Chicanonautica: José Torres-Tama, Part One: ¿Que es Sci-Fi Latino Noir?

by Ernest Hogan

Back in 2012, Melinda Palacio got me in touch with José Torres-Tama. We talked about something about him for Chicanonautica/La Bloga. Somehow we never got around to it. Damnear a decade steamrolled by. We went from SB-1070 and Sheriff Joe Arpaio to our current dystopian/apocalyptic stituation. He got his Taco Truck Theater. I became the Father of Chicano Science Fiction.

Suddenly, the chaos caused by the current administration was amplified by COVID-19, like the impact of a dinosaur-killing asteroid. Was this the sociological equivalent of an extinction level event? What are artists, writers, and creatives of all kinds to do when we have to be quarantined like the beginning of some sci-fi flick? I hunkered down, and bashed away at my novel. Then, via the internet, things began to happen. Zoom, and Guillermo Gomez-Peña, pulled me into a new, evolving reality. You can read about this in earlier Chicanonauticas. Torres-Tama was part of this migration to another alien environment, after his event/presentation, we got in touch after his Dreamocracy in America event, and decided that it was about time we did that interview/write-up.

There was a flurry of text messages. Texting was something I had been resisting for years, but here I was again, being pulled, kicking and screaming into a future not-of-my-own making. He also sent me a lot of emails with attachments to documents and videos. There would be no lack of material here.

I thought a good way to begin was to ask him what he meant by “scifi Latino noir” as he describes a lot of his work. He sent me a series of images. Right away, we entered a different culture from the usual Anglo/Americano sci-fi, which tends to be verbal/cerebral, coming from the reasoning part of the brain, even when showing us monsters and exploding spaceships. Latinoid (pardon me if I feel justified in using my own term in this context) tends to be visual, sensual, art/image-oriented.

The images, interspersed with the text here (uh-oh, I’m combining the visual with verbal, making this into a multimedia experience . . .) were of his performances. There he is as various “alien” characters, the alienness is both sci-fi, and the Latinoid experience, the props reference religion and politics. These are not just pretty pictures, they mean something. Latinoid artists love to slather on layers of meanings. Marshall McLuhan said that the medium is the message, but with us messages are our media. No pure abstraction, art for art’s sake, “politics just distracts from the sort of stuff that makes rich patrons feel good and spend money”sort of thing.

After more communications at that same time that he was doing other things, like being interviewed on Nuestra Palabra, a program out of Houston from Pacifica Radio, and writing an Op-Ed piece on immigrants trapped in Louisiana ICE Detention Center for Colorlines, a social justice daily, as well as dealing with landlord troubles. “I do have my Activist Bat Utility Belt on because it's essential gear during this pandemic.” He texted me the following:

My “sci-Fi Latino noir” perspective was imposed upon me by a country that labeled me a “permanent resident alien” when I first entered its territory in 1968. To add to the “alien” theme, I was given a “Green Card.” So being an “alien” in this U.S. sci-fi reality was written into the script for me and for “other aliens” with such a designation in the so-called land of the free. This is the “alien” prism that launches my point of departure and perspectives here in the United States of Amnesia... JTT

Yeah, I understand. As a born-in-East L.A. Chicanonaut, I had a similar identity thrust on me, by the same society from the opposite direction. I see how an Ecuadorian with Quechua blood, growing up in New York, living in New Orleans, working as a writer, poet, journalist, renegade scholar, educator, visual and performance artist, an activist, and father, equals a powerful kind of sci-fi that is not just a genre of light fiction to entertain the masses as they go about the business of helping transform the entire planet into liquid assets.

We needed to talk more . . .

I’ve used all this space and I’ve been just introducing. I’m going to have to do like they did with the ancient, black&white Flash Gordon serials, and continue, in two weeks . . .

Ernest Hogan's day job at the Phoenix Public Library is back online, albeit in a newfangled “curbside service” model, where he wears a mask, and the public isn't allowed into the building. He's also writing like crazy, as editors and publishers get back to him. Buy Latinx Risng. Watch for big news soon!

Teatro Sin Fronteras in New Orleans

 Melinda Palacio

José Torres-Tama

When José Torres-Tama asked me to be a part of his Teatro Sin Fronteras, a 10 year commemoration of the anniversary of Hurricane Katrina and the ongoing contribution of Latinos to New Orleans, I had no idea the reading would be unlike any other in the Big Easy. What's remarkable about this series of presentations is the variety in each show. Jose likens the events to "a moveable feast" in that the venues change, there are different artistic offerings, poetry, dance, art, music, performance art, and there's delicious comida, catered by Sarita's grill. José is able to offer all these events to the public free of charge, while paying each artist through a grant from Alternate Roots, Partners in Action and Jose Torres Tama and ArteFuturo Productions. So far this season has seven different shows. Teatro Sin Fronteras partners with Puentes New Orleans and there just might be future iterations of the series.

