Brownsville At Large

A Babble-Rant Reflection: Part One / Brownsville At Large

The soundtrack of my life these days includes this awesome band I recently learned about called Modest Mouse. Their music is so awesome and f-ing brilliant...I mean it just fills that existential void inside that we all sometimes carry...somedays the void is an overwhelming blackhole and other days it's as tiny as the head of a pin needle. Most of the time it's just there, hiding behind our ambitions in pursuit of meaning and happiness, keeping us a little uneasy and little insecure. That's how life goes I suppose, but I may be too young to say. (You see, existential void right there, making me say that!) lol. When I started to really pay attention to their songs and lyrics, it felt like when you call out "Is anyone out there?!" from the top of a huge canyon, but this time the echo is not a repetition of your own voice, but an answer...even if it just someone relating...so yeah, I am psyched because I haven't felt this way for new music in a long while.

Here are the lyrics to their song "The World at Large". It really speaks to me so I want to share it with you all.

Ice-age heat wave, can't complain.
If the world's at large, why should I remain?
Walked away to another plan.
Gonna find another place, maybe one I can stand.
I move on to another day,
to a whole new town with a whole new way.
Went to the porch to have a thought.
Got to the door and again, I couldn't stop.
You don't know where and you don't know when.
But you still got your words and you got your friends.
Walk along to another day.
Work a little harder, work another way.

Well uh-uh baby I ain't got no plan.
We'll float on maybe would you understand?
Gonna float on maybe would you understand?
Well float on maybe would you understand?

The days get shorter and the nights get cold.
I like the autumn but this place is getting old.
I pack up my belongings and I head for the coast.
It might not be a lot but I feel like I'm making the most.
The days get longer and the nights smell green.
I guess it's not surprising but it's spring and I should leave.

I like songs about drifters - books about the same.
They both seem to make me feel a little less insane.
Walked on off to another spot.
I still haven't gotten anywhere that I want.
Did I want love? Did I need to know?
Why does it always feel like I'm caught in an undertow?

The moths beat themselves to death against the lights.
Adding their breeze to the summer nights.
Outside, water like air was great.
I didn't know what I had that day.
Walk a little farther to another plan.
You said that you did, but you didn't understand.

I know that starting over is not what life's about.
But my thoughts were so loud I couldn't hear my mouth.
My thoughts were so loud I couldn't hear my mouth.
My thoughts were so loud.

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

If you all want to hear a clip of the song or buy it click here.

It has been 6 months since my return to Brownsville. At times, it is so good and sometimes it is frustrating....one (as in I, but 3rd person is much funner isn't it?) has to fight with two wills inside...the will to stay and really make a contribution, to learn as much as possible about what you didn't understand as a teenager, what one didn't see, making new and innovative things happen, appreciating the things that were already happening...and then there is the will to leave and take from someone else's contributions somewhere else, because you don't want to deal with reasons you left for...you just want to travel, meet new people, see new things, do new things...not having to convince anyone or fighting for a better this or that, because it's already there...I know, it's all very bipolar...but I am assuming how I feel at times has nothing to with the actual disease and more with a transition in life...which is turning out to be a very interesting one.

It is an interesting time for Generation Y..(my generation 1978-1988)...before social chaos, a crumbling economy and what seems like a crumbling world filled with terror and hate became a very real reality...we had an open world before us...we were supposed to be the new yuppies in a sense, but more hopeful, progressive and altruistic to some point... But now our opportunity tank has shrunk and many of us end up with wonderful potential but many closed doors. But in a way, this also makes us have to be more innovative and push our potential and skills...perhaps there is hope for Generation Y..but for now it's something not as accessible...many of us are surviving by the edge of our skins...but perhaps it's the thickest skin in the world, because there are millions out there who have it worse. So like Modest Mouse says, " Ice-age heat wave, can't complain. If the world's at large, why should I remain? Walked away to another plan. Gonna find another place, maybe one I can stand."

So in quoting that, am I talking about Brownsville? Do I want to leave? I don't think so (atleast for now) I like to think Brownsville will always be home, but you have to leave atleast for 6 weeks, and get new perspective. It is easy to get caught up in a bubble mentality...but this goes for anywhere and not just Brownsville...even Manhattan (which would be a bigger bubble, but a bubble none the less)...so in knowing this...there is hope and there is potential..because life can change and one can change, people can change and places can change. Change is the only constant and the greatest contributor to the human condition..so why complain? Just deal.

