THIS WEEK ON LATINOPIA: YOLANDA LOPEZ ON THE VIRGEN DE GUADALUPE, PAUL ESPINOSA ON SINGING OUR WAY TO FREEDOM, RICARDO ROMO’S TEJANO REPORT ON SAN ANTONIO CULTURAL ART STUDIO, CHUNKY SANCHEZ WITH RISING SOULS, SINGING SCORPIONS AND AND QUETZAL ON “TRAGAFUEGOS.”
Hola mi gente! This week Latinopia brings you new art, cinema and music. We begin with acclaimed and pioneering artist Yolanda Lopez whose works deal with the depiction of women in the Latino experience. In this video interview she reflects on her trilogy of works showcasing the Virgen de Guadalupe as a modern day runner, a seamstress and a grandmother. Controversial, these images nonetheless give us a new insight into the venerated Virgen and her relevance in a modern world. Accompanying the video is an “In Her Own Words” interview in which Yolanda speaks about her trajectory as an artist.
In cinema, veteran filmmaker Paul Espinosa speaks about his most recent documentary Singing Our Way To Freedom, the story of musician and Chicano activist Ramon “Chuncky” Sanchez. Chunky founded the music group Los Alacranes (The Scorpions) and spent his life making music for the farmworker’s and Chicano movimiento. He was considered Cesar Chavez’s favorite musician. Paul hopes his film will inspire a new generation of movement activists to use music to bring about social change. Accompanying the interview you can hear Chunky and his music in the clip “Rising Souls, Singing Scorpions.”
Ricardo Romo returns with his Tejano Report. This week he looks at the work of San Antonio Cultural Arts studio which is celebrating 28 years of keeping the mural tradition alive and well in San Antonio. For many years under the leadership of Manuel Castillo, when this muralist passed away activist Ben Tremillio stepped in and is now continuing to keep mural making alive and well in San Antonio with more than 60 murals and counting!
Lastly, we visit with the East Los Angeles music group Quetzal and their original song, “Tragafuegos” (Fireaters). Not to be missed!
Enjoy your week on Latinopia!
Tia Tenopia