In the Room They Come and Go and Talk of Chicano Lit

Casa Reyna Hosts Backyard Floricanto

Michael Sedano

The fact my wife and I majored in English for our BA had a lot to do with Casa Sedano’s tradition of literary salons we dubbed the Backyard Floricanto. Also, the Living Room Floricanto.

Ordinarily, a Festival de Flor y Canto takes place across several days on a college campus supported by a nice budget. The whole idea of floricanto translates well to the intimate setting of your living room or back yard.

The most famous literary salon is the setting of “The Love Song of J Alfred Prufrock,” the one where the women come and go talking of Michelangelo. At first, I considered inviting gente to a Tertulia at our house, but too many immediately asked “what’s a tertulia?” It’s a Floricanto. 

Anyone can, and should, hold floricantos in their own space. The process is elegantly simple: connect with a writer promoting a new book; invite friends for a reading and Open Mic; lay out snacks; welcome guests do the reading; kick back with the author. The fulness of the event promises a celebration of literacy, good food, and camaraderie.

The first Backyard Floricanto at Casa Sedano came out of a Pasadena Literary Festival whose organizers invited a single panel of chicana chicano writers. After the Q&A, I invited the panel and anyone within earshot and we had the first backyard floricanto. It was impromptu and it set the model.

The most recent Backyard Floricanto follows the model while establishing new standards.

 

As English majors, Barbara and I enjoyed the rich diet of arte and literary events that make Los Angeles a major center of world culture. Long before her diagnosis, Barbara’s Alzheimer’s Dementia had begun affecting our ability to get out. We stopped going out, and we started inviting cultura to our pad.

Jesus Treviño was on the guest list and he immediately recognized the opportunity to document the writers invited to Casa Sedano. Jesus, who directs the superb documentary site, Latinopia (link), partnered with Casa Sedano to keep a video record of the writers. 

Latinopia’s near-encyclopedic record of great raza writers comes to you free. Just click and explore.