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When a little girl’s far-away grandmother comes to stay,
love and patience transcend language in a tender story written by acclaimed
author Meg Medina.
Mia’s abuela has left her sunny house with parrots and
palm trees to live with Mia and her parents in the city. The night she arrives,
Mia tries to share her favorite book with Abuela before they go to sleep and
discovers that Abuela can’t read the words inside. So while they cook, Mia
helps Abuela learn English ("Dough- Masa"), and Mia learns
some Spanish too, but it’s still hard for Abuela to learn the words she needs
to tell Mia all her stories. Then Mia sees a parrot in the pet-shop window and
has the perfect idea for how to help them all communicate a little
better. An endearing tale from an award-winning duo that speaks loud and clear
about learning new things and the love that bonds family members.
Meg Medina is thePura Belpre
Award–winning author of several books for young readers, including the highly
acclaimed YA novel Yaqui Delgado Wants to Kick Your Ass and the picture
book Tía Isa Wants a Car, for which she received an Ezra Jack Keats New
Writer Award. She lives in Richmond, Virginia.
Angela Dominguez has created many picture books,
including Maria Had a Little Llama, for which she received a Pura Belpre
Honor for illustration. She also teaches art at the Academy of Art University.
She lives in San Francisco.
5th May Sunday Brings La Palabra to Avenue 50 Studio
Michael Sedano
La Palabra hosted by Karineh Mahdessian ordinarily brightens the fourth--the final--Sunday of every month, but because May 2015's calendar quirk brought a fifth Sunday, La Palabra bided its time until the fifth, final, Sunday.
Dynamic hostess Karineh Mahdessian confessed to butterflies fifteen minutes before the two o'clock curtain. She looked across the empty main gallery of Highland Park's Avenue 50 Studio and saw an empty circle of chairs.
As La Palabra has proven year after year, month after month, people thronged through the front and side doors and by 2:00, Mahdessian was smiling broadly at the full house. Mejor, as the reading progressed, the house added visitors until La Palabra became an SRO event.
Featured Poets: Jenuine Poetess and Thelma Reyna
Tempus fugit! One of the featured readers, Jenuine Poetess, was on her way to LAX to board a flight to Italy. The ticketed passenger motivated the on-the-dot start.
Jenuine Poetess wrapped her reading and headed out the door toward her 100 Thousand Poets for Change event in Salerno. The next global 100TPC event comes in September. More information, and sign-ups here.
The second featured poet, Thelma Reyna followed the as-always fully subscribed Open Mic.
Reyna, Poet Laureate of Altadena, recently launched her ALTADENA POETRY REVIEW: ANTHOLOGY 2015. Reviewer Carol Davala observes, "This well-rounded book showcases work representing a broad spectrum of poetic style and subject matter, and it includes details indicative of spanning generations, cultural diversity, and a special blend of topical life experiences. From traditional formats to free-flowing verse, rhyming acrostics, elemental haiku and tankas, the poetic voices illuminate childhood memories, observe modern technology, and reflect on nature for both its beauty and consequences." Here's a link to the full review.
Thelma Reyna knows how to hold an audience. Today's reading threaded her work with a running commentary focused on a poet's sources of inspiration. She transitioned between readings telling biographical stories, current events items, and other material that lent her compositional urgency.
Among the places a poet finds poems is familia. Victor Reyna, Thelma's husband, beamed throughout the reading, knowing first-hand the sweat and tears that produced the works that Thelma reads so effectively, as if the poems were writing themselves in the moment.
Open Mic Frequent Guests and a Debut
Poetry at Avenue 50 Studio is a regular event, with La Palabra and the Bluebird series. The Open Mic sign-up fills quickly with local poets as well as visitors to the region making their first time presenting in Highland Park.
Given the relaxed atmosphere, many sign with only their first name. Some poets arrive while the reading is in progress, or do not sign up yet elect to join the readers on-the-fly.
Karineh Mahdessian watches the time carefully but generously finds space for readers not on the list. "Anyone want to read?" The hapless photographer is left high and dry by that, able to create an image but unable to ID some readers.
Ni modo; among the frustrations of a poetry foto essay is being unable to share the poems themselves, so what's one additional frustration? Lacking the poet's name, or last name, simply adds to the reasons to attend the next poetry event at Avenue 50.
Left to right, top-bottom: Don Kingfisher Campbell. idi. Jackie. Art. Mahdessian insisted Art
return with his gut-strung guitar to play a bit of Bach.
A fabulous reading about the poet's notches on a bed post entertained.
Mira Mataric. Poet in a black shirt works from memory. Briony James.
