quick buck. A cute little ancillary benefit for them but it ain't helping my buddy at two-fifty a gallon. And naturally they're takin' their sweet time bringin' the oil back, and maybe even took the liberty of hiring an alcoholic skipper who likes to drink martinis and play slalom with the icebergs, and it ain't too long 'til he hits one, spills the oil and kills all the sea life in the North Atlantic. So my buddy's out of work and he can't afford to drive, so he's got to walk to the job interviews, which sucks 'cause the shrapnel in his ass is givin' him chronic hemorrhoids. And meanwhile he's starvin' 'cause every time he tries to get a bite to eat the only blue plate special they're servin' is North Atlantic scrod with Quaker State. So what do I think? I'm holdin' out for somethin' better. Why not just shoot my buddy, take his job and give it to his sworn enemy, hike up gas prices, bomb a village, club a baby seal, hit the hash pipe and join the National Guard? I could be elected president."


So yeah, bureaucracy is a bitch that politicians play like a hand. Isn’t it amazing how complicated humanity has made life over the span of our evolution? I mean, when anthropologists study our civilization thousands of years from now it is going to be cluttered with cabinets of paper work, mostly bills and maxed out credit reports. Sometimes, its more than I wish to handle, and perhaps it just maybe my first bitter taste of the world, but why does it have to be freaking complicated?…so I’ve decided that maybe Will in Good Will Hunting had a good idea going in the following quote:

“Sean : So what do you really want to do?
Will : I wanna be a shepherd.
Sean : Really.
Will : I wanna move up to Nashua, get a nice little spread, get some sheep and tend to them.
Sean : Maybe you should go do that.”

Of course what happens next is that Robin Williams stops the therapy session and kicks Will out of his office. But hey you know, these days shepherd doesn’t seem so bad. Hey Jesus was a shepherd, compassionate and egalitarian (after rising on the 3rd day he first appeared to a woman, Mary Magdelene, but do women get credit for this, noooo) and managed to change the world by moving their hearts and spirit. A simple shepherd/carpenter changed the world…geez…but it seems like these days nothing can be simple. So yeah, a nice little spread in Nashua doesn’t sound that bad at all.

Cinesol and Art

Okay. So I've strayed....but like I promised I got some more juicy art info for you all! Also, I recently attended the screening of a movie called Puños Rosas at the CineSol Film Festival. It was all filmed in Brownsville and Matamoros so it was pretty interesting to see. I mean I haven't seen a movie with Brownsville since those old Mexican Pedrito Fernandez films with Lucerito or something...haha. The movie was good but quite violent. The Q&A afterwards was good feeling but could have credited better questions from its audience. There were questions like "In the film, was the guy gay?" and some lady also thanked the filmmakers for not putting in "inappropriate material" in the film (she kept saying that over and over... so I was thinking, "lady just say it...sex! sexual material, sexo, sexual innuendo, love-making, making whoppee, something but please stop saying "inappropriate material" as to keep my head from blowing up...ah!). So she thanked them because she was worried about bringing her small children to see the movie (it was very violent), but the violence she didn't mind because that was okay for them to see. I was glad that the filmmakers stated afterward that the movie was indeed not for children, and it isn't...it is good film and has a good story, but its violent and carries an implied plot that replies much on the assumption of its audience and for one you need to know Spanish to understand most of what's going on so even if there was no violence, it's not a film for children.

Okay so the art info here you go!

#1
There is a new art exhibtion at The Narciso Martinez Cultural Arts Center in San Benito entitled Telling Our Story: Dichos and Life in South Texas. The show includes Rio Grande Valley artists Philip Field, Jennifer Rodriquez and Benjamin Varela and I was very, very impressed with their work. I wish to could describe it all right now, but their styles and concepts are different from one another's but also run on this parallel theme of defining and celebrating cultural identity, that I would need to take half an hour to give their art any minimal justice and I need to go get ready for work...so all I can say is go, you won't regret it. I really recommend that you go to the see the exhibtion and if you need any information about the center's open hours call (956) 361-0110.

#2
A new gallery has opened in downtown Brownsville called tinSoupArtspace. I was finally able to find it after being mislead to think it was in the Alonso Building or somewhere on St. Charles St., which I was terribly wrong. So I finally just drove around one day after work and saw this red warehouse on St. Frances and I was like, a red warehouse in Brownsville?? Yup, there is artists there, haha! So anyways, the space also houses a graphic design business called Image-Formulaand it's all ran by two brothers who studied art as well. Pretty cool. Right now they have a show up by Valley artist Cande Aquilar, who does these great big giant abstract collages that are incredibly fun to look at. (*fun may not seem like a very appropriate term for art, but for me its fun to look at art and his art is especially fun.) So go check it out!
Here is their contact info: 903 e. St. Francis, Brownsville, Texas 78520, ph: 956.574.0888
Click Here for an article the was in The Herald about the gallery as well.

So go check it and support Valley art!

Angela! Start Spreading the News...

Good luck in New York Angela! I hope you get to read this at The New York City Library or at home in Queens, but either way best of luck to you and make the very best of being at the center of the universe. I am rooting for you here in Texas. Go Angela!

Please Register to Vote!

Hi. I know I said I was going to be on break, but I just wanted to make a plea to anyone who does not plan to vote to go and register for the upcoming November election. It is so important that you register. Even if you are undecided about whom you wish to vote for or uninformed about current political affairs, atleast register, it wouldn't hurt to atleast register. You still have a whole month ahead to inform yourself and make a decision about which candidiates best suit your vote. The upcoming registration deadline in Texas will be this Monday, October 4th so you still have time! For other states' registration deadlines, to download an application (they must be postmarked by the deadline date) or more information about registration nation-wide visit this site Rock the Vote.

