Full Hunter’s Moon in October in Kansas City and beyond

By Xánath Caraza

As I finished this column on the evening of the Hunter’s Moon, I decided to take a break.  I searched for “Full Moon in October” and I discovered that what I thought had been the Harvest moon to be actually a Hunter’s Moon in October.  I read this information, new for me, and learnt the following: “The story is told that the term "Hunter's" moon came about because Native Americans would use the full moon in October to hunt all night in order to stock up on meat for the upcoming winter season” (Almanac).  How beautiful, I thought, and took a moment to be in my backyard in search of the Full Hunter’s Moon and enjoy it.  

               

Today, Monday, October 21, 2013, just a couple of days following the Full Hunter’s Moon, I’m glad to share with you fundraising events in San Francisco, artists and authors visiting Kansas City, the book release of Cantología, the Día de Muertos celebration at The Writers Place, Kansas City, and the poem “Ante el río / Before the River” recorded for the Smithsonian Latino Virtual Museum.

Today’s Revolutionary Women of Color Project: A Community Gathering

Hosted by: Claudia D. Hernández & Leticia Hernández  facebook.com/events/220109238152504/

Next Saturday, October 26, a group of phenomenal women will gather at Galería de la Raza in the Mission District of San Francisco to share practice, testify to struggle, and inspire through poetry and performance. This event is the culmination of a new partnership between Amate and the incredible book/exhibit/video project that Claudia D. Hernández began: Today'sRevolutionary Women of Color.

October 26, 2013

Galería de la Raza

2857 24th St, San Francisco, CA

Saturday, October 26th  

Symposium: 1:00 – 2:15 p.m.
Poetry Reading: 2:30 – 4:00 p.m.
Entrance Fee / Donation: $20

FEATURED POETS AND ARTISTS:
Alma Flor Ada • Avotcja • Mama Ayanna Mashama • Betty Sanchez • Carolyn Brandy • Genny Lim Holly Ayala • Isabel Campoy • Leticia Hernández • Melanie Cervantes • Nancy Aidé González • Nancy Hom • Odilia Galván Rodríguez • Zayra Yves

SPONSORED BY: Amate: Women Painting Stories; Artillery Apparel Gallery
Galería de la Raza; Poets & Writers, Inc., supported by a grant from the James Irvine Foundation.

Cantología is a new E-anthology by poets who have read at the Guild Complex in Chicago, IL.  The theme of Cantología is Amor.  What is more, Cantología includes an ekphrastic poem of mine.  I haven’t seen this poetry collection yet, and I’m looking forward to reading all its poems, cover to cover.   Here is some information about this new E-book and where to find it.

Cantología [Kindle Edition] by the Guild Complex (Pandora Lobo Estepario Press, 2013) 

Miguel López-Lemus shared the following description of this wonderful collection with me:

ABOUT THE AUTHORS

"To all the poets, writers and storytellers that cannot remain silent."

From diverse cultural backgrounds and existential circumstances; from a
vast river of ethnical and geographical paths come the poets and writers
included in this Cantologia.

The Guild Complex is a community-based literary organization presenting
and supporting diverse, divergent and emerging voices through innovative
programs including performances and readings.

Palabra Pura promotes literary expression in more than one tongue through
a monthly bilingual poetry reading featuring Chicano and Latino artists.
With an aim to foster dialogue through literature in Chicago and beyond,
each evening pairs a local poet with a visiting writer along with an open
mic to engage the interaction of diverse voices, ideas, and aesthetics.

The contents of this book were not curated, chosen or edited; they are the
work of their respective authors who own the copyright to such works.

  

Kansas City

Inocente has recently visited Kansas City.  Inocente’s family moved to San Diego from Mexico when she was a young child. After her father was deported for domestic violence, Inocente, her mother and siblings became homeless, moving from place to place and sometimes living on the streets. At age twelve she was referred to a San Diego non-profit group that teaches the therapeutic aspects of art, and was encouraged to create works for an art show. Her story drew the attention of film directors who produced the documentary short that earned an Oscar in 2013. She is now 19 and lives in Chula Vista, California. 

Hallmark’s Hispanic employee resource group sponsored her visit to Kansas City, MO, a viewing of the Oscar-winning film and a private presentation to Hallmark employees as part of its Hispanic Heritage Month activities. 

The Hallmark group also planned her itinerary to include opportunities for young people locally to meet her. While in Kansas City, Inocente visited the young clients of a homeless shelter’s as they arrived after school and then proceeded to conduct a creative activity with them over dinner.  She also visited Mattie Rhodes Art Center & Gallery and she led an art project with the children in the center’s after-school program.  Finally, Inocente was a guest at the gallery’s First Fridays Artist reception, October 4, 2013.

Día de la Resistencia Indígena: Camino a Mictlán

“Tu nayaani’ xquendabiaani’ qué hrusia’nda xquidxí ne stiidxa.” (Zapotec language)

The Día de la Resistencia Indígena at García SquaredContemporary in Kansas City was celebrated on October 13, 2013.  This space belongs to artist Israel Alejandro García García.  The program was as follows:

5:00 p.m. Documental/ Documentary ‘Sin Maíz no hay país’

6:15 p.m. Camino a Mictlán / Journey to Mictlán

6:45 p.m. Poetry / Poesía: José Faus and Xánath Caraza

7:15 p.m. Música en vivo /  Live Music

7:40 p.m. Fin de la subasta silenciosa / Silent Auction Finale

7:45 p.m. Danza Mexica

Martín Espada in Kansas City, MO: Tuesday, October 22, 2013, 6:00 p.m.

Poet, essayist, translator, and editor, Martín Espada will read from his work as part of Park University’s Ethnic Voices Poetry Series, at the Kansas City Public Library, Central Branch, 14 W. 10th Street, Kansas City, MO.

Annual Day of the Dead Celebration at The Writers Place: Friday, November 1, 2013, 7:00 p.m.

This annual event includes traditional foods, dance, music, and a reading of fiction and poetry with Andrés Rodriguez, Anna Jobe, Allen Arias and hosted by Maryfrances Wagner and Xánath Caraza.  There will be as well a Día de muertos altar created by Xanath Caraza, festive decorations, and a display by World's Window.

Lastly, DaMaris Hill, professor of creative writing and African American studies at the University of Kentucky, has recently organized the following for her students in conjunction with the Smithsonian Latino Virtual Museum with recorded material of the poem “Ante el río / Before the River” from Conjuro, Mammoth Publications, 2012, by Xánath Caraza:

“Recently poet Xanath Caraza recorded her poem "Before the River" in her book Conjuro (Mammoth Publications) using Zeega with the Smithsonian Latino VirtualMuseum. The poem is based on La Llorona.”  On Dr. Hill’s blog, click the aforementioned link to see the entire post.  A link to the audio recording of Caraza’s poem is as follows: “Ante el río / Before theRiver”.