THIS WEEK ON LATINOPIA: DIANE RODRIGUEZ ON LATINO THEATER, JULIO MONTERO ON “GAITAN,” MELINA PALACIO ON “HOW A FIRE IS A STORY, WAITING,” AND ELSA FLORES ON CARLOS ALMARAZ AT LACMA.
This week Latinopia we showcase the spectrum of Latino artistic expression: theater, music, literature and art. We begin with teatro, and Diane Rodriguez who is an actress, stage director and theater administrator who is Associate Artistic Director of the Los Angeles Center Theater Group. She has been involved in Chicano and Latino theater for many years. here she compares the current vibrant national Latino scene with the Latino theater movement of the 1970s.
Next, we visit with musician Julio Montero and his Latin American inspired political song. Julio was born in Ecuador and raised in New York city. His music is very much influenced by the Latin American social protest songs of the 1970s. Here he performs his original composition, “Gaitán,” an homage to a beloved Colombian social reformer and Presidential candidate who was gunned down in downtown Bogotá in 1948.
Turning to literature, we visit with Melinda Palacio, an author who has been published in numerous journals and magazines. Her novel Ocotillo Dreams won the Mariposa Award for Best First Book in 2012. Here she reads from her latest poetry collection, How A Fire is a Story, Waiting.
And in art, we visit the spectacular art exhibit, Playing With Fire: Painting by Carlos Almaraz. This is the first major exhibit at the Los Angeles County Museum of Art of the work of Chicano artist Carlos Almaraz (1941-1989). In this video, Artist Elsa Almaraz, Carlos’ widow, talks about Carlos’ art and their work together.
ENJOY YOUR WEEK ON LATINOPIA. Y QUE VIVA LA CULTURA LATINA!
Tia Tenopia