I know that many people are not found of politics and may not want to get involved, but that is an unacceptable reason to not vote. Your vote is your right and by voting you preserve your right to decide what kind of country you live in and thus what kind of life you will live. Right now, so many people in Afghanistan have registered to vote by the millions because they wish to preserve their freedom to choose what kind of country they want to live in. In a democracy your freedom is a right but to a new democracy like Afghanistan they also know it is a privilege that once not long ago was not available to them.

Perhaps that is what our country lacks...a respect and appreciation for our right to vote as a privilege that is free and that does not discriminate. Do you know how many millions of people in the world do not have that kind of privilege? Wake up America, we are living in a world where can no longer turn a blind eye. The Afghanis know this and many are dying to preserve their new freedom and amazingly millions have already registered despite persistant threat and danger. Then why do they do this? Because for the first time in a long time they can finally take a stand for the things they believe in, for the kind of country they hope to create and to not allow anyone to take their freedom from them again. Read this article here and you will see what I am talking about. You may not have guns shooting at you or long tracks of mountain terrain to travel in your way to keep you from registering like the Afghanis, but even then they did it by the millions. The only obstacle you have is apathy, so get over it and go register, go and preserve your right and privilege to vote!

Blogger Break

Hey everyone (all 10 people who read this blog, lol)! I won't be blogging until next week because I will be working on some projects that I really need to dedicate many hours to, but here are some sites that I visit regularly that I do enjoy, so I hope you will enjoy them too. Yay!

Space Monkeys
Seriously

Meanwhile, enjoy this picture of Mexican revolutionary Pancho Villa as well, whose picture I have wanted to put up on this blog after I changed the design to this old western-style template.



Ciao Ciao and have a nice weekend!

Comment on TiVo

Yay! Someone posted a comment for my Adult Swim entry and I am going to answer their question.

Anonymous posted:
"What the hell is TEVO! I keep hearing TEVO TEVO.. but i dont know what it is.. Dont you remember we will in BRownsville texas and its like teh Rancho over here. We here about things the last minute."

My response:
Tevo...well first of all I spelled it wrong. It is in fact called TiVo. Here is a description of the TiVo service from their website: "TiVo works with any TV setup to automatically find and digitally record up to 140 hours of the programming you want--every episode of your favorite series, every Coppola movie, home improvement shows, Dora cartoons, whatever you choose--all while you're out living life. Plus, pause, rewind and slo-mo live TV"

Here is a funny fact about TiVo and that infamous wardrobe malfunction at the last Superbowl. This CNN web article reports that "TiVo said that particular halftime stunt was the most replayed moment not only of the Super Bowl but of all TV moments that the young company has ever measured."

If I could have TiVo I wouldn't want it to record Janet Jackson's boob. I have one too, nothing new. I just want to be able to watch my favorite shows when it would be convenient for me. And even though I recently discovered Adult Swim, I just can't stay up late like I used to. I know, I know, the question would be..."Ever heard of a VCR????"...yeah , yeah, but the point with TiVo is, that I would not have to be there to push the button. I can go to sleep, make art, do my paperwork, write letters, balance my checkbook, go see a movie...And anyways, if I could afford TiVo, I don't think I would get it...I only wrote "I need Tevo" out of exasperation because I was waiting for Inuyasha to start and I don't like having to fight to stay awake.

Anyways, I think I would only get TiVo if I was rich, because for me TV is not the be all of life. Even if I had a middle class salary, I think I would knock myself on the head before I wasted my money on a luxury that I could reasonably live without. For now, I will have to get over my favorite shows (minus Everwood) so I can wake up early and work my way up to affording stamps, movies 16, gas for my car and my college loans. Right now all I pay for is Internet (and that is at half-price because my mom loves me) because I do most of my work over the internet. I am a big google freak and I research everything for all my projects. I want to keep myself informed and I like to share information I think is cool, thus the creation of this blog.

So there you go. I hope this response will bring you to peace of mind and quench your TEVO TEVO nightmares. And yes, I am aware that I am in Brownsville or "the Rancho", so I will be more carefull to reference what I talk about on this blog, sometimes I do get ahead of myself. :0) It's all good!

Go and store yourself some honey

Roadrunner is awesome!
When I am online...I feel like making va va VAROOM! noises. My little Mac is so happy that it can now live up to its potential. :::making giddy faces:::

So going back to what The Art of Brownsville is mostly for, I wanted to share with you all some links to some recent articles from The Herald about local visual artists. They have been doing an awesome job covering the arts within the community. My Kudos to The Herald, so here you go and do enjoy! Art is the stored honey of the human soul. (Don't quote me on that, I didn't make that up, some guy named Theodore Dreiser did. )

High School Art Students
Portrait of a Killer
Suitcase Art and Brownsville Gallery
Brownsville Artist displays at local eateries
Graffiti as a positive
Museum Director and Artist

The grim reality of things...

Okay. So today I came to a sad conclusion that was very disappointing. I was doing serious research online trying to find GLBT (Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual and Transgendered) support groups/safeplaces in the Brownsville region and found nothing helpful....and before you all jump to any conclusions it was not for me...

So I found nothing. I mean in terms of counseling, education or peer support, NADA. Sure, I found gay dating sites, gay nightclub listings and the such, but let's say if someone wanted to find some non-intervention based support (by intervention based I mean like religous or ethical groups), they would not have it readily accessible. It really is sad. There is a whole community of individuals in this region who are not getting the information or help they need to learn how to care for themselves; not being able to find a positive support that won't bring them to the darker areas of society and life (that being prostitution, homelessness, STD's, abuse, drug addictions, depression, etc). No local group to seek support from if their rights have been violated or to protect their rights.

