Newest articles on The Sacramento Press tagged as "la raza galeria posada"

Nonprofit organization reaches fundraising goal

2012-02-08T02:07:02Z

La Raza Galería Posada, a local nonprofit Latino arts organization, succeeded in reaching its fundraising goals to stay open after Sacramento County Supervisor Phil Serna helped fill the funding gap with a music event Saturday.

In November, the center announced that it needed to raise $25,000 or face closure.

“We are extremely grateful for Supervisor Serna for his beyond-the-call-of-duty support,” said Marie Acosta, executive director of La Raza Galería Posada. “It’s very rare when an elected official will go out of their way and walk the talk for a nonprofit in need of funding.”

Funding sources for the art gallery and cultural center, located at 1022-1024 22nd St., have been in steady decline since 2005, threatening the existence of the 40-year-old center.

Saturday’s event, titled “Phil Serna Music on a Mission,” raised $30,000, which was split between La Raza Galería Posada, Cottage Housing, Women Escaping a Violent Environment and Roberts Family Development Center, according to a Monday press release.

While the extra push was needed over the past year, Acosta said Tuesday that there are several new funding sources opening up for the center this year, and the organization will apply for funding from places such as the National Endowment for the Arts, the Sierra Health Foundation, the Sacramento Region Community Foundation and the James Irvine Foundation.

“We are very hopeful that we will be able to receive funding from those sources, but we will always need support from the community, and now more than ever,” Acosta said.

Second Saturday events

2011-12-13T22:30:02Z

Sacramento art galleries hosted small crowds of visitors during the last Second Saturday of the year. Many visitors took advantage of the smaller crowds to do Christmas shopping. Galleries and other businesses sold art, crafts, gift certificates and other items to Christmas shoppers.

Festivities in Sacramento began earlier in the day with the annual Santa Parade. Thousands of children, along with their parents, lined the parade route. The parade started at the corner of 9th and I Streets and an anticipated crowd of over 25 thousand watched.

The annual parade began at 10 a.m. and participants included marching bands, cheer squads, Boy Scouts and Girl Scouts, several floats, car clubs, horses, community organizations, beauty queens, dancers, actors and other performers. Santa and Mrs. Claus were the most anticipated and popular members of the parade.

Another holiday event also took place later in the day during Second Saturday festivities. La Raza Galería Posada staged a community posada “Las Posaditas” on Saturday and will bring the event to Midtown again on Saturday, December 17.

The posada (lodging) is a re-enactment of the story of Joseph and Mary searching for lodging. Volunteers played the parts of an angel, Joseph and Mary.

The posada started with Galería Posada’s Program Coordinator Roberto Lopez welcoming guests and giving a little history about the posada and where the procession was going to take place.

Posada participants caroled the Midtown area with several songs that included “Jingle Bells,” “El Niño del Tambor,” “We Wish You a Merry Christmas” and other songs.

Following the biblical story of Mary and Joseph seeking lodging and going from inn to inn the posada made a couple of stops. The first destination was Casa de Español located at 2115 J Street.

The number of carolers was around 65 when they began and each of them entered Casa de Español for some chocolate and drink treats after singing several songs.

The second stop of the evening for the posada procession was Gallery 2110 and the Sacramento Art Complex. Several visitors to the Sacramento Art Complex enjoyed the carolers who ended their singing with “Feliz Navidad.”

The procession made one final stop at the MARRS Building on 20th Street. By this time the carolers had grown in size as others joined in. A piñata awaited the carolers where they sang several more holiday songs.

Children took turns as they tried to break a piñata and afterwards tamales were provided for the posada carolers.

The posadas will take place once again at the Galería Posada on Saturday, December 17. I’m not sure if they will follow the same route but visit their website to find more information.

Education reform issues voiced at Latino Town Hall

2011-11-11T07:28:43Z

Members of Sacramento’s Latino community gathered Thursday night to ask questions and voice concerns at the first of Mayor Kevin Johnson’s Town Hall meetings for his 2012 campaign. Education and lack of funding for city public schools took top priority in the discussions.

“There is nothing more important than our public education system, and we must do a better job with our schools,” said Mayor Johnson.

Approximately 150 people attended the Town Hall at La Familia Counseling Center in North Franklin. Seats filled quickly and dozens of concerned community members stood in the entryway and aisles. Affordable access to health care, racial profiling by police, support and funding for the arts and concerns about community safety were also discussed.

Johnson also addressed the student achievement gap issue: of 1,000 Hispanic and Latino students in Sacramento, roughly 60 percent will graduate from high school on time, and only 13 percent will go on to college.

The mayor suggested a grading system that would allow parents to hold schools accountable, and charter schools as an alternative to sub-par public education.

Sandra Guzman, a counselor for the Puente Project at Sacramento City College, asked whether it were true that the charter schools supported by the mayor will not include ESL and ELL (English Language Learning) in the curriculum.

“They will and they should,” Johnson said.

The Town Hall was the first Latino-specific event to be hosted by the mayor since he took office four years ago.

The mayor’s website promoted the event as a “Listening Session”, and Johnson announced in his opening comments that his No. 1 goal for the evening was to hear from anyone in the audience who wished to stand up and speak.

The meeting was scheduled from 5:30 - 6:30 p.m., but one hour proved too short a time. Lengthy introductions and the need to translate dialogue between English and Spanish limited the number of questions that were addressed.

Roberto Lopez, a program coordinator at La Raza Galeria Posada in Midtown, barely had an opportunity to voice his concern about the lack of funding for Latinos in the arts sector.

The gallery, which has been operating in Sacramento for nearly 40 years, is on the verge of closing due to inadequate support. Lopez attended to ask Mayor Johnson how he intends to support La Raza Galeria Posada and empower artists in the Latino community.

According to the mayor’s campaign manager Steven Maviglio, Johnson kept his campaign promises from 2008, but will not rest on his laurels in next year’s election. The Town Hall meetings will play an important role in creating a blueprint for 2012.

"When most politicians go out, they speak to the public and not the other way around. We want citizens to know that their voices will be heard," said Maviglio Wednesday.

Vidal Gonzalez, who works as a youth specialist at La Familia Counseling Center, believes that Latinos in Sacramento are at more of a disadvantage today than they were 10 years ago. This is surprising in light of the fact that the Latino population has risen significantly.

“We know that we’re 27 percent of the population,” Gonzalez said. “Do we have to wait for the next census for them to notice it?”

He said he hopes to see strong Latino candidates running for City Council in the near future, and maintains that leadership is going to have to come from within the community itself.

Jenny Padierna Cortes, an eighth grader at the Language Academy of Sacramento, said she left the meeting happy. Following her question about vacant lots in her Oak Park neighborhood, Mayor Johnson invited her to the microphone and promised to pay her application fee to Sacramento State College, where she hopes to study writing.

The meeting closed on a high-energy note, and the mayor announced his intention to meet with the Latino community again in January or February to continue the dialogue.

The next Town Hall meeting will be a joint effort with the Sierra Curtis Park Neighborhood Association. Visit Mayor Johnson’s campaign website for more information.

Sacramento’s La Raza Galería Posada Day of the Dead/Dia de los Muertos Festivities; Transformational “Panteon de Sacramento” Saturday-Sunday, Oct.29-30. Theatre, Music, Poets, Workshops.

2011-10-28T20:12:58Z

Culminating the Day of the Dead/Dia de los Muertos festivities this year, La Raza Galería Posada, Sacramento’s not-for-profit Latino art and cultural center, brings the Panteon de Sacramento (Sacramento’s Cemetery) to life.This is a two day/night outdoor display of fifty large, colorful altares. The altares will be available for public viewing on Saturday October 29 and Sunday October 30. Families, individuals, area artists and local not for profit organizations will build the altares for public display.Theatre, music, poets and children's workshops are all part of the two-day event. In Sacramento, Día de los Muertos has been celebrated since the early 1970s, commensurate with the Galería’s founding in 1972, 39 years ago.

Date: Saturday October 29 and Sunday October 30.

Times: Saturday ( 11 am-10 pm, Sunday: 8 am -8 pm)

Location: Behind the KlickNation parking lot at J St. near 20th St. (east of the MARRS Building)

The creative altars - 12 feet long and 6 feet wide – will display the traditional flower of the dead, Cempazuchitl (Marigold), papel picado, candles, photos of the deceased, Pan de Muerto (Mexican sweet bread) and personal artifacts.

"We created the free Panteon de Sacramento (Sacramento's Cemetery) to replicate a small town environment in Mexico during Dia de los Muertos (Day of the Dead),” says Marie Acosta, Executive Director of La Raza Galería Posada. “In the open air, with the church bells in the background, visitors will be transported to a commemoration similar to a small pueblo with colorful displays created as "altares" to honor those we loved in life that have passed on. Everyone is welcome!"

One of the very special guest performers is Eduardo Lopez Martinez, who is coming in direct from Mexico. "I call him our "Calaca-in-Residence" says Acosta. Martinez is in the tradition of the legendary and irreverent Cantinflas, and in the popular Mexican theatre tradition, La Carpa. He will bring song, dance and original performance to the Panteon on Saturday, Oct. 29 at 6:30 pm.