So yeah....I don't know what I am saying..like Modest Mouse says "My thoughts are so loud I couldn't hear my mouth". So I'll just babble-rant until something makes sense. It's all okay.

New Post Coming Soon: (I need some time, Part 2 will be a doozy!)
A Babble-Rant Reflection: Part Two / Getting My Float On In Brownsville

Brown Bag Lecture Series

Here is something way cool going on at The Brownsville Museum of Fine Art this Friday:

Brown Bag Lecture Series Presents:
Glass Artist - LIZ ORMES
Demonstrating Flame Working
Nov. 19th, 11:30am - 1:00pm
Dessert and Coffee provided.
Free to the public.
RSVP by calling (956) 542-0941

Another cool thing to for artists to keep in mind:
The BMFA 34th Adult International Art Show Competition
It is coming up pretty soon, for more details click here.
There will also be a student international art show held almost immediately after the adult show so that would also be a great opportunity for young striving artists.

Quickie Update!

Hi Folks!
Sorry it has been a while. I got a bit busy last week and then I took a weekend trip to Houston. I went to one of my fave museums, The Museum of Fine Arts Houston, and got to see some old friends, human and artworks. ;o). I began to tell you all about it...but then I lost my post and didn't have time to start all over again. I will make a point to do soon. I have to go now again...I have so much to do and my email box is exploding and acting kooky so I have to work on that as well. For now, please enjoy some of my fave links. Ta Ta for now...I'll be back soon!


Arts Journal A very cool site I wish I had the time to model this site after
International Museum of Art and Science Awesome museum, need to add to my links list...THEY HAD CHIHULY!
South Texas Ghost Hunters Yeah! Like ghostbusters, but not really. Look at this site at creepy moments late at night.
Keep your eyes open in Austin!
Valentina Giovagnini Good music from Italy! ITunes calls is easy listening...I call it a fusion of the renaissance and electronica...very cool.
The Cult of Mac Which I am an enthusiastic member of...::shifty eyes::

Ok folks gotta go now for reals!
Hasta Luego!

November 11th: Veteran's Day

As an early note, The Art of Brownsville would like to give a huge note of recognition and gratitude to all our American veterans and all of our soldiers serving our country abroad and in our nation. A huge note of gratitude should also go to who serve in the Freedom Corps.

You are all working against social plights in our nation and around the world. You have fought and many have died so that we may live better lives and that will always warrant more appreciation than we could give. Thank You and God Bless.




PS: The Vietnam Memorial Wall will be unveiled today at the UTB ITEC Campus (formerly Amigoland Mall). In honor of our veterans I suggest that you visit this monumental installation.

November NMCAC Events

**
Wednesday November 10th
7 pm
"El Second Weensdee"
Oral history on conjunto music featuring accordanist Joe Vela and vocalist Chacha Jimenez.
$3 Donation

Saturday, November 13th
7 pm
Frontera History Series
Lecture by Dr. Ana Carolina Castillo Crim book reading and book signing of "De Leon: A Tejano Family History"
free admission

Wednesday, November 17th
7:30 pm
Los Murales de San Anto
Presentation by founders and staff at the San Anto Cultural Arts Center of San Antonio
$2 Donation

Friday, November 19th
8 pm
Chicano Poetry Jam
Featuring poets Daniel Garcia Ordaz, Amado Balderas, Lady Mariposa, Rosa and Joe Perez and writers of the NMCAC writer's forum
free admission

**

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

Election Reflection #2

I don't have much to say about the election as of now, because to some point I am just a bit disillusioned and don't know what to say about anything....I have my opinions but I will let them stew until I am ready to give a good statement. Trust me on that. Maybe within the next week or so...

But my good friend Angela has made a good statement about the election and it really is an insightful analysis on her part. So I want to share it with you all and she was so good to allow me to do so. Angela is a Texan but just moved to the to New York City about a month ago to try and make her calling in the fields of art and animation.

So here goes Angela:

The country is now dealing with Bush's re-election. Republicans are happy, while democrats are scratching their heads trying to figure out what went wrong.

I am saddened that he is once again our commander-in-chief. However, I started wondering what about the man made him appealing to Americans. If you look at a map of electoral college votes, the mid-west and the south supported Bush, while the East and West coasts did not. Why is that? I have several theories.

May I present...