It's sad. How else can I describe it. I never even thought about this until I needed to find the information for someone. Scary the things you realize when the veil has been lifted.

NATIONAL HISPANIC MONTH

I know it's the end of the month, but it ain't over yet... by request of popular demand (okay from my sister, but she is probably the only person who reads this blog, thus making her the popular demander) The Art of Brownsville wishes to recognize....

NATIONAL HISPANIC MONTH

So for these last few days of the month learn about and/or practice Hispanic culture. For starters I have put up some of my personal saved links for you to visit concerning hispanic heritage or cultures. I may or may not agree with everything these sites have to say, but I belive that keeping oneself informed about what people are saying about or representing culture is important.

Latino Webblog
Carmen Lomas Garza
Are Chicanos the same as Mexicans?
A Short History of the Chicano People
Acculturation and Intercultural Identity in the Post-Modern World
Museums and Galleries in the Valley
La Frontera

Ok. I am going to bed now.

A mee mee. A mee mee. A moo mooooooo.

Buenas Noches!

Things are picking up!

Today I spent most of my time in San Benito at the Narciso Martinez Cultural Arts Center preparing for some projects I have underway with the center. Pretty much I am going to be making some art lesson units based on their upcoming exhibition with Valley artists Phillip Field, Benjamin Varela and Jennifer Rodriquez. Then they wil be sold by the center. I also met with the director about pulling a Saturday art program for high school students and we are aiming for January. These are alll exciting prospects and I look forward to learning about and serving my community. (I know I sound like a cop at show and tell...lol) But for reals, I do.

There is a lot of work to get done and today I got my first tension headache since college and am still am dealing with it a bit. It's not so much the work that got me hurting but the not eating well and keeping myself hydrated. I used to get tension headaches in college all the time because I never ate well or drank water and had tons of stuff going on. But this whole summer my mom has kept me well nourished...(very close to gluttony when it comes to tortillas con chorizo)...and for the most part I have not had much going on besides family stuff, a straining job hunt that is still pulling me and occasional outings. But I guess today was the first time that my body freaked because I skipped lunch and pretty much ignored breakfast. Then my sister to me to CiCi's for dinner and I felt better, and then my mom gave my head a massage and healed me with a huevo just incase I had ojo. (For those of you who just went "huh?", healing people with an egg is a common folk medicinal technique used in Mexican-American culture for "ojo" or "evil eye".)

UT-Austin is also coming to give a College of Fine Arts Review Day at my alma mater (did I spell that right?) Lopez HS Fine Arts Academy. They are bringing professors from each department to give workshops for the students. As some of you may remember, I co-coordinated an ArtsReach program called Fronteras Cruzadas this past May through UT COFA. Late this summer, pretty much out of no where, they called me telling me that they wanted to come back to Brownsville. I think it is great and I am glad that I was able to help leave an impression of my city and of the students for them to want to come back and try to recruit specifically from Brownsville for UT COFA. So, for now I am just working as a liason for them, helping them make contacts in the community.

Oh yeah more good news too!

I AM GETTING ROADRUNNER.

I am so excitied! SO SO SO Excited!

No more slow downloads. No more lost signals. No more being logged off! No more shitty (excuse my french) internet experience.

I had such a horrible experience trying to cancel my Compuserve account. (and no I will not hyperlink that horrid ISP, they don't deserve my valuable HTML time). The operator would not give up and at the end I felt so crappy and frustrated. And AOL is only like a notch better than Compuserve, which I am using right now and it does not let me use AIM and Explorer at the same time. (Something about overloading it's oh so sensitive optimized server with too many tasks).

So yes, DIAL UP Internet. I shall be rid of you soon! Oh so soon! And this is where I wish to send you.



Diap-up, may you burn in the flames of Hades long past any recollection of your bad ISP services. Hasta nunca mas!

Must stay awake

Dang you AdultSwim! Dang You!
Why must you be so good and so bad!? So fun to watch but so late at night!
Oh, Darn it to shucks!
Can you atleast put Inuyasha at 10:30??
So then maybe I can get up early and go jogging. :(

hmph....

I need Tevo.

No so nice Observations

The job market in Brownsville is definitely not one of the town's better attributes. With a lagging economy and small market, I could not say there is something for everyone here...and if there is, the opportunities are small and you have to deal with a competitive scene where compadrismo ( the "I pat your back you pat mine, it matters who you know" way) is a decisive influence. I for one don't like to speak so negatively about my town but for the most part it is true and these are things that need to be dealt with soon. Here are some things I have come to observe and conclude.

1. As our education retention rates grow (slowly albeit surely), Brownsville is going to need to develop an economy that can sustain an educated workforce. If Brownsville leaders are wanting to retain the brightest students coming out of their schools, then they need to support an economy that will give them career opportunities that they otherwise have to look for in larger cities.