Whether in the day, or bathed in the light of the moon, upon entering LA RAZA GALERIA POSADA'S Panteon de Sacramento at J St. & 20th St. in midtown Sacramento, one immediately feels that it is a place of memories and, the presence of those who have passed.

New this year, the Galería will create a community altar for the public to place offerings. The public is invited to bring photographs, bread, other foods, flowers, toys and other symbolic offerings for loved ones who have passed away. This is free, all are welcome.

Panteon de Sacramento Event and Workshop Programming*

Saturday, Oct. 29 (11am-10pm)

11am Panteón opens to the public

Opening Ceremony- Danza Azteca-Xantotl(Unification)

12-2pm Workshop*-Cempazuchitl-Flower Making

($5/person)

Noon -4 pm DJ-Albert Garnica playing oldies, rancheras, viejitas, and other requests($1/song)

2:30pm-4pm Workshop*- Mask-painting

($10/person)

4:30pm Workshop*- Mask-painting

($10/person)

4:45pm Marco Ferrero presenting “Hidden Truth-La Viuda de Don Marcos”

5:30pm Poetry Reading by Escritores del Nuevo Sol

“Recordando a Nuestros Antepasados” and open mic to follow

6:30pm Performance by Eduardo López Martínez-Direct from México!

NOT TO BE MISSED!!

10 pm Panteón closes for the night. Re-opens at 8am tomorrow.

*All workshops are on the first come first serve basis and while supplies last.

Sunday, Oct. 30 (8am-8pm)

8 am Panteón re-opens.

2pm-5 pm- DJ Larry Rodriguez (Flower Vato)

12-2pm Workshop*-Cempazuchitl Flower Making

($5/person)

2:30pm-4pm Workshop*- Mask-painting

($10/person)

4:30pm- Workshop*- Mask-painting

($10/person)

7:30pm Closing Ceremony

The complete program of events at the gallery is at : www.larazagaleriaposada.org.

########

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

La Raza Galería Posada hours: Tuesday-Friday 1pm to 8 pm, Saturdays 11am-6pm, Second Saturday 1pm-9pm.

About La Raza Galería Posada: LRGP is a non-profit, multi-disciplinary cultural center and public space serving the Sacramento community, offering Latino/Chicano and Native arts exhibitions, art education programs, workshops, films and concerts and serves as a community gathering place. La Raza Galería Posada is located at 1022-1024 22nd St. between J & K Sts. in Sacramento, California. School tours and group tours are offered Monday- Saturday by reservation.Office: 916-446-5133.

Disclosure: Submitted by Mindy Giles, music fan and publicist for La Raza Galería Posada

Occupy Midtown Sacramento a pictorial

2011-10-18T04:41:30Z

Several hundred people showed up to this weekend's Midtown Modern Arts Festival. The event took place on 20th Street between J & K and was enjoyed by children and adults.

Various performances included the Sacramento Ballet, Capital Stage Company, The Sacramento Philharmonic, B Street Theatre, Sacramento Comedy Spot, the Harley White Jr. Orchestra and other acts. Over a dozen arts and performing organizations had stations set up to give those in attendance information about the many art programs offered in Sacramento and surrounding areas.

Several demonstration tables also allowed visitors, mostly children, the opportunity to participate in arts, music and crafts set up by various organizations.

The Midtown Modern Arts Festival achieved their main objective for the event, "The goal of the festival is to create a venue for Midtown to show off what it does best, Art!"

The free event was held under ideal weather conditions. Families enjoyed the festival and meeting new friends.

Cesar Chavez Plaza continues to be the site for "Occupy Sacramento" demonstrations. No matter what side of the fence you sit on this issue Occupy Sacramento is an ideal place to go for a lesson in Civics, Democracy and the American way.

Each day Occupy Sacramento publishes a list of events for the day and a General Assembly is held on a regular basis to go over the agenda, discuss any issues and vote on these if necessary.

Those who have occupied Chavez Plaza located at 910 I Street have been doing so in solidarity with Occupy Wall Street which has now gone global. Many in the Occupy movement face being arrested and are willing to put up with the possibility.

On my short visit to Occupy Sacramento I was able to witness several of our rights we have, as American citizens, including free assembly, free association, free speech and the right to vote.

Rafael Jesús González - activism and poetry amid costumes at La Raza Galería Posada

2011-09-30T06:24:10Z

Wednesday evening was filled with poetry, music and activism when Rafael Jesús González (poet, professor, artist and bilingual studies innovator) read to a full house at La Raza Galería Posada. He was accompanied by flautist and Rooted in Community co-director Gerardo O. Marín and artist and activist Colin Miller.

The event was hosted by Los Escritores del Nuevo Sol / Writers of the New Sun and opened with local writer JoAnn Anglin. She spoke of the group’s founding in 1993, its monthly writing group, monthly readings and of the group’s anthology, “Voices of the New Sun: Songs and Stories / Voces del Nuevo Sol: Cantos y Cuentos.”

González was introduced by Dr. Fausto Avendaño, a retired Sacramento State foreign language professor, who explained that the evening’s reading would be bilingual. Poems, stories and introductions would be read in Spanish, and English versions, not translations, would follow.

The two men met many years ago, and Avendaño said González’s poetry resembled Federico Garcia Lorca’s, and that “the images struck (him) because it is hard to equal Garcia Lorca.” The idea González put forth that “poetry is just a game with words, images and metaphors” also reminded Avendaño of Garcia Lorca.

González read in front of a backdrop of swirling color, thanks to the current exhibit, “Ballet Folklorico-Lace and Ribbons: The Making of Cultural Affirmation-Costumes from the Instituto Mazatlan Bellas Artes.” He opened by burning a small leaf, a custom he performs before each reading, one that comes from his ancestors.

“We burn a little bit of fragrant smoke to invoke the gods so that what we say does not offend them or the audience,” he said, and suggested that politicians try this custom.

Judging from the full house that remained through nearly three hours, in a room that was often too warm, the sage-burning worked.

He began with a poem honoring Rosh Hashanah, the first day of the Jewish New Year. As with most poems, González provided some background. His third poem was one of his first published poems, and he says the topic is “as pertinent today as it was then.” The poem’s last line is “How much, Mister.”

To which he responded, “Too much. Far, far too much. Many of us were asked to give up our culture and our language to assimilate. We lost our names and took on English names to protect us from prejudices.”

Being an activist and a poet, many of the evening’s poems were politically charged. He read several poems about heroes like César Chávez, whose “voice will bear fruit and there will be rejoicing in the furrows, in the ditches.” He reminded the audience that “the battles of the fieldworker are not done,” and he urged people to remember the blood of those who died “when you say grace above your meal.”

Several nerves were touched when he read “To My Student,” with its memorable line of “You who can read, do not take it for granted.” Following the poem, he said that 1968 California “had the best education system in the country,” but that Proposition 13 (1977/78) “undermined the whole infrastructure of the state of California, and (he) quickly saw the literacy rate plummet.”

At the time, he was teaching at Laney Community College in Oakland, where the oldest student was 79 and the youngest was 18, and where “real education was taking place.” Today, he says that it is “to our shame that the wealthiest state cannot afford to teach its children” and called No Child Left Behind the most anti-education act.

Poems about the Golden Gate Bridge, houses, and jade hearts preceded more hero poems. One was about Victor Jara, one of the imprisoned intellectuals in post-Allende Chile. “The Hands” relates the near-myth story of Jara’s hands being severed by guards, and the refrain of “each drop, a note against silence” served as a reminder for each of us not to remain silent.

Perhaps the most touching of González’s poems was “Blankets,” written for “my mother (who) still covers me with rainbows.” This piece, as with a few others, was accompanied by Marín, who played two different native Mexican flutes.

The music served to make González’s voice stronger, and it seemed to work better with the Spanish readings. But Marín, who always watched his maestro, never overpowered the words.

Following a poem written as part of his dissertation about the influence of the gypsy idiom on Garcia Lorca’s work, he spoke about living and writing.

“Everything we do is a game,” he said. “Living is a celestial game that is sometimes peaceful, sometimes difficult. Sometimes words are very volatile. To name a thing can take away its power, (and that) gives us power over nature.” He called naming a “sacred act.”

About writing, González said, “Everybody can write.” He urged the audience to “write for fun. Write for the music of the words. Write to overcome your pain. Write to celebrate your joys.”

He closed with “If We Do Not Speak,” influenced by his invitation to the 20th World Congress of Poets in 2005. While driving home from Santa Fe, N.M., he considered what he wanted to tell his fellow colleagues who spoke in many languages. The opening line is “If we do not speak to praise the Earth / It is best we keep silent.”

He closed with a reminder that “we have never been expelled from paradise. We live in paradise,” and that we “need to care for and love the earth more.”

Radiant Mexican Singer Martha Toledo Debuts in Sacramento Wed., Sept. 21; Songs Speak of Respect and Dignity for Latin American Women

2011-09-16T22:02:32Z

Radiant Mexican Singer Martha Toledo Debuts in Sacramento; Songs Speak of Respect and Dignity for Latin American Women

La Raza Galería Posada, Sacramento’s nonprofit hub for Latino/Chicano and Native arts cultural programming, continues to bring rare,compelling and exciting music concerts to their intimate performance space in Midtown.