Angela's reasons for why Bush won

1) Republicans and democrats were arguing different things.

Republicans were more war on terror focused, and democrats were more issues focused. But the republicans were able to convince most people that it was the war on terror that was the REAL issue of the election.

2) With this framework in mind, Bush was able to convince (most) people that he is the only person who could protect the country from terrorists.

People are understandably concerned that America may be attacked again and well aware that many countries hate us. Bush used this to his advantage. As stated earlier, he made the war on terror the main issue. He successfully convinced America that only he- the man who got us into two wars in the first place, is the person who can help change the world. This is interesting considering that:

a) we went into Iraq on false pretenses
b) Osama Bin Laden is still making video tapes
c) Bush has never been to war
d) The state that suffered the most from the terrorists (my state) overwhelmingly DID NOT support the man, nor did many of the firefighter's unions
e) we have no exit strategy for getting out of Iraq or Afghanistan, and in fact, a good chunk of money designated for Afghanistan was funneled into the war in Iraq before that war began

2) Bush was able to convince Americans that he is more similar to the average person than Kerry.

Bush's lack of social skills actually worked to his advantage. Before the debates, I heard people half-jokingly say that if the man simply stood straight and gave direct eye contact that he could win the debates. This is quite sad. Even republicans admit that the man is not a skilled orator. Oddly enough, this works to his advantage. He is viewed not as an intellectual snob but a down-home everyday kind of guy. A lot of people relate to that. And what he lacks in communication skills he makes up for in image. All those shots of him in Crawford are strategic. They portray him (again) as sort of a modern day everyman, a guy who is not so high in mighty in the white house that he can't enjoy the simply pleasures in life- God, family and country. And once again that resonates with regular people.

In contrast, many view Kerry as an elitist, especially since he is married into the Heinz family. However the Bush family is elitist as well. Everyone modern president has had money and connections. I don't care how podunk he acts, Bush is not poor. People tend to forget that though when they see him in boots and a cowboy hat.

3) The rhetoric of religion is a powerful thing.

Like it or not, religion plays a big role in the lives of most people. Most people in the US believe in some form of God, and Bush knows this. He wears his religion on his sleeve in order to portray himself as God's candidate, a moral choice in an amoral world. People, especially Christians, flock to him because of this. Which is unfortunate. Being a Christian does not automatically make you a good leader. As a Christian, I have seen many people who also share the faith or claim to who are horrible leaders who make bad decisions. And Kerry is not anti-religion. He is a Catholic, but he chose not to frame everything he does in Christian terms.

4) The republican party as a whole is seen as the party of family values.

Republicans are seen as the party of God, family and country. The moral compass of the nation. Their views on letting people do what they want in a free market, having a small, unobtrusive government and letting people live their own lives appeals to folks. Which is interesting considering that they do not go out of their way to provide affordable health care, child care, better jobs, efficient environmental regulations or lower taxes for the middle and lower classes. And then there's the patriot act, which takes away many civil liberties.

In contrast...

5) The Democrats are out of touch with most Americans.

Liberal is a bad word nowadays. Most people in this country are probably more conservative or middle of the road. They're not eager to hear about stem-cell research, gay marriage, Hollywood people and rock stars who don't necessarily know anything about politics, legalizing marijuana or the myriad of other fringe issues that more liberal-minded people gravitate to. They may not agree with abortion. They think that democrats expect minorities and women to vote for them but don't do anything to court their favor.

They want to hear about what is familiar- again God, family and country. They want to feel safe.

6) Many hated Bush but they did not like Kerry.

Kerry did not frame himself well as the stronger more driven leader. I don't think of the word "tough" when I think of Kerry. I think smart, I think intellectual, but not tough, or go-getter, which is what people think when they think of Bush. Yes, he may be stupid. Yes, he is a bad public speaker. But with Bush, you know what you're going to get. With Kerry, you don't. And that fear is what drives a lot of people. Also, Bush successfully framed himself as being decisive. Even though he made bad decisions, they were decisive, unwavering decisions. Kerry unfortunately got labeled as a flip-flopper for having second thoughts about important things that affect millions. In other words, he showed he's human, but people don't want a second guesser, they want someone who is going to go forth with something. Even if it is wrong.