2. We need to dare to think creatively, to strategize cohesively and to act differently than our larger city counterparts. So far, the Rio Grande Valley has been seen as the lower end of a spectrum. Lowest test scores, lowest income rates, lowest poverty rates, lowest employment rates, lowest retention rates, highest debt rates, lowest insurance rates...the list can go on. Many say this is the result of the region's culture other's say the result of institutional racism. Some say compadrismo and corrupt politics and others say it's due to our proximity to Mexico and large immigrant population....I say blah to all of that! I say if our city is faltering to meet nationwide standards then it is our own fault. It is our own fault because we don't dare to think outside the box of "their standards". For example, if we have low test scores, then why don't we set our standard to surpass the standards of those tests. Why are we retarding the education of our students to meet minimum test scores, to settle fears of institutional pressure, when we can have them surpass those standards instead? I am sorry but teaching students how to pass a test is not an education. IT IS NOT. By applying pressure on educators to have students pass a test, you are only decreasing the quality of education. Instead, lets give students the VERY BEST education they can have. Let's stop treating the Spanish langauge like a handicap and use it as a positive attribute in classrooms. Let's have students learn about Roman and Greek mythology as well as Azetc and Mayan. Let's have our students master Alegbra and construcutive thinking skills for High School. Let's expect MORE from our students, Let's expect more from their parents. Let's give CONFIDENCE back to our students. So when it comes time to taking an exam, we do not have to worry about meeting "their" standards.

3. So far, it seems like Brownsville is following a suburban city development plan , which is very exciting indeed because it has given us many more family oriented venues and more shopping complexes. But we also have wrose traffic and more corporate franchises in the city that are very dependent on macro markets. If the market at large goes bad, so does the suburban economy, which is happening in Brownsville now. I am not saying hey, suburbs suck and lets get rid of McDonalds. What I am saying is that let's not neglect other facets of our city. Let's also give opportunities for small businesses to develop and prosper, for the butcher, baker and candle-stick maker, from yoga teachers, enviormental activists, comic book enthusiasts, to antique collectors. What we need is an economy that can offer a place for everyone.

3. Let's go back to our roots and communities and restore our decaying downtown, fix our pot-holed streets and change our focus to what is needed on hand before we move forward and leave the rest to the dust. Let's not make North Brownsville like a mini-Manhattan and leave Southmost, Buena Vida or West Brownsville to be the Bronx, Brooklyn and Harlem.

4. We need to change our actions. We need to support the better development of Brownsville by not just pointing fingers at politicians. What Brownsville needs is better civic engagement from its residents and we need to invest in the quality of life projects like the arts, community sports, and education as much as we do for eating out, movies and shopping excursions. We also need to learn respect for others, ourselves and our city. We need to be a nicer city. I am tired of the bitter feeling of not having it better that lingers in the city. Get over it. If you want something better in Brownsville, make it hapen. Don't complain and keep your manners. That is something I have seen less of...good manners.

So yes, I have just blurbed our a whole technicality of ideas and opinions, very close to ranting. Hey, if there weren't things I didn't like about my town, I wouldn't love it. I'll write nicer things next time..I promise.

Okay...
Two new art outreach projects under my belt...
I won't elaborate for now...
don't want to jinx anything...

But for sure here is some stuff I am ready to talk about.

I am poor. I am an artist. I am not starving..expect maybe for some Austin Kerby Lane gueso (hmmm...) but I am close to not being able to go to the movies 16 atleast once a week (as Brownsville tradition goes for most people here)..Discount Movies 10 will be my new got to movie home.

So if anyone needs an artist or wants to buy some art cheap...I am your go to artist!

Oh and I also want to be a cobbler's apprentice! I want to learn how to fix shoes, atleast until I can go and learn how to make them in Italy. Then my friend Susan and I will go on to conquer the shoes and accesssories (or as we like to call it shoe and purse) world and give Louis Vuitton and Manolo Blahnik a run for their stilletos.

I also have a lot of stuff to catch up on...but the self loathing, feeling sorry for yourself, recent college graduate who can't find a job, seen every episode of Lizzie McGuire lifestyle has caught up with me. I recently had an interview but it went bad when I went into a coughing fit mid-interview. I have been sick for about two weeks now and have had 5 shots (big ol' Mexican needle ones with oil based liquids! Major Freaking Ouch!), yet no final clearance from sporadic coughing fits. My mom will be closing the family business pretty soon too. A bittersweetness lingers through out our days. So here is my plan:

1. Stop making excuses....as I have done so in the paragraph above
2. If I cannot find a job by the end of this month, apply for the Teaching Sequence at UT-Brownsville
3. Help my mom out as much as possible to make the transition from business owner to real estate investor
4. Have a garage sale! YAY! That means finally clearing out the den of my piles and boxes of college stuff
5. Jog in the mornings...I can't afford a gym membership yet and traffic sucks. I think I can jog within the time it would take me to get to the gym and back driving in Brownsville
6. Work on my projects..that I will not elaborate on...
7. Work on my art, try to exhibit and sell it
8. Finish up paperwork and correspodence
9. Give our dog Curly a much needed bath and haircut
10. Clean my cat Leo's litterbox
11. Clean my room
12. Mow the lawn
13. Clean my car
14. Cook dinner more often and perfect my mother's fidello
15. Write a story or column
16. Become a cobbler's apprentice

15 steps to my goal...my goal being a better life...
Ah! Why does the better life require so many steps...let's face it I think our pets have it made.
without an ounce of work, they have acquired lives with no credible conscience to burden them in air conditioned homes, free meals and water, lots of attention and get don't have to clean up their own bowel movements. Now that is living.

Two exciting events are coming to the Rio Grande Valley pretty soon:

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

The Narciso Martinez Cultural Arts Center presents:

13th Annual
Narciso Martinez Conjunto Festival
September 17, 18 & 19, 2004

225 E. Stenger Street
San Benito, Texas

Enjoy three days of live Texas-Mexico
conjunto music, dancing, food and beverage.
Admission is $1.00 each day,
children under 12 free.