Among the pleasures of an Open Mic, a debut! Marsha Oseas shares her first public reading.
Seven, Brian Dunlap, energetic G T Foster uses the full area; an unidentified gentleman.
Prof Jonathan Vos Post, like Foster, used the space available to maximum advantage. His Space Shuttle necktie
mirrors his subject, the ghost in the machine.
Photography note: ISO3200, plus 2 stops against the bright windows produces acceptable images, most 1/50 f/5.6. The seating circle creates challenges for photographer and poets. Reading from one's seat severely limits the effectiveness of text-bound readers. The photographer leans and twists to capture near-by readers. All-in-all, such a setting is fun.
Fabulous Mural Event Features Stellar Artists
La Bloga friend, Isabel Rojas-Williams, Executive Director of Mural Conservancy of Los Angeles (MCLA) sends the following:
It would be wonderful should you be available to join us at Couturier Gallery for "L.A. Muralists: In Their Studios ll," an exhibition showcasing pioneer muralists, mid-career, and emerging artists, thereby giving a new generation of artists the opportunity to connect with some of LA’s most prominent public artists.
10% of the proceeds will benefit The Mural Conservancy of Los Angeles. Looking forward to seeing you there & thank you for your support!
What: L.A. Muralists: In Their Studios ll
When: June 6th, 6-8pm (opening reception)
Where: Couturier Gallery, 166 N. La Brea Ave, LA 90036
Who: Angelina Christina, David Botello, Pablo Cristi, Wayne Healy, Judithe Hernández, Alex "Defer" Kizu, Kofie, Lydia Emily, Kent Twitchell, John Valadez, and Richard Wyatt
Sixth Month's First On-line Floricanto Francisco X. Alarcón, Carl Allen Begay, José Hector Cadena, Ángel Mario Escobar, Sam Hamod, Briana Muñoz, Sharon Elliott
With Father's Day an upcoming June ritual, today La Bloga-Tuesday happily celebrates the first of two On-line Floricantos. The Moderators of Poetry of Resistance: Poets Responding to SB 1070, led by peripatetic poet Iris de Anda, nominate seven poems to launch the pair of June On-line Floricantos.
POETA MACEHUAL* por Francisco X. Alarcón
soy un poeta
macehual, seguidor
de mariposas
un trovador
sin corte, sin cuartel
que anda a pie
por los senderos
sin caminantes fuera
de los linderos
mi voz es flor,
canto silvestre libre
como el rocío
la Luna de abril
es mi madre del cielo
que me bendice
el río revuelto
que un huracán desata
es hermano mío
soy un poeta
hacedor de versos
de vida y lluvia
sin otro templo
que la cima del monte
bajo el Sol
mi cara la hallo
en las caras y sonrisas
de mi gente
soy un poeta
macehual, seguidor
de mariposas
sin otro techo
que el cielo raso
lleno de estrellas
mi bandera es
blanca nube del cielo,
paloma de paz
el mundo entero
-ya sin fronteras- es
mi casa y solar
* Macehual: término náhuatl (azteca) para la gente común que forma la mayoría del pueblo y cuya labor constituye el meollo vital de la sociedad.
MACEHUAL (COMMON FOLK) POET by Francisco X. Alarcón
I am a macehual
poet, a follower
of butterflies
a troubadour
with no court or quarter,
a hiker on foot
trekking paths with
no other walkers, beyond
well travelled ways
my voice is a flower,
a wild song free
like the dew
April’s Moon is
my mother blessing me
from the sky
the unruly river
a hurricane brings about
is my own brother
I am a poet,
a wordsmith of verses
for life and rain
with no other temple
than the mountain summit
under the Sun
I find my face
on the faces and smiles
of my people
I am a macehual
poet, a follower
of butterflies
with no other ceiling
than the open sky
full of stars
my sole flag is
a white cloud in the sky,
a dove of peace
the whole world
-already borderless- is
my home and backyard
Macehual: A Nahuatl (Aztec) term for the common folk, the bulk of the people, whose labor constitutes the vital core of society.
FOWK POET Francisco X. Alarcón
am a fowk makar,
a follaer
o butteries
a fowk singer
wi nae coort or quarter,
a traiker on fuit
traikin peths alane,
ayont
weill-traikit weys
ma vice's a flooer,
a wull sang lowse
lik the deow
Aprile's muin's
ma mither sainin me
frae the lift
the gurly watter
blowster steert
is ma ain brither
am a makar,
wrochtin verses
fir life an weet
wi nae ither tempel
than yon muntain peen
unner the sin
a fin ma neb
in aw the smiles
o ma ain fowk
am a fowk makar,
follaer
o butteries
wi nae ither ruif
nor the apen lift
fou o sterns
ma yin flag's
a fite clud i the lift,
a doo o Pace
the hail warl
-a'ready mairchless -
is ma hame, ma back coort
Scots translation by John McDonald
Modern Day Warrior
By Carl Allen Begay - Navajo Nation - Nakai Dine/Tahnezahi Clans.