Martha Toledo is an internationally recognized performer whose commanding presence embodies the sensibility and majesty of the Oaxacan culture. A Zapotec singer from the Isthmus of Tehuantepec in southern Oaxaca, Mexico, her soulful sound evokes the pulsing, vibrant rhythm of her country's music legacy. Many of these songs carry the contemporary message of respect and dignity, particularly for Latin American women. With modern instrumentation and arrangements, Toledo brings a social awareness to her repertoire of classic and native songs. Guitarist José Roberto (Tabasco, México) described as a “blazing guitar stylist” will accompany her.

Wednesday, September 21, 2011
La Raza Galería Posada
1022 22nd St.
Sacramento, CA 95816
Showtime: 7:30 PM
$15 advance tickets on sale now at Brown Paper Tickets: http://www.brownpapertickets.com/event/191782
Gallery: (916)446-5133

You Tube video of Toledo: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pBDeK-9MeBA&feature=related

“Her voice dances to the rhythm of the north wind, making her skirt and her cicada heart flutter. Her voice embodies the sounds of rivers and birds in the trees, starry skies, and moonlit nights from the Chimalapas rain forest that flow within her." -Arte Guede

Toledo also appears in the award-winning 2001 documentary film, Blossoms of Fire, directed by renowned Bay Area filmmaker, Maureen Gosling. “Blossoms of Fire is a dazzling, whirling dance of a film that celebrates the extraordinary lives of the Isthmus Zapotecs of southern Oaxaca, Mexico, whose strong work ethic and fierce independent streak rooted in their culture, have resulted not only in powerful women but also in the region's progressive politics and their unusual tolerance of alternative gender roles.” - IMDB

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MA8MmmrX-6s A screening of this film will be announced soon

Toledo has performed all over Mexico (including at the 10,000 seat National Auditorium in Mexico City), in northern California and throughout Austria. She has been featured twice at the Tamejavi Festival in Fresno, as well as in the Bay Area. She performed a cappella at the Lluvia de Sueños Concert of Indigenous Poets and Singers in Chiapas and other Mexican festivals. Toledo is also an excellent photographer, in the tradition of Graciela Iturbide and Mary Ellen Mark.

Disclosure: Submitted by Mindy Giles, music fan and publicist for La Raza Galería Posada

"Images from Operation Iraqi Freedom": A Sacramento Soldier’s Desert View

2011-07-07T21:55:27Z

Opens at La Raza Galería Posada on July 9; Artist Reception on July 14

(Sacramento, CA) No matter how one views the wars in the Middle East, the visual window into that world is a compelling and valuable one to experience. The photographs from Sacramento native Chief Warrant Officer-2 (CWO2) Tony R. Ulep’s military service have resulted in a vast portfolio of fascinating cultures, architecture, landscapes, and blazing sunrises and sunsets.

His debut exhibition at La Raza Galería Posada shows his passion for studying and experiencing other cultures combined with his love of photojournalism is apparent. Specifically, he presents photographs from his two Iraqi deployments, beginning in 2006. “My goal for any of my photographs,” he says “is that they serve as both beautiful images and as visual archives of my experience." He credits his photography too, as a therapeutic tool for dealing with the stress of combat as well as a method for communicating his experience.

The exhibition opens on Second Saturday July 9 and runs through August 13. The special artist reception is set for Thursday, July 14 at 7 pm.* La Raza Galería Posada is located at 1022-1024 22nd St. between J & K Sts. in Sacramento, California.

Artist Statement
“In May of 1991, I returned home from my service in Desert Shield/Desert Storm and began the pursuit of my Automotive Technology degree. Later that year I took a photography class as one of my electives because I remembered an unfortunate accident from a Maui vacation where I had exposed a full role of 35 mm film to sunlight. This incident fueled my drive to understand and operate my camera better.

I took hundreds of photographs of my family, friends, and military equipment for that first class as well as for 13 additional photography classes. I also took a part time job as a portrait photographer for a year and a half at Glamour Shots. During this time I found my niche for vibrant landscape photographs.

The photographs on display are from two Iraqi deployments. On my first Iraqi deployment (August 2006 to April 2007) I was at Camp Fallujah in the Al Albar Province, which is mostly Sunni Arabs. I was the Motor Transport Maintenance Officer and the Platoon Commander for 67 Marines. This was during the initial surge of US forces where we saw the beginning of bigger and more powerful Improvised Explosive Device (IED) attacks and coordinated small weapons fire. At that time, it was the highest IED casualties we had experience since the Iraq war had started.

My second Iraqi deployment was very different. I was the Motor Transport Maintenance Officer, Engineer Maintenance Officer, Utilities Officer, and a Liaison Maintenance Officer for the Iraqi Army. While the situation overall was less intense because US Marines were preparing to withdrawal from Iraq, I was working closer with the Iraqi Army. I coordinated and instructed their officers in the operations and procedures of a maintenance program. For example, we worked with translators to convert US maintenance manuals from English to Arabic and vice-versa. The infrastructure we helped create for the Iraqi Defense Ministry became their standard for all of their maintenance facilities.

As I look back upon my 23 years in the Marine Corps, I appreciate the diversity not only of the various places I have traveled to, but also of the people. On these two deployments, I was surprised to find out that I could understand some of what the Iraqis said because Spanish is about twenty percent Arabic. Unlike my Caucasian comrades, I was looked upon as a kinsman, not as an invader. This enabled me to be a more effective liaison as the Iraqis were more open to exchanging ideas and information with me.“

His photography and Marine Corps service aside, Tony also has an affinity for nature. When he isn’t half way around the world, Tony is a City of Sacramento Parks supervisor and a garden enthusiast. His website is www.InDemandArt.com.

* BOXING! Images on Canvas and Photography:
La Raza Galería Posada’s Beautiful Combination Runs July 9-August 13
Artist Reception July 14
Main Gallery: Legendary Sacramento Painter Benny Barrios
2nd Gallery: Chicago Photographer Jason Reblando
and Tony R. Ulep’s "Images from Operation Iraqi Freedom"

La Raza Galería Posada also announces new hours: Tuesday-Friday 1pm to 8 pm, Saturdays 11am-6pm, Second Saturday 1pm-9pm.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
About La Raza Galería Posada: LRGP is a non-profit, multi-disciplinary cultural center and public space serving the Sacramento community, offering Latino/Chicano and Native arts exhibitions, art education programs, workshops, films and concerts and serves as a community gathering place. La Raza Galería Posada is located at 1022-1024 22nd St. between J & K Sts. in Sacramento, California. School tours and group tours are offered Monday- Saturday by reservation.
Office: 916-446-5133. Full event calendar details are available at www.larazagaleriaposada.org

Disclosure: This is the official press release written by La Galeria Posada's public relations manager and posted here by Tony Ulep's wife.

Jammin' in the Park 2

2011-06-22T02:34:50Z

Caliente, the Spanish word for hot, was the perfect word to describe Jammin’ in the Park 2. Saturday’s event drew well over 1,000 spectators to Cesar Chavez Park to enjoy the sounds of DJ Nightfly, Esteban Villa, Blanca Sandoval, Los Elegantes and the legendary Latin rockers Malo.

Two fathers of the Chicano art movement — RCAF artist and poet activist Jose Montoya and El Teatro Campesino veteran and Chicano film producer Phil Esparza — were honored for their contributions to the Sacramento community.

La Raza Galeria Posada presented a family day full of music, dance, poetry, arts and crafts. Many vendors had stations set up inside the beer garden and around other parts of the park. Children and adults danced to the rhythmic, hard and melodic sounds of the musical guests.

As I approached Cesar Chavez Plaza, the sounds of music surrounded the park. Many guests brought lawn chairs and blankets. From the looks of the crowd inside and those waiting to enter the event gates, Swell Productions had done a terrific job promoting the event. Mindy Giles and Steve Nikkel of Swell Productions were on hand to help as the event took place.

Most of the audience came to see the Latin rock group Malo. They have been around since the early 1970s and were instrumental in popularizing and mixing traditional Latin music with rock. Many of their songs are sung in Spanish, English or both. Malo celebrated its 40th anniversary with original members Jorge Santa and Arcelio Garcia.

But first, opening singer Blanca Sandoval brought a mix of rock, funk, jazz, ska, hip-hop, metal and upbeat Latin sounds with a backing band of guitarist Robert Zamora, drummer Mike Juarez and bassist Oscar Tablada. Sandoval showed their musical range with the hard rock sound of “Addicted” followed by the love ballad “One Sweet Day.”

“This next song is one of my favorites,” Sandoval said to introduce the next piece. “My dad is here today. I write all my music and I write all my songs, but this song my father wrote for my mother. I am very proud to sing it today.” After Sandoval's introduction they played "Esto si es Amor."

Again, showing their versatility, Sandoval moved to a cumbia song with “Mi Error” and encouraged the audience to dance. Great rhythms and Zamora’s guitar steered their sound and the dancers to move to the cumbia rhythms.