Friday 7:00 PM
Conjunto Heritage Taller
Bene Medina y su Conjunto
Nick Villarreal y su Conjunto

Saturday 5:00 PM
Ramiro Cavazos y Los Donnenos
Amadeo Flores
Conjunto Atzlan
Joel Guzman & the Mexican Roots Trio
Oscar Hernandez & the TUFF Band

Sunday 4:00 PM
Los Fantasmas del Valle
Gilberto Perez y Sus Compadres
Los Angeles del Sur
Los Dos Gilbertos
Ruben Vela y su Conjunto

(956) 361-0110

Schedule is subject to change.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

CineSol Film Festival

"The CineSol Latin Film Festival is an event that showcases the very best in Latino American Film and Video creation. The traveling Festival literally makes its way throughout South Texas spanning two weeks, celebrating and awarding achievement in the art of filmmaking. The Cinesol Latin Film Festival is dedicated to furthering the art, craft and business of writers and filmmakers and recognizing their artistic contributions in the Latino community. Cinesol supports the work of aspiring and established filmmakers by enhancing public awareness to their artistic endeavors and by encouraging dynamic and long-lasting community alliances.

CineSol made its historic debut in September 1993 in celebration of National Hispanic Heritage Month. It provided the Texas Border Region with its first film festival ever, including cultural art events in the Mexican cities of Matamoros. Reynosa and Tamaulipas. CineSol has traveled throughout the region, bringing the Latino voice and vision through film and video directly to their prospective communities.

This year's premiere weekend will be held in McAllen, Texas. In the weeks to follow, the festival will travel to Harlingen, Texas and will culminate in Brownsville, Texas. There will be screenings at area theatres, museums, libraries, universities, and social service organizations as part of its Community Outreach component. "

borrowed from the cinesol website

Appropriation At Its Best

A breath of fresh air and a dose of humor, even it is weird:

Away from the gruesome news of bad politics, terrorism, war and court cases that have been given more attention than needed, there has been reports of an actual killing of a Chupacabra ( the infamous "goat-sucker") by a rancher in Elmendorf, Texas, a small town southeast of San Antonio. Here is a webpage that has the best coverage I have been able to find.

Brownsville has it fair share of stories of the paranormal, from a haunted university to UFO sightings, oddly slain cattle, a giant flying dinosaur, duendes (little green men), brujas (witches), lechusas (large white owls), you name it...someone has some paranormal story to tell and claim to be true. Call it rural or urban myths, people in Brownsville love to tell stories (or as we call "cuentos") and it is perhaps the strongest hertiage and cultural resource that has sustained assimilation. The stories live on and in most people's hearts are true. If you have someone from Brownsville in your presence, you will have a story or three to keep you all chilled or thrilled. And for the most part with my experience with people from my town, we like to talk about it, even if we go to bed a bit scared at night, even if you've heard the cuento for the 12th time.

So about this Chupacabra report, is it the real dog-gone truth? Perhaps it is. I say why not? If there are thousands of species of animals that have yet to be discovered in the Amazon Rainforest, then why not one in our very own backyard? Looking at the pictures, it is easy to see how one can exagerate the description to resemble an alien from Mars, reminiscent to me of the disney cartoon Stich of "Lilo and Stich". (I would not be suprised if Disney cartoonists used the Chupacabra sketches to design a cuddlier alien like Sitch.) It is a wide known fact that under shock or fear, one tends to exagerrate the physical description of something or someone they saw, a fact that investigators always bring to mind when interviewing witnesses or when trying to come up with a visual profile or sketch. See for yourselves.

Here is the picture of the animal killed by the rancher in Elmendorf:


From a paranormal resource, here is an earlier artist's rendition based on witness reports:


Here is a picture of 'Stich", from "Lilo and Stich":


So there you go folks. You can take this news of the weird as however you wish. Just keep the stories going.

I love my town, but lately two words have crosssed my mind many a time.
NOVA SCOTIA.

The heat is unbearable sometimes. Yes, why not move to land of Leif Erickson and blissful canadian summers? Atleast, for the summer that is.

Yup. I know I have been grumbling a bit. The job hunt has been pretty straining and I know this is the situation almost everywhere. So I will forge ahead into an undetermined future for my career. I will try to put up info about art soon. Ciao ciao!

As La Canicula nears it mid-point, the summer heat is getting bad. It's enough to keep me constrained to indoor activities in exception to the occasional trip to the island. For instance today, my mom and I really wanted to go to Matamoros to check out the tellas (fabric) stores to look for curtains for our newly renovated office. Down the grapeline we heard that there was a huge line of traffic back in the USA. Any native knows that being stuck in traffic at the bridge during the summer heat is no enjoyable experience. It is hell and the constant fear and likely threat that you engine will heat up, gas run out or that your antifreeze dry are just a few things that keep your anxiety rolling as you slowly sludge towards your American destination.

So instead we went to Harlingen to Hobby Lobby. The construction on the highway 77 is pretty scary to drive through at times and then there is always someone in a huge truck or SUV tailgating you even though you are doing about 70mph in a 50mph zone and you can't obviously move because there is a car in the left lane that won't budge by ignoring the fact that it has a line of cars tailgating behind him. So there is a truck tailgating you pushing 72mph and a slow car ahead of you doing exactly 49pmh in the left lane that is blocking you from reaching your destination, the right lane where you could do a comfortable 55-60 mph if you could only get ahead of the group of slow drivers in that lane as well. Tis a fine art- driving on US-77. It is getting just as bad as I-35, sometimes even worse, just because the car manners here are not as polite.