Melinda Palacio

A few days before the show, José asked me to join him for a radio interview with Diane Mack on WWNO's Inside the Arts program. I learned that Diane Mack has been following José's one-man acts for over twenty years. Born in Ecuador, raised in New York, José has been in New Orleans since the mid-1980s. Many of his performance pieces are lyrical in their own right and are included in his first full-length poetry collection, Immigrant Dreams AlienNightmares, Diálogos Books 2014.

The Old Marquer Theatre in the Faubourg Marigny

Performing first in Tuesday's show allowed me to sit back and enjoy the rest of the outstanding performances. The Old Marquer Theatre used to be named the Shadow Box Theatre, but before that it was Marquer Drugs.

Maritza Mercado-Narcisse

Maritza Mercado-Narcisse performed a spellbinding dance to La Llorona. Her choreography showed a willingness to pair risk with fluid movements.  

Denise Frazier with art by Cynthia Ramirz in background

In Cynthia Ramirez's artist talk, she provided the background for her original art which is part of her search for raza. She described herself as a Pocha from Virginia who didn't speak Spanish and didn't discover her Chicana roots until she arrived in New Orleans. For her, Aztlán is in the port city of New Orleans.

While José's work was featured in the Short Film Mardi Gras as Public Healing Ritual for the Wounded New Orleans, it was in the live sketches where his work shines. I've seen him perform from his repertoire before, but this was the first time I saw him accompanied by Violinist Denise Frazier. Her playing exuded a haunting beauty that worked especially well with José's sketch where he channels a woman escaping from Nicaragua.

Intimos w Blake Amos & Leo Oliveira

The evening ended with Brazilian music by Intimos with Blake Amos and Leo Oliveira. I had the opportunity to ask Leo what he thought about the whole experience. Leo played the Cavaquinho (a small acoustic guitar used in samba) and the Surdo (Drum). Some of the songs the duo performed were Tive Razao by Seu jorge, Dindi by Tom Jobim and Ive Brussel by Jorge Ben Jor. Leo said it was his first time performing at Teatro Sin Frontera with José Torres-Tama.

"It was nice to perform at a place where people were actually paying attention to the artists. I was very impressed by the quality of the event. In Brazil, we do something similar and we call “Sarau”. I am not sure about the meaning of the word, but that’s when people get together to express themselves artistically."

The next series of Teatro Sin Fronteras takes place at the Ashé Cultural Arts Center. 1712 Oretha Castle Haley Blvd., New Orleans at 7pm. Admission is $5 at the door and the comida will be catered by Sarita's grill on Freret. For more info on Teatro Sin Fronteras, contact José Torres-Tama. Teatro Sin Fronteras is also part of José's arts project, ALIENS Taco Truck Theatre Project.

Future events include:
July 21 at Ashé Cultural Center from 7-9 pm and features Odile Nicole De Giudice, Jennifer Pagan, A Scribe Called Quess, Pastor Oscar Ramos, Roberto Carrillo, Omaira Falcom, José Torres-Tama, and Denise Frazier. 
August 11 at the Arts Estuary 1024
August 18 at the Old Marquer Theatre
August 25 at the Old Marquer Theatre

Checking It Twice

Melinda Palacio

Saturday, December 20, Winterlandia's Anti-Mall Marketplace

My final gift suggestion for the year: books. Tía Chucha Press and Centro Cultural has a great online  book shop. But if you are also looking for a bit of entertainment and fun while rounding out your holiday shopping. Tía Chucha's is hosting their 4th annual Winterlandia Anti-Mall. 

Whenever I mention Tía Chucha's, it's always with a soft spot because Luis J. Rodriguez has always inspired and informed my work. I'm also very honored to be a Tía Chucha Press Poet. They did a gorgeous job with my poetry book, How Fire Is a Story, Waiting. Whenever I go to Tía Chucha's, I always find myself buying some of their local handmade crafts in addition to books. 

If you missed Rudy's books by La Bloga guide, here it is: Holiday Gifts from La Bloga's Latino Authors. 

Felíz Navidad!

Over in New Orleans, on Sunday, José Torres-Tama gives his final 2014 performance and signs his new book of poems, Immigrant Dreams & Alien Nightmares (Dialogos Books 2014) at Faubourg Marigny Art & Books, December 21 at 6pm, 600 Frenchman Street, New Orleans.