I am a modern day warrior
from the Navajo Nation
I am
living and surviving
the holocaust
on my people
the Indigenous People
of Turtle Island
aka America
We have survived
in spite of all
the tactics
by the u.s government
and all political corporate bullsh*t
of this country
We will not be wiped
off the face of this earth.
We are here
with loud voices
strong hearts
strong minds
strong bodies
strong spirits.
We are still here
and
We Shall Remain.
Cruzando Por José Hector Cadena
¿Qué estrategias existen para calmar las ansias que surgen
cuando el border agent me cierra la reja?
Me hubiera comprado una nieve de limón pero
es demasiado tarde para buscar un alivio frío azucarado
no hay remedio más que esperar en mi carro encajonado
entre cámaras y letreros y perros enloquecidos por encontrar droga,
todo esto es un juego para ellos, un juego
Con la música de la radio me tranquilizo y me doy cuenta
que tal vez deba practicar la paciencia,
pronto regresará el borde agent de llevar a otro sospechoso
al secondary inspection a que le pregunten de todo y de más
Al abrirse la reja, el border agent me señala que me arrime
y pregunta de donde vengo, porque fui, que traigo, en un tono
que intenta hacerme sentir desposeído, pero al ver que no
me tiembla la voz, sigue a inspeccionar mi carro, revolviendo y
azotando con un tubo de metal, tap, tap, tap,
An Apology to My Children
By Ángel Mario Escobar
In the distant sleep
bodies I love
rest underneath
an old Amate tree
I smile
to ease
my broken
years
thirty-six
familiar
needles
knitting
histories
across borders
leaning on
secret tears
my children
know nothing of
Salvadoran rezos
prayers that won't give up
a long journey
echoing desperate footsteps
back in Morazan
a lineage crackling
like dry leaves
a child crying out for help
leaping red puddles
Now opening doors
so that tender kiss
can be passed on
to his children
who demand
to know
why daddy
mourns
while he
gazes
at the
deep
sea
What Shall We Say Today: What Shall We Do Today
By Sam Hamod
what now
can we say
about israelis...
who shoot young girls
or young soccer players
just for fun—
and what is worse,
they get away with it
not only that,
but
what can we say
about America
or
the americans who
support these atrocities,
whose government
gives money freely
to Israel,
while letting americans
go hungry,
go malnourished
lets cities go bankrupt
while their citizens still pay taxes
to this same government
that doesn’t care about them
what can we say
to a world
that allows this to go on
day
after day
after day
after day after day
while the world
looks the other way,
while the American president
preaches peace and justice, but
closes his eyes to these killings,
these brutalities,
who ignores it when Israelis
kill innocent American kids
who go to Palestine
to help
in humanitarian ways
what are we to say,
what are we to think,
what are we to feel,
are we to love Israel?
are we to love our
corrupt u.s. government?
are we to stand by
and let this evil continue?
shall we let ignorant alleged pastors,
lead ignorant people to love
this Israel that commits these crimes?
this is a day
we should all stand up,
this is a day
we should all write in protest
this is a day
we should all work and pray for justice
in a world gone mad,
in a world in the hands of devils,
especially those who run Israel and America
What Shall We Say Today: What Shall We Do Today
what now can we say about israelis... who shoot young girls or young soccer players just for fun—and what is worse, they get away with it
not only that, but what can we say about America or the americans who support these atrocities, whose government gives money freely to Israel, while letting americans go hungry, go malnourished lets cities go bankrupt while their citizens still pay taxes to this same government that doesn’t care about them
what can we say to a world that allows this to go on day after day after day after day after day
while the world looks the other way, while the American president preaches peace and justice, but closes his eyes to these killings, these brutalities, who ignores it when Israelis kill innocent American kids who go to Palestine to help in humanitarian ways
what are we to say, what are we to think,
what are we to feel,
are we to love Israel?
are we to love our corrupt u.s. government?
are we to stand by and let this evil continue?
shall we let ignorant alleged pastors, lead ignorant people to love this Israel that commits these crimes?
this is a day we should all stand up, this is a day we should all write in protest this is a day we should all work and pray for justice in a world gone mad, in a world in the hands of devils, especially those who run Israel and America
Raíz
By Briana Muñoz
You tell me that my scars are hideous.