A couple of United Farm Workers were introduced and passed around information regarding the struggles and need for safety measures on the harvest fields. Salinas Valley resident Juan Flores asked for support for the Fair Treatment for Farm Workers Act. Flores said several workers have died in the fields as a result of their hard labor and harsh conditions.

Mike Ojeda also took the stage to talk about the Mexican-American Veterans Memorial.

“For those of you not familiar with the war memorial, it was built shortly after World War II by Sacramento area Mexican-American mothers who lost their sons in WWII,” he said. “They got together and had a memorial built in their honor around 1951 and was moved over by Southside Park, and then in 1975 it was moved to the State Capitol, and it now sits on the west end.”

Ojeda said the memorial was never completed, and now they are raising money to have the memorial beautified and enhanced. They hope to have the memorial rededicated by next spring. This may end up being the first memorial to honor Latino veterans on any state capitol in the United States.

DJ Nightfly entertained those in attendance with some soulful tunes in between acts. Freddy Bueno of sponsor radio station V101.1 took the stage as well, promoting a $1,000 website giveaway. After a short intermission, DJ Nightfly introduced Los Elegantes.

Latin sounds started off with piano and trumpets, and the rest of the band followed with their own sounds that carried to the back end of Cesar Chavez Park.

Los Elegantes have been around for many years and their lineup changes from time to time. They too switched from English to Spanish as they addressed the audience. They touch many music genres as they play, including old school, ranchera, cumbias, bolero, Latin jazz, merenque and salsa. They started their performance with their interpretation of “My Girl” by The Temptations.

Los Elegantes encouraged the audience to get up and dance and played tunes that succeeded in getting many to comply. They will be one of the acts playing at Cesar Chavez Park on July 7 as part of the Fiesta en la Calle concert series.

In honoring Montoya and Esparza’s art and works, Vivas returned to the stage to ask if anybody had heard of the movie “Zoot Suit.” Esparza produced the movie and was one of the founding members of Teatro Campesino. Esparza has dedicated the last 30-plus years of his life to passing culture down to younger generations through the theater. Vivas recognized Teatro Campesino as an institution that will be around for years to come.

“I am from the valley — this valley,” Esparza said when he took the stage. “The entire San Joaquin Valley has been the spawning ground and the inspiration for the Chicano and Latino arts movement as well as the Civil Rights movement in this country.”

The militantism of his generation still dwells within and became apparent as he addressed the audience. “I spent my whole adult life with Luis Valdez and Teatro Campesino. I became a producer because there were no Chicano produces and since I was not a great actor I had to do something and was fortunate enough to work on Zoot Suit, La Bamba, Corrido, La Virgen de Tepeyac and any number of the 500 productions with Teatro Campesino during the last 45 years,” said Esparza.

He continued saying the arts are a big part of our culture and need to be supported. He asked the audience to remember and pass on the history of Cesar Chavez, Dolores Huerta, La Galeria, the RCAF, MECHA and other groups.

Esparza was presented with a recognition award for his work in the organizations he has been involved in and the art he created.

Montoya was much calmer as he stood on stage. Vivas recalled reading one of Montoya’s poems called “El Moco.” Montoya brought, as he said, an out-of-print book, “El Sol y los de Abajo, and Other R.C.A.F. Poems” and read the following passage:

If you see
a moco on my
bigote

Don’t suffer
my shame and
don’t punish
me with silence…

Tell me about it!

“When you ask this man what are some of the most important things he has done, he doesn’t talk about his poems, paintings or books,” Armando Botello said, introducing Montoya. “He talks about the impact and the work that things like the Barrio Arts Program at the Washington Neighborhood Center where he was a founder have produced. He is proud of the work done by them. One time he told me that is one of the things he is most proud of. Exposing art to young children and families as a result of that one program has given him much satisfaction.”

Montoya addressed the audience saying (part in translation): “This is a great honor for me. Not necessarily the award, but the recognition. I’m happy having received it here in a park that honors Cesar Chavez. That’s an incredible accomplishment to have a park in his honor. However, there should be much more honoring this great man who was able to do the things he did for us.”

After a raffle, Malo began their set with the instrumental “The World Is a Ghetto.” Many of their songs have an instrumental section, perfect for dancers wishing to show off salsa, merengue, cumbia and other Latin dance styles.

Many in the beer garden and through the park danced as the band played “Ritmo Tropical.” The percussion and brass sections rhythmically enhanced each song through the solos, including Jorge Santana’s virtuoso guitar playing.

There was no denying the feelings Malo’s music evoked. It seemed like a giant party going on at Cesar Chavez Park. A crow of non-paying customers sat along the fence and across the street, listening and enjoying the sounds of summer. The heat kept many from getting up and dancing through more than one or two songs at a time, but there were a few who danced through each song, enjoying every minute of the concert.

Garcia wished all the fathers in the audience a happy Father’s Day. He wished all the moms who are raising children on their own a happy Mother’s and Father’s Day as well.

As they played another tune, Garcia introduced some of his family who live in Sacramento. Two of his nieces stood by the stage, and at one point the younger of the two girls went on stage and danced next to her uncle.

This was a great Father’s Day weekend event that was well organized and well attended. This event has the potential to keep growing, but in order for that to happen, community participation is needed and appreciated.

In the Flow

2011-05-20T08:37:55Z

The 2011 In the Flow festival came to an end at Luna’s Café on Monday night after five days of enjoyable music at different venues. Jazz, rock, electronic, noise, poetry, spoken word, blues and other genres were delivered by talented musicians from May 12 to 16.

On a rainy Monday evening, several bands came to share the small stage at Luna’s. The intimate setting provided great entertainment and gave it a delightful jazz club ambiance.

In the Flow is the brainchild of Ross Hammond and Byron Blackburn. Performers play smaller venues such as La Raza Galeria Posada, Luna’s, Antiquité Maison Privée, Phono Select Records and the Press Club. Hammond’s grassroots approach is creative and provides a great platform for many musicians. The festival is now in its fourth year, and I’m sure will continue to grow.

Saturday and Sunday provided most of the entertainment for the festival, but other scheduled performances delighted audiences throughout Midtown.

Art Luna, one of the owners of Luna’s Cafe, was working behind the counter as his establishment hosted the evening’s event. The first performers introduced were Wes Steed and Kevin Corcoran, utilizing a synthesizer, drums and various noisemaking instruments.

In the Flow makes is possible for performers such as Steed and Corcoran to be seen and heard by people who may not be aware of music like theirs. When they perform in electronic, innovative or noise venues, they may be known and appreciated, but In the Flow provides them with exposure to new audiences.

Hammond, who also hosts Nebraska Mondays at Luna’s, introduced the next group, the Element Brass Band. Every inch of the stage was taken up by the band, so that the tuba player had to stand next to the stage.

Their lead singer, who also plays trumpet, asked those in attendance how they were. Some audience members responded.

“You’ve got to do better than that, because there’s about to be a party in here, just so you know,” he said. “We’re about to do a little New Orleans jazz. Hope you enjoy.”

The deep sound of the tuba got everyone moving, touching the soul and making the body move. As other instruments began their beat, the soulful brass sounds evoked images of New Orleans. The band played several songs that were greatly appreciated by the audience.

I haven’t heard such a great sounding brass section in a while. I was thinking about how great it would have been if they had started playing down the street on 16th and made their way into Luna’s, bringing with them more people. They ended their set with “When the Saints Go Marching In.”

The Anthony Coleman Quartet was up next, playing several smooth jazz tunes as the audience sat back and enjoyed a delightful set. Coleman and his group ended their set with Eugene McDaniels’ “Feel Like Making Love.”

The four-person band Drifting Shapes played what I would classify experimental/electronica. The lights were dimmed even more, making it hard to see the band, but it set the mood for their musical performance.

The Drifting Shapes’ sound touched various genres and incorporated them into their electro sound. The lovely voice of their lead singer was very soothing and flowed as she integrated some Spanish lyrics, bringing to mind “Cielito Lindo” as she repeated “canta y no llores.” The music also included what sounded like opera, electronic, Japanese traditional music and Latin samples.

The festival concluded with Race, taking the stage and performing for 20 minutes or so. An electric and an acoustic guitar, drums, an upright bass, two saxophones and a microphone were the instruments used for the last set.

Hammond and his free jazz collective band played the last few songs of the evening, ending a great five days of innovative, experimental, free-flowing and lively jazz music in Sacramento.

Hammond and many other musicians surround themselves with musicians with various styles and genres, creating new and innovative sounds for Northern California to enjoy. The talent in our area continues to grow, attracting musicians from other areas to perform at festivals like In the Flow, and it gives Sacramento audiences a great opportunity to enjoy the old and new sounds of jazz.

Satisfy your appetite with the delicious sounds of rock, blues, electronica, experimental, noise, improvisational sounds, poetry, spoken word and jazz that come together for the annual In the Flow festival. This combination of music is true food for the soul.

SMAC supporters band together against budget cuts

2011-05-19T05:20:23Z

Around 20 supporters of the Sacramento Metropolitan Arts Commission attended the City Council budget hearing Tuesday afternoon wearing buttons emblazoned with the SMAC slogan: “Arts Open Daily” in response to a proposal to cut arts funding.