Alas, we did not find the fabric we desired but I did by a pair of awesome red buckeld heels at Ross. I love my shoes! I am wearing them now before I go to bed. YAY red shoes!

Hola Hola.
Sorry it's been a while. Have been a bit busy with the family, renovating a bedroom in the house into an office, helping out with the family business and develpoing some investments. Also, the job hunt is keeping me at bay. I also got to attend La Ley concert last, last Saturday and a free Aleks Syntek concert in Matamoros this past Thursday. They both were AWESOME AWESOME shows. Ely Guerra and Control Machete also came to McAllen with Cafe Tacuba this past Saturday but I disappointingly missed that show. The thought of it makes me want to hit my head on the wall but I was busy putting a wood floor into the new office and it was butt-kicking work. If you have ever tried to put in illaminated wood floor, then you must know what I am talking about. The Kumbia Kings were also in town this Saturday.

So what I know about art events:

The Cuatro del Valle show is still up at the Narciso Martinez Center in San Benito. The opening reception was good and I was able to get my books signed by all four artists. Go check it out because the pieces are very well composed and each reflects a personal style that contributes and derives from the Chicano experience in the Rio Grande Valley. Xavier Garza's painting style struck me most because it reminded me of another artist, Verdirosi, whose exhibtion I went to in Orvieto, Italy. Their scenes are narrative and figuratively stylized like a cartoon, which casts a lighter tone to their paintings. It would have been awesome if they could also have sold some prints at the show.

I also briefly read about an art exhibition at Imagenes Studio at Paseo Plaza which is located on FM801 past Bennigans.

The musical "Hair!" will be playing at the Camille Lightner Playhouse. Their website is located on the links list so check it out for more info.

Okay, gotta go. Sorry I am a bit dried up in info and out of loop. I will try to juice it up more next posting. TTFN!

There is an art opening occuring this upcoming Saturday at the Narciso Martinez Cultural Arts Center. Here are some links to sites about the artists so you can have a sneak preview as to what you may encounter at the show.

I plan to go but I may not be able to because my Dad wants to take a quickie trip to Puebla all of sudden. But if I do go, count on a whole review of the event to be posted.

Another detail I thought I should point out, but I was only able to find one link about artist Celina Hinojosa. I found a whole lot more info for the male artists....hmmmm. Not that I want to start pointing a feminist finger, because one of the most prominent Chicano artists is a woman. All of a sudden, I just became more interested in looking into the Valley art scene concerning women. This may not even be an issue of gender but more of lack of technological access. But who knows what one may find out. :::wheels turning in head:::

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Sat. July 10th, 6:00 pm - "Cuatro del Valle" group art show
Xavier Garza:
http://www.gallista.com/garza
http://www.lapena-austin.org/english/events/xaviergarza.html
Celina Hinojosa:
http://latinoartcommunity.org/community/ChicArt/ArtistDir/CelHin.html
Luis Valderas:
http://latinoartcommunity.org/community/2004AILAF/Auction/lotpages/LuiVal.html
http://latinoartcommunity.org/community/2004AILAF/Auction/lotpages/LuiValLosTres.html
http://www.panam.edu/news/index.cfm?newsid=2312&curtype=release&curbar=news
Carlos Gomez:
http://blue.utb.edu/cgomez/New%20Gomez%20site.html
http://www.nuevosantander.com/gomez.htm

Opening reception and book signing of Chicano Art for our Millennium.
http://www.asu.edu/brp/newandforthcoming/MillBook.html

Book reading by Xavier Garza - Creepy Creatures and other Cucuys.
http://latinoartcommunity.org/community/OnlineCom/Events/2004-Events/2004-March.html

YAY!
I got the links up! If anyone has a link they would like to be added let me know.
Email me by clicking here.

I am interested in posting links to sites about valley artists, arts and culture organizations, etc...
If your site has something of interest to Brownsville or the Rio Grande Valley/Rio Bravo Frontera Region or if you are a Brownsville/Frontera native who has a site or weblog you want to share, then let me know!

***Links will be posted with discretion. The Art of Brownsville WILL NOT post links to web pages that discriminate regarding race, ethnicity, creed, color, national origin, language or native tongue, sex, age, disability, marital status or sexual orientation.

I know the red-tape is a downer, but for the most part this blog will remain an inclusive forum where all people can feel comfortable to get a cultural fix. That doesn't mean that there will be no room for discussion and commentary. If there is one thing that I strongly believe about art is in its ability to allow artists and its audience a forum upon which to create discussion and evaluation, and for the most part it is an inclusive medium that allows all sorts of perspectives, conclusions and analysis upon it. What is also so great about art is that you can change your mind about it later if you want, which won't usually come back to bite you.

For example, I was reading the commentary section in today's Brownsville Herald editorial page and was pleased with the replies people sent in concern to a viewpoint entry about a certain liberal columnist from the New York Times. So far, the Herald has not posted the replies online but from what I can recall, there were two replies commending the Herald for providing the public with columns from different points of view. In my opinion, I don't think there can ever be a political comment without a biased perspective. It's the ugly game of political public relations. So in awareness of this, I would better appreciate an editorial forum that can provide me with as many different perspectives from all sides of the political spectrum, thus allowing me to make my own decision as to what I want to believe. That people, is the beauty of democracy, that is freedom...give me the beautiful and the bad, the Michael Moores and Rush Limbaughs, The Herald and El Rocinante, The New York Times and The Washington Post, the Renaissance Art and the Avant Garde! I am sounding like a Walt Whitman knock-off. ::chuckle::

So on the topic of Renaissance Art, here is another more controversial example of appreciated democracy that just knocked my shoes this week. Dan Brown's novel The DaVinci Code generated an incredible amount of response among the religous community and public for the controversial theories it reveals in concern to the origins of organized Judeo-Christian religion. Here is a snippet from an interview on the Da Vinci Code website:

"THE TOPIC OF THIS NOVEL MIGHT BE CONSIDERED CONTROVERSIAL. DO YOU FEAR REPERCUSSIONS?
I can't imagine why. As I mentioned earlier, the theory I reveal is one that has been whispered for centuries. It is not my own. Admittedly, this may be the first time the theory has been unveiled within the format of a popular thriller, but the information is anything but new. My sincere hope is that The Da Vinci Code, in addition to entertaining people, will serve as an open door for readers to begin their own explorations.