At the Latino Book and Author Festival in 2010,
Luis Rodriguez, Michele Serros, Melinda Palacio and Daniel Olivas

Earlier this year, I reported on Michele Serros's campaign and fight against cancer in the September post: A Latina en Lucha Needs You Mucha Campaign. Thank you for your contributions to La Bloga friend, Michele Serros. In April 2013, Michele was diagnosed with a rare form of cancer, adenoid cystic carcinoma. As the disease has advanced to stage 4, she continues to ask for support and has upped the ante in her GiveForward campaign.

Thank you to everyone who reads La Bloga. I appreciate all of your well wishes for my broken leg which is healing. I'm able to walk without a limp and soon I'll be dancing. Gracias!

One of over 300 children in Iguala who will benefit from Reyna Grande's Posada.

Also, your generosity has helped fund Reyna Grande's toy drive. She will be distributing toys to over 300 children in her hometown of Iguala, Guerrero. Her campaign will also continue into the new year as she plans on including a toy give away to the kids at the ayotzinapa school. Reyna says the school has been turned into a campground with many people and kids. If you missed her guest post on La Bloga, read about how Reyna is bringing some Christmas Cheer to a Town Missing 43. 

La Raza in Nueva Orleans

Melinda Palacio

Two weeks ago, when Nora Comstock of Las Comadres Para Las Americas called me to say she was going to the NCLR (National Council of La Raza) conference in New Orleans and would I help her find a place to stay, I gladly offered my condo. La Comadre Nora helped me couch surf during my first book tour and put me and Reyna Grande up in her home for the Texas Book Festival last year. I was happy to do something for la Comadre Nora who does so much for Latino books and literacy.

It was a good thing Nora told me about the conference in New Orleans. Unfortunately, advertising for this event was somewhat dismal and I probably would not have heard about it had it not been for Nora's last minute decision to attend. While the exhibits were free to the public, there were several ticketed events that were a bit pricey and hard to get into, especially the final event, a speech by First Lady Michele Obama. While I couldn't use my press pass to get into this event, I was able to enjoy the brunch with keynote speaker, Rita Moreno.

 

Rita Moreno 

Rita Moreno.  I was impressed by her speech and delivery. I didn't mind at all that she took extra time, telling stories about the golden years of Hollywood, and promoting her memoir of the same theme. Her big screen life and struggle of a young Puerto Rican girl named Rosita Dolores Alverio, turned Rita Moreno, was delightful, especially since I've seen several of her films, including West Side Story,  and her dynamic role on the HBO series Oz. The 81-year-old singer, dancer, actress, and author is a natural storyteller and public speaker. She talked about how she 'hated' the early roles she was offered, but took them anyway, knowing a stronger role for a Latina would come along and how she developed accents for every role assigned to her over the past six decades as an actor. She also had no trouble promoting her book: Rita Morena: A Memoir. The book is doing well, but not as well as Jenni Rivera's Memoir: Unbreakable translated into Spanish by La Bloga friend, Reyna Grande. Rivera's memoir hit an unprecedented Number One Best Seller by a Latina on Amazon.

Jose Torres Tama

 In conjunction with the NCLR in New Orleans, Jose Torres Tama gave an off-site performance of his one-man show, Aliens, Immigrants & Other Evildoers. I was so pleased I finally had the opportunity to see this important theatrical piece. I had already seen Torres Tama's accompanying exhibit, Somos Humanos/ We Are Human: Latino Immigrants and the Reconstruction of New Orleans at Barrister's Gallery.

Upcoming Events:

Next Tuesday, August 6 in New Orleans: Melinda Palacio and Nancy Harris read at Octavia Books, at 6pm. Nancy Harris runs the Maple Leaf Reading Series in New Orleans. Her new book, Beauty Eating Beauty is out from Portals Press.

Next month: In California

September 8, Bluebird Reading Series. I'm excited to join this reading series. I will be wearing my dress with birds on it. If you have a dress or shirt with birds, join in. Hostess Jessica Ceballos promises to wear her blue bird dress as well. Sunday, September 8 at 2pm, I will join Cara Van Le and the Blue Bird readers at Avenue 50 Studios, Highland Park, CA. Open mike to follow, bird motifs not required.

September 14, over at Granada Books, the new bookstore in Santa Barbara, downtown, on State Street, I have the pleasure of being the featured reader at the Poetry Zone, 4pm. Open mike to follow.

