THIS WEEK ON LATINOPIA: LUIS TORRES ON THANKSGIVING LEFTOVERS, RICARDO ROMO ON THE ART OF JACINTO GUEVARA, THELMA REYNA REVIEWS MIXQUIAHUALA LETTERS BY ANA CASTILLO, AND LATINOPIA SHOWCASES MEXICO’S GRUPO MIXE AND MACEDONIA’S KOCANI ORCHESTRA.
A potpourri of items this week. We begin with the aftermath of our Thanksgiving dinner and, in spite of the TV shows detailing how to make culinary delights from leftovers, blogger Luis Torres recalls that throughout his childhood he never understood the notion of a “leftover.” Check out Luis’s recollection and what we might think about the next time you find yourself rummaging through the refrigerator looking for a snack.
Ricardo Romo returns with another insightful profile of a Chicano artist. This week he looks at the life and work of painter Jacinto Guevara. Growing up in Los Angeles, it was not until he moved to San Antonio that Guevara discovered his metier, that of helping to save historic San Antonio buildings and houses through his art. Check out what he’s done.
Also this week, we reprint poet Thelma Reyna’s review of the book Mixquiahuala Letters by Ana Castillo. Thelma describes the book as “an epistolary novel (one told through letters), with the letters all written by one of its two protagonists. The letter-writer, Teresa, is a poet, an American Latina of Mayan descent…The recipient of her letters is Alicia, a pale, evanescent woman of mixed heritage… basically considered an Anglo from a privileged background.” Check out Thelma’s review of this landmark novel by a legendary author.
Also this week we take a look at a film by Mexican filmmaker Roberto Olivares who documented a unique collaboration between the indigenous musical group “Banda Regional Mixe,” and a visiting musical ensemble from Macedonia, the “Kocani Orquestra.” What kind of music can we expect? Check out this video, it will surprise you!
Enjoy your week on Latinopia!
Tia Tenopia