Barbara Bonebrake, director of the Sacramento Convention, Culture and Leisure Department, presented a proposal to reduce the city’s general fund contribution to SMAC by $152,855 for the 2011/2012 fiscal year.

As a result of these cuts, funding for SMAC’s Cultural Arts Awards, a program that provides grants ranging from $1,000-$25,000 to nonprofit arts organizations, would be reduced by $64,000.

During the public comment section of the Convention, Culture and Leisure presentation, seven of SMAC’s supporters took the podium to address the council about SMAC’s impact on the health of the city.

Jan Geiger, chairwoman of Friends of the Arts Commission, the non-profit arm of the Sacramento Arts Commission responsible for increasing arts funding and arts advocacy, was the first to address the council. Geiger argued that a city’s arts are what make it viable as a long-term place to settle.

“The arts as we know them make the difference between a place you’d like to invest in versus a place you’re in temporarily until you move on,” she said.

SMAC Chairwoman Carlin Naify urged the council not to approve the proposed cuts. Naify indicated that in the past year, SMAC has leveraged its allotted funds to help over 200 arts organizations and artists.

Citing the “intrinsic value” of art, Naify argued that SMAC should have the same funding priority as transportation, safety and libraries.

Marie Acosta, director of cultural art center La Raza Galeria Posada, reiterated Naify’s point that SMAC beneficiaries, such as La Raza Galeria Posada, are fiscally efficient organizations, leveraging funds to make the most impact in the community. Acosta said that the stable, ongoing funds from SMAC are what keep the arts going long-term.

Roberta McClellan, executive director of the Camellia Symphony Orchestra, told the council that SMAC funding has been instrumental in financially stabilizing the orchestra and supporting community events like its Instrument Petting Zoo and Free Family Concert Series.

Barbara Kado, chairwoman of the SMAC-supported Japanese Film Festival, explained the stringent process that potential SMAC grant recipients must go through before securing any funds. SMAC makes absolutely sure that the funds it allots are going to organizations that “address community needs,” she said.

Sonny Alforque of the Sinag-tala Filipino Theater and Performing Arts Association echoed Kado’s point about fiscal responsibility, saying the Filipino Arts Association is frugal and resourceful when it comes to meeting its operational budget, and in an effort to stay afloat despite budget cuts, makes sure not to rely entirely upon SMAC funding.

“All funding sources are significant because our budget is so small,” he said.

After the public’s address, Councilwoman Angelique Ashby explained to SMAC supporters that, as an art lover herself, she is sympathetic to their cause, but with a budget as tight as Sacramento’s, everyone is suffering cuts.

“It’s not a matter of arts versus no arts,” she said. “It’s a matter of arts versus everything else.”

After the conference, Muriel Johnson, former director of the California Arts Council and SMAC supporter said, “I know (City Council members) are in a tough position – they don’t want to make these cuts. But we’re going to fight hard to keep Sacramento a vibrant and wonderful place to live.”

The council voted unanimously to adopt an intent motion to approve the budget cuts, but Cohn alluded to an arts stabilization fund worth $700,000, some of which may be directed to cover cuts to SMAC.

At last year’s budget hearing, the Arts Stabilization Fund was able to restore $150,000 to SMAC’s reduced budget.

Councilman and the day’s stand-in mayor Steve Cohn suggested that the missing three members of the council (Mayor Kevin Johnson, Councilman Robert Fong and Councilwoman Bonnie Pannell) would be interested in the issue of SMAC budget cuts and that a final decision will be made at the next budget hearing, when the full council will be present.

Native American Film Festival: An Afternoon of Three Films, including "Smokin' Fish"- March 6

2011-02-22T19:37:11Z

California State University Sacramento’s Serna Center and La Raza Galeria Posada present an afternoon Festival of Native American Films on Sunday, March 6 from 2pm to 4pm at Hinde Auditorium on the campus of CSUS. Admission is free, donations gladly accepted.

Three original films, presented courtesy of Native American Public Telecommunications located in Lincoln, Nebraska will be screened for the first time in Sacramento. Special guests Shirley Sneve, Director, Native American Public Telecommunications and producer Luke Griswold-Tergis (Smokin' Fish) will be on hand to introduce the films and answer questions from audience members. Smokin' Fish, (2011, a work in progress) will have it’s California premiere at the prestigious LA Film Festival this coming spring .

The three films are:

RIVER OF RENEWAL- winner of "Best Documentary" at the American Indian Film Festival in 2008, traces the tumultuous back story of recent historic accords in the longtime battle over salmon and water in the Klamath Basin. The Klamath Basin in Northern California and southeastern Oregon is home to ranchers, farmers, commercial fisherman and the Yurok, Karuk and Hupa tribes. Since the mid-1800s, these groups have vied for rights to the Klamath River and its tributaries, which are vital spawning habitat for wild Pacific salmon. Hydroelectric dams have impeded the salmons’ ability to migrate between the ocean and their breeding grounds, and low river levels resulting from agricultural use have caused the mass death of migrating fish.

THE LAST CONQUISTADOR - John Valadez and Cristina Ibarra’s documentary, The Last Conquistador, had its national broadcast premiere in 2008 on PBS. When the El Paso City Council commissioned artist John Houser to create a larger-than-life statue of the Spanish Conquistador Juan de Oñate, artist Houser envisioned a magnificent and long-overdue tribute to the contributions of Hispanic culture and history. But the area’s Native Americans had their own very personal memories concerning Oñate. They recalled massacres, slavery and terror. Neither Houser nor El Paso’s city councilors had intended any offense or controversy. When the storm of protest arose, they were taken by surprise. But should they have been?

SMOKIN' FISH (work in progress-2011)- ~~Soon to have it’s California premiere at the prestigious LA Film Festival~~ ! Cory Mann is a quirky Tlingit businessman hustling to make a dollar in Juneau, Alaska. He gets hungry for smoked salmon, nostalgic for his childhood and decides to spend a summer smoking fish at this family's traditional fish camp. The unusual story of his life and the untold history of his people interweave with the process of preparing traditional food as he struggles to pay his bills, keep the IRS off his back, and keep his business afloat. By turns tragic, bizarre, or just plain ridiculous, Smokin' Fish tells the story of one man's attempt to navigate the messy zone of collision between the modern world and an ancient culture. The film's editor is Maureen Gosling, renowned for her work with both Werner Herzog and Les Blank.

Native American Public Telecommunications (NAPT) , a non-profit 501(c)(3)which receives major funding from the Corporation for Public Broadcasting, shares Nativestories with the world through support of the creation, promotion and distribution of
Native media. Founded in 1977, through various media—public television, public radio andthe Internet—NAPT brings awareness of Indian and Alaska Native issues. NAPT operatesAIROS Audio, offering 24/7 downloadable podcasts with Native filmmakers, musicians
and Tribal leaders. VisionMaker is the premier source for quality Native Americaneducational and home videos. All aspects of our programs encourage the involvementof young people to learn more about careers in the media—to be the next generation of storytellers. NAPT is located at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln. NAPT offers studentemployment, internships and fellowships. Reaching the general public and the globalmarket is the ultimate goal for the dissemination of Native-produced media. To find out
more, visit www.nativetelecom.org.

The Serna Center @ Sacramento State - Consistent with the lasting vision of Joe and Isabel Serna, the Serna Center aims to encourage policy and political knowledge, activism and engagement, student access and excellence, and community service. The Center's primary but not sole focus is Chicana/os and Latina/os in the Sacramento region. www.csus.edu/sernacenter/

La Raza Galería Posada is a multi-disciplinary cultural center and public space serving the Sacramento community by offering Latino/Chicano and Native arts programming, art education workshops, and a community-gathering place. www.larazagaleria.org. More details at (916)446-5133

The Native American Film Festival screenings are made possible by a grant from the National Association of Latino Art Centers and Strategic Solutions Advisors of Sacramento.

Editorial note: The film Smokin' Fish is a work-in-progress and is not currently scheduled for any premieres.

Second Saturday Art Walk

2011-01-11T08:52:04Z

Saturday Night’s temperature during Second Saturday kept many art lovers at home. The first Second Saturday of 2011 was sparsely attended. The cold weather which was in the upper 30s or low 40s seemed to have kept many people in the warmth of their homes. Truth be told the cold weather curtailed the number of galleries I attended.

On 20th and J Streets a candle lit vigil included some singing that brought a crowd of people to that site. The singers seemed to have disappeared just as fast as it had appeared. The group was singing “This Little Light of Mine” (among other songs) although some of the lyrics were changed to fit the location and situation. The usual crowd that gathers at this spot on Second Saturdays was missing this evening.

Walking up on 20th Street towards I Street the musical bands that are usually outside performing were non-existent. As I passed by the 20th Street Art Gallery the site was empty. That was a sad sight as many artists’ exhibit their art here on a monthly basis. I had heard they were moving last year but was still surprised as I passed by the complex.

Walking down another section of Midtown the Sacramento Art Complex got my attention with art sculptures in their parking lot. One of the artists was doing a demonstration and had gathered a small audience as he worked. He gleefully answered questions and spoke about what he was doing as he worked on a project. I also noticed that work was being done on the wall facing the parking lot.