No Guac for Haters in NOLA and Hola 2013

Melinda Palacio

Alvin Jackson, Melinda Palacio, Jose Torres-Tama in Torres-Tama's studio in New Orleans

I finally had the opportunity to see one of Jose Torres-Tama's exhibits in the Big Easy. He has come to my book signings and has helped promote my events. Each time I'm in New Orleans, I've missed his one man shows and have seen the acclaimed reviews in the local paper only to find out I was a day or a week late for theatre productions such as "Aliens, Immigrants, and Other Evil Doers" at the Shadowbox Theatre. When I saw that his new exhibit is not a theatre piece, but a photography exhibit entitled, "Photo Retablos: Immigrants in Chocolate City," I surprised Jose at ArteFuturo Studio, 1329 Saint Roch. There I met Alvin Jackson of the Historic Treme Collection and I had fun speaking Spanish with Jackson who explained the rich history of his abuelita who taught him Spanish. "Si quieres comer, tienes que hablar español," was a saying Jackson's grandmother often said. Both Jackson and Torres-Tama have painted portraits of New Orleans Free People Of Color. Jackson for the Historic Treme Exhibit and Torres-Tama for the Ogden Museum. The next open studio for Torres-Tama's exhibit is January 12. I'm looking forward to seeing Torres-Tama perform his shows one day. In the meantime, I might have to settle for obtaining one of his t-shirts with the line, NO GUACAMOLE for Immigrant Haters! from ALIENS, IMMIGRANTS & OTHER EVILDOERS. Torres-Tama explains, "the NO GUAC motto is the name of my satirical 2013 Mandate since the Latino electorate has flexed its muscle in the 2012 election."

Photo Retablos: Immigrants in Chocolate City by Jose Torres-Tama

Jose Torres-Tama uses his dramatic, artistic, and photographic skills to document El Congreso de Jornaleros and honor Latino immigrants who have rebuilt post-Katrina New Orleans. His retablos repurpose found dresser drawers. Jose takes photos and sometimes creates original portraits, based on his photographs. Some of his more powerful pieces have a ticking clock over the photographs. Last Summer I stood in protest with the Southern 32, a group of day laborers in New Orleans.

Jose Torres-Tama in his studio

Melinda Palacio, Evelyn Rodriguez, Jose Torres-Tama, Lucrecia Guerrero

 The past few weeks have been wonderfully busy. Upon arriving in New Orleans, I was interviewed by Susan Larson on WWNO's The Reading Life. I had my first book signing for How Fire Is a Story, Waiting at Octavia Books, followed by a joint reading with Lucrecia Guerrero at Maple Street Books, Healing Center, and a final reading at the Maple Leaf Bar on Oak Street last Sunday, December 30. Both events were well attended thanks to spot on the Reading Life and in the Times-Picayune. Some highlights include one woman who heard me read a poem on WWNO and came to the Maple Leaf Bar and bought five books for her friends because she enjoyed How Fire Is a Story, Waiting. Another wonderful moment was when fellow Bloguera Lydia Gill walked in the door to hear our reading at the Healing Center. Lucrecia and I had fun ringing in the New Year. The reading at the Maple Leaf Bar was special because I took advantage of the reading grants from Poets and Writers and the funding came through despite PW having to temporarily close their offices due to Hurricane Sandy.

La Bloga in Nueva Orleans with Melinda Palacio and Lydia Gil 

December 2012, Melinda Palacio and Daniel Olivas at the PEN Oakland Awards

I will miss 2012. It was a good year for me. It ended with more than a bang. Ocotillo Dreams won the PEN Oakland Award (that makes three awards for my first novel; two ILBA awards the Mariposa Award for Best First Book and Honorable mention in the Historical Fiction category at the International Latino Book Awards at the Instituto Cervantes in Manhattan last Summer). How Fire Is a Story, Waiting is making its own heat. Hello 2013!

January is shaping up nicely. Later in the month, I have a book signing at Bank of Books in Ventura, January 19 at 1pm.

Yesterday, I recorded an interview with Words on a Wire. The show with Daniel Chacon and Benjamin Alire Saenz will air January 20.

Next stop: Berkeley. Francisco X. Alarcon and I will read with Poetry Flash at Moe's in Berkeley, January 24.

Reyna Grande and I will read at Reader's Books in Sonoma, CA January 28, Monday, 6pm.

Speaking of Reyna Grande, whose new memoir, The Distance Between Us, is proving to be a global favorite. Reyna will be teaching Intro to Fiction at UCLA's Extension, downtown campus this quarter.

On Tuesday, January 29, I will give a lunchtime presentation at UC Merced, noon to 1:15, COB 113.

This ends my first post of 2013. Happy New Year! I am so blessed to be part of La Bloga's familia. Thank you to everyone who reads La Bloga. I hope to meet more of you in 2013. Check www.melindapalcio.com to see if I will be in a city near you. If you want a signed copy of Folsom Lockdown, Ocotillo Dreams, or How Fire Is a Story, Waiting, please send me an email. I am happy to sign a book or name plate for you. Gracias, Gracias.