7) The views of Americans in different states are deeply rooted in 200+ years of history. New York and LA are cosmopolitan places that share more in common with the world than with the rest of America. We are all Americans but we don't understand each other, and instead of trying to find common ground we give cop-out answers- Bush is stupid, Kerry is a
flip-flopper, blah blah blah.

So that is my assessment. What say you?

Angela

**************

If you all wish to respond to her statement, then leave a comment, and please sign your comment or leave an alias...and she will keep a tab and respond...her alias is Phoenix. Okay, folks. Have a good day and God bless. 

Reclaiming Art

Sometimes, I believe people take for granted just how much work and time goes into making art...and not just visual art but all types of creative expressions like music, theatre, dance, design and literary work. And I speak as an artist, but making art is not somehting we pull out of our asses, as I sometimes think people imagine it to be. Sorry folks, art is not about making happy bunnies and happy trees within a matter of minutes with the quick dab of a palette knife. It is hard work and it takes much meditation, conceptualization, preparation, drafting and planning...and that is only the beginning of the story. Artists still need to execute the creation, make revisions, finalize it and then promote it, which entails so much more than just making art...like marketing, making business arrangements, networking...etc, etc. We have a long way to go in our society before artists can get real respect as professionals and it's frustrating, but the truth is most people don't see the whole story behind art and only see happy bunnies and happy trees.

Perhaps my frustrations are blinding me for now...but making art has been so difficult for me as of late, and it's because I am up to that point where I can pretty much pull something out of my ass..and voila!...happy bunnies and happy trees with no personal substance. I yearn to be a pianist these days (I think reconnecting with my old Tori Amos cd's are contributing to this yearning)...so I could spill the stories in my heart like honey poured onto a pancake..(that's the best analogy I could think of..)..but yes, I see artistic expression like honey. Pianists just make it seem so automatic (which I know is very untrue...), but let's say you have this inspiration, you can just go to a piano and play the emotion and let the music take you...not that I am saying you can't have that automatic experience with visual art...for some visual artists, one can go up to an empty canvas and fill it like a pianist would play a melody on the piano....But I am not one of those visual artists...my experience with making art is not automatic and to be honest very insecure and sometimes painful. It's like pouring honey on the pancake, but first I have to collect the honey from an actual nest and I end up with bee stings.

It is a sad experience to feel so insecure at what you used to feel was the best you could give of the world...but when you let criticism and underappreciation eat at your creative spirit, it is very disheartening and draining...all of a sudden an empty canvas is no longer an opportunity for expression but a massive wall that you somehow to climb. And you also have burn out and the presence of failure breathing down your neck telling you, "Only 50% of art school students pratice art after graduation" keeping your spirits down ... But eventually criticism and underappreciation (which is the worst) is something every artist has to go through so I am hoping this wall will crumble sometime soon....and perhaps it never does...maybe it turns out that I have to build some sort of ladder and climb past my insecurities. After having them for so long I have to realize that my insecurities will always be there but I have to learn how to work with them. I yearn for my art to be my refuge again so I am going to reclaim my art.

And perhaps it is an issue of vulnerability. When I was younger, art used to be about escape and refuge, where I could retreat to from the pains of life and somehow try to make sense of things....but perhaps life has caught up with this personal aspect and I have to make myself vulnerable to my art just like one does in relationships and life in general (putting yourself out there as they say...). So I am going to reclaim my art by putting myself out there to it. It's going to be freaking horrible and hopefully just as wonderful. Here is hoping for all possibilities, which would be better than pulling something out of my ass.

"Art is the stored honey of the human soul, gathered on wings of misery and travail."
-Theodore Dreiser

What the...??? How did I miss this?!

Amid the chaos and the bland of this past week....I don't know how I missed word of this!




Juanes was at the Wal-mart in Weslaco yesterday. I love his music! I happened to be reading the paper over my morning coffee when, (bam!), there is a picture of Juanes, meeting a fan at a table in the Weslaco Wal-Mart. I was like..."what the...!?"

I am disappointed that I did not know about this. I would have liked meeting Juanes and getting his photo and autograph. I really respect what he has done with music on so many levels: creatively, technically and as a outsource for social awareness...yes, I said social awareness. This chido rockero uses his music to bring light to the issues of his home country Columbia and portrays a human voice that yearns for hope and peace in Columbia and the world throughout. He is also one of the artists I know who takes responsibility for his career and tries to be good role model. All of my respects go to Juanes and I am bit sad that I missed an opportunity to meet him.

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.

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“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!