Inside the complex it also looked like studios were being renovated and new occupants were moving in. The Garley Sculptures Studio was open during this Second Saturday. Garley Poetry was on hand to answer questions about his sculptures.

La Raza Galeria Posada featured the works of Felipe Magdaleno, Jesus Barela, David Buenrostro, Andrea Porras, Mario Vargas, Mario Moreno and Jose Lott during their "Twenty Years to the Day" art show. The small gallery was busy while I was there and the place was very warm. I loitered for a bit while talking with other people at the gallery.

Midikat Boutique featured musical guests during their art exhibit. South Lot was performing and 1 Lost MC was setting up in the back. This boutique is on 21st Street (between K and L). The band performing, South Lot will also be performing at Old Ironsides this Thursday, January 13.

(South Lot)

The Kennedy Gallery, another place that’s usually very crowded, was quiet during this month’s Second Saturday. I stopped to admire the work of Dianne Mattar and I talked with her husband. Dianne shares a station with KC Moore. When Dianne came back we talked for a few minutes and asked if I had seen the youth art exhibit. “There are some works of art from the 6th Annual Youth Invitational over on the hall walls over there, have you seen them?” Dianne asked. I told her I had not and she proceeded to tell me a little bit more about the event “Look at this, I only have this because one of the artist I invited could not be here.: She showed me a packet they gave the young artists who were invited and it included a thank you card that the youngster could send to the artist who invited them. Their work is all up and down the hall.” Dianne said as we walked over to the exhibit.

The 6th Annual Invitational is not really a competition. The purpose of the invitational is to encourage children who exhibit a talent for the arts and to recognize their talent and encourage them. The work exhibited did indeed show the talent these young exhibitors have. The age range for these artists was from 4 to 17 years of age.

Towards the entrance of the Kennedy Gallery Art Center the beat of Tribal Calling filled the gallery. Several children joined in making music as they were given other rhythmic instruments to play. As I left I could hear their rhythmic beat of the drums for a couple of more minutes.

(Tribal Calling and helpers at the Kennedy Gallery)

As the temperature continued to drop I looked for a place to warm up but ended making my way back home instead. Second Saturday will begin to attract more enthusiasts in the March/April time frame when the weather becomes warmer.

Photos:

1, 2 - Artist at the Sacramento Art Complex

3, 4 - La Raza Galeria Posada Exhibit

5 - South Lot

6 - Tribal Calling

Posada NavideÑa - Energetic, Colorful Performance

2010-12-14T05:32:16Z

Compañía Mazatlán Bellas Artes de Sacramento presented Posada NavideÑa, a ballet folklórico dance concert at the Crest Theatre Sunday afternoon. Posada NavideÑa is a ballet folklórico interpretation of the traditional Mexican Christmas celebration, Las Posadas. 20 dancers and 16 musicians gave an energetic, whirlwind performance with original choreography.

Here are some scenes:

The performance was presented by La Raza Galeria Posada, a multi-disciplinary cultural center and public space serving the Sacramento community by offering Latino/Chicano and Native arts programming, art education workshops, and a community gathering place. To learn more CLICK HERE>>>

SacPress Photos | Kati Garner

Sacramento's Day of the Dead Exhibition

2010-10-28T00:54:56Z

Forty organizations and individuals will be creating altars as art exhibits for a Day of the Dead (Día de los Muertos: El Panteon de los Muertos) celebration on Sunday and Monday.

This exhibit is presented by La Raza Galería Posada. Traditionally, these type of altars – which celebrate the life or honor the death of a loved one – are decorated with sugar skulls, photographs, flowers and other symbolic items reflecting a person whose life is being celebrated.

Although there will be around 40 displays created by organizations and individuals, there will also be some community altars that will be available for anyone who wishes to participate.

The Día de los Muertos exhibit will be held rain or shine. As this community event grows, it will give the community an opportunity to learn about this and other traditions that are celebrated throughout the world.

La Raza Galeria Posada is inviting other artists to become involved on Monday by face-painting, decorating masks from the workshops and participating in decorating the community altars.

La Raza Galería Posada is currently open, hosting two exhibitions from now to Nov. 13. Mary Jane Solis’ exhibit, “La Cosecha” (The Harvest), is an original altar installation shedding light on the contributions of immigrants to the economy. “The Artistry of Sugar Skull” is a contemporary sugar skulls display by local artist Rob-O.

Gallery hours are 11 a.m. - 6 p.m. Tuesday through Saturday. These exhibits can be a great preview to Sunday’s and Monday’s displays.

The Día de los Muertos community art project will take place from 1 p.m. - 9 p.m. on Sunday and 11 a.m. - 10 p.m. Monday in the parking lot on 1022-1024 22nd Street.

Below is a list of participants who will have a display for viewing. For more information, visit the following website or their Facebook page and find out more about this project.

PARTICIPATING ORGANIZATIONS:

Mexican American Legal Defense Education Fund (MALDEF)
Consulado Mexicano de California en Sacramento
Amnesty International
California State University, Sacramento – EOP
Mothers Against Drunk Driving
California Arts Council
CARES/Planned Parenthood
The Mexican Cultural Center of Northern California
Mujeres Ayudando La Raza
Movimiento Estudiantil Chicano de Aztlán (MEChA)
Sacramento County Employees Latino Caucus
NoiseFest
Instituto Mazatlan Bellas Artes

PARTICIPATING ARTISTS AND INDIVIDUALS:

Steven Rowe
Monica Delgado
Greg Ulibas
Suzanne Rubalcava
Brian Castena
Shayna May
David Alverez
Jasmina Aguila
Sue Schoneman
Jennifer Luna
Kathy Blackburn
Maria Quintero-Lenihan
Vanessa Esquivido
Irene Lugo
Jesus Barela
Eric Riviera-Jurado
Mari Arreola
MENDOMAS artist collective
Cassandra Ariaz
Michelle Barbaria
William Burg
Kevin Santos-Coy
Olga Cid

**Partial list of participants**

-Disclaimer; I will be taking part in the event-

La Raza Galeria Posada brings "Celebrations of Home"

2010-08-11T03:54:58Z

The new Alta California - Celebrations of Home celebrates the memory of Sacramento Mexicans for more than 40 years with photos, newspaper articles and historical documents.

La Raza Galería Posada staff spent nine months building an exhibition full of rare photos and memories from Sacramento residents.

La Raza Galeria Posada is a multi-disciplinary cultural center and public space for the Sacramento community by offering Latino/Chicano and Native arts programming as well as art education workshops, according to their website.

“(My favorite part) has been (being) able to comb through the Sacramento history and being able to present it all to the public,” said La Raza Galería Posada Education Manager Michael Collett.

This is the first time this exhibit will be displayed.

“We’re looking forward to the opening,” Collett said. “Being 30 or 40 years ago, we’re glad to be able to replicate feelings and memories people had.”

The photos presented in the exhibition include pieces by Michael Marcos Sanchez, Hector Gonzalez and Freddy Remoro. Posters include collections from California State University, Sacramento, and pieces from the La Raza Galería Posada collection. Also, there will be a visual collage work by Collett.

Though there is no admission fee for this exhibit, donations are gladly accepted, Collett said.

Celebrations of Home opens Friday and goes through Sept. 27.

“This exhibit is the first piece of many by the Mexican community,” Collett said. “We’re very excited to host this.”

The exhibit is a community participatory exhibit that is meant to get people to think, Collett added. It is meant for people to remember their heritage.)

The community participation part of the exhibit is where people are asked to bring in their own memories, photos and memorabilia to be a part of the second iteration of the exhibit, when it moves to the new Mexican Consulate building in 2011.

La Raza Galería Posada is located at 1022-1024 22nd St. and can be reached by phone at (916) 446-5133.

‘The Secret Of Their Eyes’ Exposes Law Corruption

2010-07-10T09:44:16Z

La Raza Galeria Posada's canary yellow walls set a vibrant tone Thursday for the gallery's latest offering in a Latin cinema series.
“This series is about highlighting the films that are coming out of Portuguese- and Spanish- speaking countries,” said Michael Collett, the gallery's education manager.

“We want to give a broader perspective to Sacramentans that not everyone who speaks Spanish is Mexican,” he continued. “There’s a whole Spanish-speaking world out there and those people have issues similar to us here in the States.”

The series is a part of the New Latin American Film Series held Thursdays at 7 p.m. in July.

Thursday featured the Argentinean film “El Secreto de su Ojos” (The Secret in Their Eyes), which won the Oscar this year for Best Foreign Language Film.
The Mexican film “Arrancame La Vida” (Tear This Heart Out) originally was scheduled, but the change didn’t seem to ruin anyone's evening.

The film tells the story of retired court investigator. Benjamin Esposito (Ricardo Darin), who has decided to pen his memoir. A series of flashbacks highlights political corruption and Argentina's crippled justice system against the background of a love affair. The affair, an emotional seesaw, complicates the quest for justice of the investigator and his colleagues.

Although Esposito is retired, he is haunted by a murder-rape case that had been solved. What disturbs him about the case is that the criminal was released and served no time in prison.