HAS ANYONE IN ORGANIZED RELIGION COME OUT IN SUPPORT OF YOUR NOVEL?
Yes, many people in organized religion have come out in support of this novel, and, of course, many have come out in opposition as well. The opposition generally comes from the strictest Christian thinkers who feel the idea of a "married Jesus" serves to undermine His divinity. While I don't agree with this interpretation, this is immaterial because the dialogue itself is a deeply empowering and positive force for everyone involved. Suddenly, enormous numbers of people are passionately debating important philosophical topics, and regardless of the personal conclusions that each of us draws, the debate can only help to strengthen our understanding of our own faith. Much of the positive response I get from within organized religion comes from nuns (who write to thank me for pointing out that they have sacrificed their entire lives to the Church and are still considered "unfit" to serve behind the altar). I have also heard from hundreds of enthusiastic priests. While many of them disagree with some of the ideas in the novel, they are thrilled that their parishioners are eager to discuss religion. Father John Sewell of St. John's Episcopal Church in Memphis stated it particularly eloquently in the press recently, saying: "This [novel] is not a threat. This is an opportunity. We are called to creatively engage the culture and this is what I want to do. I think Dan Brown has done me a favor. He's letting me talk about things that matter."

So here you have two people from the opposite sides of a spectrum (Dan Brown and Father John Sewell), agreeing that the benefits of disagreement are more good than bad. They see opposition not as a threat or detrimental, but as opportunity for exploration, evaluation and spiritual growth. How awesome is that! To balance my excerpt from Dan Brown's interview, here is a response to the DaVinci Code by Opus Dei, a catholic organization that is addressed in the novel quite extensively.

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So in short my point is, The Art of Brownsville will be a platform for the discussion of art and culture in Brownsville and the Rio Grande Valley/Rio Bravo Frontera. I just used the examples from politics and religion to get some points across about the importance of having different perspectives and dialogue in our life; to take conflicts of interest as a beneficial challenge by trying to understand them, to learn from them and to ultimately make our own decision. We have to freedom to do so. So appreciate democracy by using your individual rights and privileges to form your own beliefs. Ignorance is a price too high to pay these days.

In honor of the greatest music of all time, Rock en Español, I thought I shoud inform you of some acts that are going to be in the vicinity!

La Ley
Sunday, July 11
La Villa Real Center, McAllen, Texas
I believe you can by tickets at the Boot Jack which is located in the shopping center where the nightclubs Copa Cabana and Bucana's are located, on the expressway before the exit for Sunrise Mall.

I heard there will be a private concert in Brownsville for $100 per person, if I am correct on July 12th or July 14th. I am thinking there is more of a chance they perform July 12th because they are due to perform in Denver the 13th and then Salt Lake the 15th, so that would mean they would have to fly back just to perfrom in Brownsville on the 14th. But who knows, maybe they will, it is a pricey concert. Anyways, the way I heard it is that Bucana's nightclub is sponsoring the performance at the Brownsville Events Center. I have a sneeky suspicion this could all be an urban myth, I have yet to hear any updates on this concert from the grapevine.

Cafe Tacvba

Austin, Texas concert with Ely Guerra and Control Machete
Date:
07/14/2004
Doors Time:
8:00 PM
Venue:
La Zona Rosa
Address:
612 West Fourth Street

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Cafe Tacvba will also be performing here but I am unable to find any confirmation online. I did hear an announcement on FM 91.3 . I will keep my ears open and update this info ASAP.

Remember my new found addiction to Cable TV? So I have also found that I am a sucker for TV movies. This morning I cried when Macauly Culkin died in "My Girl" and tonight I cried when Selena died in the Selena movie. Wow. I remember I went to go see Selena at Movies 10 and as a former, avid Tejano NON-fan, I remember trying to fight tears at the end. Now, I like Tejano okay, so I let myself bawl it out at the end of Selena, but I was suprised by crying for "My Girl". I didn't cry when I watched it like 10 years ago (eek!). I can even remember going to see it at the Northpark Plaza. I remember movies costed $1.50 back then! And then we would go on Tuesday nights to get in for 50 cents. Now I think that theatre is a church or something like that. No disrespect to the church, but I think it would be awesome if someone would revive that theatre and make into an indie theatre, like the Landmark Dobie Theatre in Austin. They could also show old Mexican films with Pedro Infante and Cantinflas! La India Maria too! God those films are the bomb!

So on the topic of film, I heard that CineSol will be held in McAllen this year and not at the Island. I heard the City of McAllen offered the film festival a considerable amount of money to hold the event there. I also hear that there will be a a lot of great entries this year. I will try to keep you all informed.

I am having trouble figuring this new template out so I have not managed to get the links up. I may have to look into different options or return to a simpler format. Who knows....anyone have any suggestions?

Hey, if you have a website whose link you think would be of interest to The Art of Brownsville visitor, then let me know. Thanks!

