THIS WEEK ON LATINOPIA: WHAT IS MEXICAN INDEPENDENCE DAY? SALOMON HUERTA’S MASKED MEN AND SWIMMING POOLS AND ON BEING PIGEON-HOLED, RICARDO ROMO ON JUAN MIGUEL RAMOS, AND EL PROFE QUEZADA ON LA ADELITA.
It’s that time of year again, Mexican Independence Day. For a reminder of what it’s all about, we post an event profile explaining El Grito and why it was so important to the formation of the nation we know today as Mexico. Sadly, in view of current raids on our Latino population by ICE agents, many cities and organizations are curtailing or completely cancelling celebrations in fear of raids by ICE agents.
Also this week we visit with Los Angeles artist Salomon Huerta and exploreS his renderings of mascaras (masks) and swimming pools, two of the themes he explores through his art. His explanation of why he has focused on masked men from the Mexican wrestler tradition and swimming pools without humans is fascinating . Not to be missed.
Ricardo Romo returns with his regular art blog. This week he looks at the art of multi-talented artist and musician Juan Miguel Ramos. Based in Austin but originally from San Antonio, Ricardo shares Juan’s career from musician with his own band to his current efforts at developing a graphic novel.
And lastly. El Profe Quezada informs us of the back story to La Adelita, a Mexican soldadera during the Mexican Revolution, after whom the song La Adelita was written. El Profe informs us that not only was she a real person, but was celebrated later in life and is honored with a tomb in her adopted hometown of Del Rio, Texas.
Enjoy your week on Latinopia!
Tia Tenopia