The audience learns that the criminal is a political hitman who was protected by the government, making him untouchable. And, here is the mandatory spoiler alert: The court investigator – hell-bent on uncovering the truth — finds years later that the “missing” criminal has been imprisoned for more than two decades by the husband of his murder victim. The wronged spouse embodies action against an unjust legal system.

Pablo Sandoval (Guillermo Francella), assistant to Esposito, said these haunting lines: “There’s nothing that me, you, nobody can change … and that’s passion. A man cannot change his passion. Passion is passion.”

Fred Dobb, CSUS film professor and gallery curator, provided the audience with historical background on “El Secreto,” shedding light on Argentina’s political unrest and its caste system, including untouchable members of government and society.

Dobb pointed out that in 1974, the vice president of Argentina was Isabelita Peron, third wife of President Juan Peron. Upon her husband’s death, she became the country's first female president. Another interesting fact was that the second wife of Juan Peron was Eva Duarte, more commonly known as Evita Peron. The name should be familiar. "Evita," a 1996 biopic, was nominated for five Academy Awards and won for best song. The lead role was played by singer-actress Madonna.

Dobb pointed out that certain characters as portrayed in "El Secreto de su Ojos," such as court investigator Esposito, would not have been protected from government action, but that his upper-class amour, an attorney, would have been considered untouchable.

“The film is really interesting in that by the end of the film we all wonder who really is the prisoner,” he said.

“El Secreto de su Ojos” is a well-crafted piece of Latin foreign cinema that will keep you on the edge of your seat.

WRITER’S NOTE: Local filmmakers can visit La Raza Galeria Posada, 1024 22nd St., and inquire about submitting Latin feature-length foreign films or film shorts to the series. Contact Michael Collett at 916-446-5133.

Photography Credit: Delgreta E. Brown

County slaps SMAC with budget cuts

2010-06-18T05:07:34Z

The Sacramento Metropolitan Arts Commission banded together Wednesday afternoon, bringing nearly a dozen arts supporters to a public County Board of Supervisors budget meeting that discussed funding cuts from the county's Transit Occupancy Tax, a hotel tax. It was the last day of public hearings on the county budget before deliberations.

Rob Leonard, the director of the county's Department of Economic Development gave a report on the cuts. Among organizations facing cuts from the TOT budget were the Sacramento Tree Foundation, the Sacramento Sports Commission and Sacramento Metropolitan Arts Commission.

Despite their efforts to oppose the cuts, which included public service announcements and several petitions, SMAC's funding from the TOT budget was cut Thursday afternoon from $309,655 to $175,000. That funding is allocated among SMAC's operations budget and Cultural Arts Awards.

"In the past, the board has given us some discretion to work with staff to allocate that amount as needed," director Rhyena Halpern said.

After Leonard's presentation Wednesday, nine people spoke in support of SMAC, for several minutes each. These included SMAC commissioners Dan Gorfain, Carlin Naify, Linda Cutler, Sid Heberger, as well as artists representing the Camellia Symphony Orchestra, La Raza Galeria Posada, and the Sinag-tala Filipino Theater and Performing Arts Association. Gorfain presented the board with a petition opposing cuts with more than 600 signatures.

"Over the course of the last three years, I lost my job, (my family) lost our house, we had to file for bankruptcy, and for a while we didn't know where we'd be living," said the vice president of the Sacramento Women's Chorus, Rebecca Wall, who brought her young daughter Audrey to the podium. "Music itself has been a wonderful thing for me during our situation. I'm honored to be able to be a part of the Sacramento Women's Chorus and I know that this funding is central to us to be able to do that in our community."

Sinag-tala CEO and artistic director Sonny Alforque said that SMAC funding is crucial to arts organizations, artists and the community.

"Many artists are the very same busboys, waitresses, janitors and retail clerks who serve us all for minimum wages," he said. "And yet most of us will tell you that without the generous assistance that SMAC provides to the arts and community with a small budget it now operates on, many of us would not be able to sustain our services to this community."

SMAC also receives funding directly from the city. After SMAC presented nearly 1,000 signatures in a petition opposing cuts Tuesday, the City Council decided to restore a proposed $150,000 in cuts to SMAC's Cultural Arts Awards Program.

"We are pleased by this development," Gorfain said in a prepared statement. "However, the cuts are steep. Rhyena Halpern says that the best way to think about these cuts is this: SMAC cuts for fiscal year 2011 will bring our total SMAC budget, excluding Art in Public Places, down from about $2.6 million in fiscal year 2008, to about $950,000."

The City Council must vote on its budget by June 22.

Photograph depicts painter David Garabaldi, the recipient of a SMAC scholarship to attend the California State Summer School for the Arts.

Discussion with Dr. Rock this Thursday night

2010-05-12T07:02:40Z

La Raza Galeria Posada is hosting a talk Thursday by Dr. Bernardo Gonzalez III, owner of the gallery's current installation, "Music Revolution!: An Exhibition of Musical Memorabilia from the Golden Age of Latin Rock."

As a music fan turned manager and concert promoter, Gonzalez has played a pivotal role in the rise of Latin Rock over the past 40 years. He has managed the highly-acclaimed band Malo since the mid-1980s and has produced several major concerts in the Bay Area. His nickname, "Dr. Rock," represents his two careers: music manager by night, dentist by day.

Gonzalez's music career started in the early 1970s in the Bay Area while he was attending dental school. As a struggling student in the hub of a revolutionary music scene, Gonzalez found that as a volunteer security guard he could attend shows without breaking the bank.

"I was able to watch amazing shows for free," Gonzalez recollected. "I couldn't get enough."

After some time as a volunteer, Gonzalez was offered a paid gig as a security guard. One of his jobs was at a three-day concert series in Berkeley with the Grateful Dead as headliner.

"I wasn't into the (Grateful) Dead before that job," he said. "But after three days, I was a full-on Deadhead."

Gonzalez slowly became more involved with the music business and producing major events, meeting many influential artists along the way.

In 1985, he was introduced to the lead singer of Malo and a short time later was asked to be the band's manager. Even though he knew a lot about the entertainment world, Gonzalez never had represented an artist or group. Despite this, he accepted the job.

"With an opportunity like that, you just have to say yes," Gonzalez said with a laugh. That same year, he opened his dental practice. When it came time to decorate his office, Gonzalez hung an autographed picture of Santana on the wall.

"We started out with one picture, and the next thing I knew, there was no more room left on the walls," he said. The memorabilia grew rapidly and eventually, patients began donating to the collection.

La Raza Galeria Posada is the first gallery to show Gonzalez's collection, which includes items from posters to gold records. The rare items being shown at the gallery are just a fourth of Gonzalez's entire collection. The installation will be up through June 5.

At Thursday's event, Gonzalez will discuss the time he spent traveling with rock stars as well as the pieces of art he's collected. The talk, which begins at 7 p.m., will be hosted by David Watts Barton, editor in chief of The Sacramento Press. La Raza Galeria Posada is at 1022 22nd St., between J and K streets.

Local organization aims to empower youth through poetry

2010-04-19T17:40:41Z

A youth mentor for a local educational program said he used poetry to see himself through a difficult past.

Coon, a 15-year-old high school sophomore, was walking home when he was shot three times. One bullet hit his spine and ricocheted into his lung.

"I was hanging out with somebody who really wasn't my friend, and I pretty much took on their beef, their issues, and I was guilty by association," he said. "I've never been in a gang or anything like that. You don't have to be (involved) in a gang for something bad to happen to you."

Asking to be referred to only by his last name (and stage name), Coon channeled the pain from his wounds and started taking his writing and poetry seriously as soon as he left the hospital. He joined a musical group and, with his friend TroubleSin, became part of a spoken word team called E-legal Tag Team.

The two are now poet mentors for Sacramento Area Youth Speaks, which uses innovative methods to help Sacramento-area kids learn. Since last year, SAYS, part of the University at California at Davis School of Education, has empowered youth by giving them a voice through poetry.

SAYS will inaugurate its poetry slam season Wednesday night at the Roberts Family Center, and the season will culminate May 7 at the 2010 SAYS Youth Summit at the Mondavi Center. Youth ages 13 to 19 are invited to participate, and the preliminary rounds, held at a different venue each night, will be open to the public.

"We can all talk about pipelining youth into college, but that's empty unless their hearts are here," said Dr. Vajra Watson, founder of SAYS and a former Bay Area high school teacher. "I saw firsthand the perils of education as well as the opportunities, and I became an advocate for young people to seek insight into their own lives."

So in January 2009, Watson founded SAYS, which partners with the Twin Rivers and Sacramento City school districts as well as the city's Office of Youth Development and the Sierra Health Foundation.

The program holds an assembly at a participating school, a writing workshop and eventually, after-school programs. During the school year, a poet mentor, who has gone through a six-week training course, pairs with a class, making lesson plans, mentoring students and helping the teacher engage with students in "living literacy" programs.

"The underlying philosophy is reaching and teaching the youth," said Watson. "We underestimate young people. They're ready to grab the mic. Are we ready to listen?"

Demand from students led to the poetry slam season. The program, which began in January 2009, grew to 350 people by May. Its popularity brought the first annual SAYS Summit, drawing youth from five school districts.