Here is another event I just got wind of. Sounds like fun and proceeds will go to support cultural endeavors at the Narciso Martinez Center which serves the Rio Grande Valley region! So go, have fun and feel great about yourself too!

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Cool Jams Inc. presents

Los Cadetes de Linares

Friday July 2, 2004
8:00 pm

International Convention Center
4434 E. 14th Street
Brownsville, Texas

Admission - $25

tickets available at the International Convention Center
for more information call 956-546-8878

part of the proceeds will benefit
The Narciso Martinez Cultural Arts Center of San Benito, Texas

Yesterday was the ground breaking for the Brownsville Museum of Fine Art's new building which will be located next to Gladys Porter Zoo and Ringgold Park. Click here for recent media coverage by the Brownsville Herald.

This is a very exciting event in the progression of Brownsville's cultural venues, not excluding the Ringgold Park renovation, the renovation and expansion of the Capitol Theatre and the plans for Linear Park. We should support these initiatives as well as the smaller creative endeavors, be it by buying hand crafted jewelery by a self-supporting artist at an art fair, attending an improv poetry night at the local coffee joint or cheering on a your local comedians at a comedy club. The point is, big or small, all artistic endeavors in Brownsville and the Valley need your support and/or participation! So go on, get out there, learn a thing or two and have fun!

Check there events out at the Narciso Martinez Center. Everytime I go to an event with the NMCAC, I end up learning something new and having a good time! Take a friend or two as well!

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Narciso Martinez Cultural Arts Center      
225 E. Stenger Street
San Benito, Texas
(956) 361-0110

July Events:

Tues. July 6th, 7:00 pm - Writers' Forum
Everyone is invited to share their poetry, fiction and prose in English or Spanish with other writers.

Sat. July 10th, 6:00 pm - "Cuatro del Valle" group art show
Xavier Garza, Celina Hinojosa, Luis Valderas and Carlos Gomez

Opening reception and book signing of Chicano Art for our Millennium.
http://www.asu.edu/brp/newandforthcoming/MillBook.html

Book reading by Xavier Garza - Creepy Creatures and other Cucuys.
http://latinoartcommunity.org/community/OnlineCom/Events/2004-Events/2004-March.html

Wed. July 14th, 7:00 pm - "El Second Weensdee"
Oral history series on conjunto music featuring Santiago Jimenez Jr.
http://www.ondanet.com/tejano/artists/Santiago.Jimenez.Jr/

Thurs. July 15th, 7:30 pm - Book reading and signing
Border-Line Personalities: A New Generation of Latinas Dish
on Sex, Sass and Cultural Shifting
by Michelle Herrera Mulligan and Robyn Moreno of New York City
http://www.harpercollins.com/catalog/book_xml.asp?isbn=0060580763

Every Friday at 7:30 pm and Sunday at 2:00 pm - "North of the Border"
a program of Mexican Roots Music with Rosa & Joe Perez
on Public Radio 88 FM - KMBH/KHID
(88.9 lower Valley, 88.1 upper Valley)
http://www.kmbh.org/radio/local.htm

Sorry everyone...I have been on a bit of a hiatus...trying to be as lazy as possible and find a job! lol. well I am exaggerating on the lazy part or is it the other way 'round? hmmm....lol. But I am taking it slow and easy and trying to find a job as soon as possible too...so yet another contradiction. I owe so many people so many thank you's, greetings and apologies. June has been a brooding with no action kind of month. May was such a climactic month that "the finale" of life as I had known it for 5 years (college) pushed my senioritis to meltdown into this new found adoration for cable tv, Friendster and popsicles! Yes yes, I am probably making this appear more dramatic than it is. But July is looking up! I will be posting more often and I promise to catch up with everything and everyone...

So besides life...

Here is what is in store for The Art of Brownsville:

- A new template..I figured I should try brown for "Brown"sville. Actually, it's quite nice, feels historic...like Brownsville! I feel like I should post a picture of Pancho Villa or something...lol
- A reposted and updated link list
- You, si tu, can comment now too! Below postings, you can find a link to a commentary board.
- More information and commentary on local events
- Maybe an added contributor (if he agrees...)
- 10X more juicy Brownsville chisme! (okay, so I have never posted any chisme but technically 10x0=0 so technically I am telling the truth...just thought I would get you all excited!)
- More pictures yay!

Check back soon and this time it's for real!

Within the next few weeks I am going to revamp this blog and model it a bit more after Arts Journal. Keep an eye out and if you have any links you would like me to add let me know!

I know this is short notice but I wanted to share this with you all. I will be there and it will be my first art opening that I will be attending in the Valley. It sounds like its going to be good.

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For Immediate Release:
May 26, 2004

Contact: Cristina Balli
Narciso Martinez Cultural Arts Center
P.O. Box 471
San Benito, Texas 78586
(956) 361-0110

NMCAC hosts "Pieces of the Global Jigsaw Puzzle"

WHO: Narciso Martinez Cultural Arts Center & Rene Z. Garza

WHAT:  MFA Exhibition by Rene Z. Garza

WHEN: June 1 - July 1 2004
            Opening Reception: Thursday June 3, 2004 7:00 - 9:00 pm

WHERE: 225 E. Stenger Street, San Benito


Visit the marketplace of the people, versus the marketplace of corporations, as stimuli from a Mexican mercado bombard your senses. Rene Garza exhibits his photographs taken during a trip to the Zapatista territories of Chiapas. Experience the sights and sounds of the mercado as you listen to Zapatista tunes, smell and taste the cooking of huitlacoche, and quench your thirst with agua de limon and Kawamas. 


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