THIS WEEK ON LATINOPIA: RICARDO ROMO’S TEJANO REPORT ON ARTHUR LÓPEZ CONTEMPORARY SANTERO, GILBERTO QUEZADA ON WHAT’S IN A NAME, ESMERALDA SANTIAGO ON LAS MADRES AND XOCHITL-JULISA BERMEJO READS FROM INCANTATION.
This week we have a potpourri of items. We begin with Ricardo Romo’s Tejano Report. This week he reports on a recent visit to the Sante Fe, New Mexico art mart where he encountered the work of Arturo López who is following the ancient tradition of santeros. In 1598, when the Oñate Expedition first entered into what is today New Mexico, Oñate brought with him carved figures, santos, which were intended to be used to convert the native peoples to Catholicism. Since that time santero wood carvers have continued the tradition of making wooden saints which have become art relics. Check out Ricardo’s account of his meeting master craftsman Arturo López.
Also this week, Gilberto Quezada wonders why in Mexico when referring to the United States by initials, it is always EE.UU. instead of what one might expect, E.U. Find out about thi sin his blog on what’s in a name.
This week we visit with Puerto Rican novelist Esmeralda Santiago and her latest book, Las Madres. The novel examines the devastation brought by hurricane Maria in 2017 on Puerto Rico and the impact it has on a close-knit Puerto Rican family.
And also this week, catch poet and fiction writer Xochitl-Julisa Bermejo as she reads from hr latest collection of poems, Incantations.
Enjoy your week on Latinopia!
Tia Tenopia