After attending a day of workshops with alternative educators and local poets, the youngsters participated in a poetry slam, competing and showcasing their stories. SAYS had to turn away poets. Teachers also received training at the summit.

Charday Adams, Grant High School senior, won the slam.

"Youth Speaks gave me an opportunity to write, discover who I was and define some emotions I had," she said. "I found myself wanting to read more books and explore more sensations; it gave me a better view of myself."

Watson said the program also employs youth as poet mentors because they can connect more deeply with students, making their work more relevant.

Coon agreed. The 20-year-old explained how he thinks of the students at Elinor Lincoln Hickey Junior-Senior High School, which he described as a charter school with mostly juvenile delinquents.

"I'm not an authority or an adult, I'm just like (them)," he said of students, adding, "I'm just trying to give (them) a way out. Sometimes it's the hardest to get them motivated because they've been institutionalized, but I let them know that I graduated from a continuational school."

Coon, who is also taking classes to become a juvenile probation officer, said he wants to get more school districts involved with SAYS because there are a lot of "silent poets" out there.

Adams wants to write for film and television and will attend the University of Southern California next year on a full-ride scholarship. "I definitely want to incorporate everything I learned," she said, adding, "a lot of people in spoken word are in screenwriting as well."

Poetry slam season will run from Wednesday to Saturday at a different venue each night. Semifinals will be held April 30 and May 1 at La Raza Galeria Posada, 1022 22nd St.

Finals will be May 7 at the Mondavi Center in Davis as part of the SAYS 2010 Youth Summit. It also will feature Def Poetry Jam poets Dennis Kim, Ise Life and Queen GodIs. UC Davis will host the professional development segment of the summit on May 15 for teachers.

More information on SAYS, the poetry slam season and the 2010 SAYS Summit is available at www.says.ucdavis.edu.

Photographs courtesy SAYS.

"Anónimo Mortal" day one of the "El Santo" Mexican film series

2009-10-28T05:18:34Z

Monday evening transported me back to high school Spanish class.

At La Raza Galeria Posada, I watched a non-subtitled, and non-dubbed Mexican film for the first time in years. The plot and dialogue were easy enough to follow so I didn't feel completely lost, and the 1970s outfits the women wore also kept me thoroughly entertained (leopard bell bottom pants while walking through the desert, really?)

"Anónimo Mortal," features El Santo, or "the Saint," played by Rodolfo Huerta, who wears his emblematic silver mask in the wrestling ring and as he goes about life, or in this film, as he helps to solve a murder mystery.

El Santo is one of Mexico's iconic figures that many Mexican citizens identified with, said Marie Acosta, Director at La Raza Galeria Posada.

"Santo is popular because he is the working class hero - the superhero," Acosta said. "So much popular culture is exported to Mexico from the United States, he was the first to really have a collective national identity for Mexico."

"Anónimo Mortal" starts out with a bang - literally. Within the first few minutes someone is shot, which began the inquisitive crime-solving sleuthing for the film.

Certain citizens are being targeted in Mexico City, in addition, the ones targeted all receive an anonymous death threat stating that "your turn to die is next." Mario Gaos, a business man, reads about it in the paper and having just received a death threat himself says that instead of the police, "the only person who can save me is Santo."

From then on, it is up to El Santo and his crime fighting associates to investigate the murders.

I was quite surprised that despite having a Mexican wrestler as the protagonist there were actually only a few wrestling scenes. The main plot centered around the murder-mystery or classic "who-dun-it" theme. Eventually it is discovered that the murders end up being from an old Nazi extermination camp commander and other nazi's, relocated to Mexico some 25 years after the war, who wants revenge on those who testified against him in the war crimes trial.

I found the storyline easy to follow, peppered with action sequences of Santo fighting in the ring and against the vilified Nazis. The film quality was relatively grainy, and reminded me of the typical 1970s Bruce Lee action or any other adventure movie during that era. The clothes the women characters Yvette and Ester wore were very fashion-conscious during the time, with high waist jeans, chunky heels and raccoon eye makeup.

Entry and popcorn are free, beer and wine can be purchased for under $5, and donations are always graciously accepted. The Galeria has beautiful works of art in both rooms, so come by a little early and pursue the sculptures before watching the feature.

The El Santo films will continue to be shown all this week. On Thursday, Doctor Dobb, film curator, will speak on El Santo's life and legacy. The free series is sponsored by the Consulate General of Mexico.

"Santo is a national symbol," Acosta said. "It will be great to have Fred [Dobb] curating the Mexican film series and introducing people to this iconic piece of Mexican film history."

The remaining films this week are:

Tuesday: Santo y Blue Demon en la Atlántida (Santo and Blue Demon in Atlantis), subtitled
Wednesday: Santo vs. Las Lobas (Good vs. The Wolf), subtitled
Thursday: Santo en el Museo de Cera (Ghost in the Wax Museum), subtitled
Friday: Santo y Blue Demon vs. Los Monstruos (Santo and Blue Demon vs. The Monsters), not subtitled

Films begin at 7 p.m. at La Raza Galeria Posada, 1022 22nd St. in Sacramento. You can just show up for the film, or place a reservation with Michael by calling 916.446.5133, or by email at michael@larazagaleriaposada.org.

A week of "El Santo" films at La Raza Galeria Posada

2009-10-26T07:12:08Z

Rodolfo Huerta, lucha libre wrestler and one of Mexico's most beloved film icons, is known as El Santo, or "The Saint." What's surprising though, is that the masked wrestler-cum-actor lived up to his exalted moniker on and off the screen.

El Santo "saved" the Mexican film industry as it was on its deathbed, creating films that drew patrons back to the big screens, said Fred Dobb, film curator at La Raza Galeria Posada. When El Santo died in 1984 at the age of 66, thousands watched as the famous actor/wrestler was buried in his signature silver mask.

For one week, starting Monday, La Raza Galeria Posada will show an El Santo film every night. The free series is sponsored by the Consulate General of Mexico.

El Santo was a poor child and sacrificed to get into wrestling, Dobb said. After his career took off, he was turned into a comic book hero, then became a film superstar.

Dobb described the familiar plot of El Santo's 50-plus films: The good guy, El Santo would fight a number of enemies, which included monsters, vampires, werewolves, martians, evil geniuses and Nazis.

"These films are unique in that they combine genres (such as) sci-fi, horror, action, adventure and wrestling," Dobb added. "His first film was in the early '50s, during the end of the Golden Age of Mexican cinema."

"Lucha libre is next to soccer and before bullfighting (in significance) in the cultural psyche of Mexico," said Michael Collett, the gallery's education manager and photographer. "It has elements of prime-time soap operas and WWF."

Although entry, popcorn, beer and wine are free, donations are welcome. Films begin at 7 p.m. at La Raza Galeria Posada, 1022 22nd St. On Thursday, Dobb will speak about El Santo's life and legacy.

The films are:

Monday: Anónimo Mortal (Anonymous Mortal), not subtitled

Tuesday: Santo y Blue Demon en la Atlántida (Santo and Blue Demon in Atlantis), subtitled

Wednesday: Santo vs. Las Lobas (Good vs. The Wolf), subtitled

Thursday: Santo en el Museo de Cera (Ghost in the Wax Museum), subtitled

Friday: Santo y Blue Demon vs. Los Monstruos (Santo and Blue Demon vs. The Monsters), not subtitled

If that's not enough lucha libre films, on Halloween the gallery will show Revolucha, a 2007 documentary about a lucha libre match in Detroit. It stars El Hijo del Santo, the only one of El Santo's 11 children who became a professional wrestler. Costumes are suggested.

La Raza Galleria Posada gets $15,000

2009-10-17T00:29:17Z

Local cultural center La Raza Galeria Posada has just received a grant for $15,000 to promote musical events in Sacramento.

The grant came from the California Arts Council, and was the only grant awarded to an organization in Sacramento County. 43 other non-profit groups from 39 California counties were selected from more than 160 applicants.

La Raza Executive Director Marie Acosta said in a press release, "This is a wonderful boost for both La Raza and for Sacramento music fans. And, it comes right on the heels of La Raza being awarded the 2009 Arts Management Excellence Award from the Arts & Business Council of Sacramento."

La Raza Galeria Posada is a multi-disciplinary cultural center located at 1022-1024 22nd St. between J & K streets in Midtown. It stages Latino/Chicano and Native American arts exhibitions, art education programs, and workshops. The Galleria's current exhibition is The Larry Hoover Collection of Mexican Ritual Masks, which is on display through November.

The funds came from a settlement from a 2003 anti-trust suit against five of the country's largest CD distributors and three national retail chains for fixing prices on music CDs. The settlement gave 665,000 CDs worth $9 million to public schools, colleges and libraries. California consumers who filed claims got $13.86 each, and the leftover money, $549,000, was divided up between arts organizations who applied.

La Raza will spend its $15,000 on a planned May 2010 concert called "Song for Cesar," a concert in honor of Cesar Chavez. Headlining the show will be Latin rock supergroup called The Voices of Latin Rock, featuring largely-local players from classic rock bands Santana, Malo, Tower Of Power, Journey, and Sly and The Family Stone.