Monday, March 17, 2008

¡Cuentecitos!

Over at Cuentesitos, the blog created by La Bloga alum, Gina MarySol Ruíz, we’re treated to an in-depth interview with Adriana Dominguez, an Executive Editor in the children's book division of HarperCollins. Before joining HarperCollins, Adriana served as Criticas magazine's children's review editor and also worked for most major publishers including Scholastic, Harcourt, McGraw-Hill, and Santillana U.S.A, among others, on either a full-time or freelance basis. Adriana has worked with many noted Latino/a authors such as Lulu Delacre of Rafi and Rosi fame and the writing team of Alma Flor Ada and Isabel F. Campoy.

Gina says that she had “broached the idea of having Adriana contribute to Cuentecitos and I’m so excited to say that she agreed and will start contributing her insight and knowledge in the next few weeks.” In the meantime, enjoy Gina’s interview with Adriana.

CULTURE CLASH IN AMERICCA

March 16 to April 6, 2008, at 7 p.m.
Renée and Henry Segerstrom Concert Hall, 615 Town Center Drive, Costa Mesa.

Written and performed by Culture Clash (Richard Montoya, Ric Salinas and Herbert Siguenza).

Directed by David Emmes.

Variety called them “comic masters,” and they’re at it again with their latest incarnation of city-specific shows, from the streets of San Francisco to bordertown Tijuana, from the Big Apple to Little Cuba. Now they’ve added Orange County to the mix. This explosion of brilliant ideas bursts forth in every direction with scenes that are political, social, satirical, ethnic, fearless, often moving and always hysterical. For tickets, click here.

◙ You can listen to an NPR podcast of Rigoberto González discussing the poetry of Juan Felipe Herrera here. I listened to it and man, it is muy cool!

◙ A special invitation from Richard Yañez:

El Paso Community College invites you to meet Stella Pope Duarte, author of Fragile Night, Let Their Spirits Dance, and the recently published novel, If I Die in Juárez.

On March 18 & 19, the writer-activist will share her work and wisdom with our border communities. Please see the attached flier for full detials of all the wonderful FREE events.

Hope to see you there. Please pass the Word.

In solidarity,

Richard Yañez,
Spring Arts Festival Coordinator
El Paso Community CollegeValle Verde CampusPO BOX 20500El Paso TX 79998-0500

◙ Speaking of Stella Pope Duarte, my review of her new novel, If I Die in Juárez, appeared in yesterday’s El Paso Times.

◙ Agustin Gurza, staff writer for the Los Angeles Times, comes to us each Saturday in his “Culture Mix” column (Calendar section). This Saturday, he tells us about the resurgence Self Help Graphics that has a long history in the community and about how people such as attorney Armando Duron have worked hard to save it:

The agency on César Chávez Avenue, considered the heart of the Chicano art scene, was close to closing its doors three years ago when Duron decided to volunteer to help turn it around. He had been coming here since his college days in the mid-'70s, later offering legal services pro bono to the organization rooted in the Chicano movement and cultural activism of the 1960s. Maybe, he thought while considering coming back, Self Help had simply outlived its era and it was time to move on, as many artists already had.

"I thought very much about whether it was worth saving and whether or not it was an anachronism," says Duron, now the agency's board president, during lunch at a nearby Mexican restaurant. "Within a few months, I knew it could be done and it should be done."

Today, a renewed artistic vigor has taken hold at Self Help, according to artists and supporters. The agency has a busy schedule of gallery exhibitions and new print projects in its renowned silk-screen shop run for the past 16 tears by master printer Jose Alpuche.


To read the entire piece, click here. Remember, if you have story ideas for Agustin, email him at agustin.gurza@latimes.com. (Pictured: Magda Dejose of Brazil works on a new print; photo credit: Los Angeles Times.)

◙ On a personal note, I have some nice news: Ghost Road Press has accepted for publication my first poetry collection, Crossing the Border. Looks like a spring 2010 publication date. More news later.

◙ All done. So, until next Monday, enjoy the intervening posts from my compadres y comadres at La Bloga. ¡Lea un libro!

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