I respond by saying “Hideous, tu madre.”
You formally inform me, in a Times New Roman letter
That my school work is “below average”
I ask you, “And exactly what is your definition of average?”
You laugh at the music blaring out of my
’93 nearly broken down pick-up truck
Rusty paint, chipping away like the old folks at the country club
But my music,
My music es de mi papá
This music represents beautiful colored women
In beautiful colored dresses
Multicolored ribbons
Floral head pieces
Canciones del país de mis abuelos
México Lindo
What my nana calls it.
So please, continue making fun
Of her thick Spanish accent
While you sit there
Ordering wet burritos and carne asada fries
From the Mexican food restaurant
Down the street from the multi-million dollar houses
In Del Mar
Because my culture is pinche beautiful
And so is my abuelita in her plaid mandil and sweaty forehead
And those mariachi lyrics I yell out proudly
Beautiful are my dark eyebrows which you make fun of
But I know they were passed down from my hard working mother
My culture is pinche beautiful; I refuse to allow you to tell me otherwise.
Violent Domesticity
by Sharon Elliott
what is it
they want
when they break a woman
wring her eyes dry
into a room
no bigger than a shotglass
carve her bones
into
a leftover casserole
sift her blood
into a bend
in the river
gag her
with her
own tongue
it must be
nothing
a momentary leap of groin
a game of tag
with eternity
theirs not hers
or maybe
the only something they can feel
is her suffering
Meet The Poets
Francisco X. Alarcón, José Hector Cadena, Ángel Mario Escobar, Sam Hamod, Briana Muñoz, Sharon Elliott
Francisco X. Alarcón, award-winning Chicano poet and educator, was born in Los Angeles, grew up in Guadalajara, Mexico, and now lives in Davis, where he teaches at the University of California. He is the author of thirteen volumes of poetry, including his most recent books, Canto hondo / Deep Song (University of Arizona Press 2015) and Borderless Butterflies / Mariposas sin fronteras (Poetic Matrix Press 2014). He is also the author of six acclaimed books of bilingual poems for children on the seasons of the year originally published by Children’s Book Press, now an imprint of Lee & Low Books. He is the founder the Writers of the New Sun community in Sacramento and also the creator of the Facebook page “Poets Responding to SB 1070.”
Jose Hector Cadena is a writer, poet, and collage artist. He grew up along the San Ysidro/Tijuana border. VONA fellow 2014, Jose’s work can be found in Cipactli, Transfer Magazine, Pacific Review, and more. He currently teaches at San Diego State University and Southwestern College.
Mario A. Escobar (January 19, 1978-) is a US-Salvadoran writer and poet born in 1978. Although he considers himself first and foremost a poet, he is known as the founder and editor of Izote Press. Escobar is a faculty member in the Department of Foreign Languages at LA Mission College. Some of Escobar’s works include Al correr de la horas (Editorial Patria Perdida, 1999) Gritos Interiores (Cuzcatlan Press, 2005), La Nueva Tendencia (Cuzcatlan Press, 2005), Paciente 1980 (Orbis Press, 2012). His bilingual poetry appears in Theatre Under My Skin: Contemporary Salvadoran Poetry by Kalina Press.
Sam Hamod is an internationally awarded poet, nominated for the Nobel Prize by Carlos Fuentes and for the Pulitzer Prize by Ishmael Reed and Ray Carver; he has published15 books of poems and runs the websites, www.contemporaryworldpoetry.com
and www.contemporaryworldliterature.com He has a Ph.D from the Writers Workshop and has taught at the Univ of Iowa and at other leading universities in America and overseas. He may be reached for readings, books and lectures at: drsamhamod@gmail.com
Briana Muñoz is a writer from San Marcos, California. She is a full time student and enjoys writing about what she observes around her on her free time. She writes fictional short stories, creative non-fiction and poetry. Briana is striving to publish her works some time in the near future.
Born and raised in Seattle, Sharon Elliott has written since childhood. Four years in the Peace Corps in Nicaragua and Ecuador laid the foundation for her activism. As an initiated Lukumi priest, she has learned about her ancestral Scottish history, reinforcing her belief that borders are created by men, enforcing them is simply wrong.
She has featured in poetry readings in the San Francisco Bay area: Poetry Express, Berkeley, CA in 2012 and La Palabra Musical, Berkeley, CA in 2013.
She was awarded the Best Poem of 2012, The Day of Little Comfort, Sharon Elliott, La Bloga Online Floricanto Best Poems of 2012, 11/2013, http://labloga.blogspot.com/2013/01/best-poems-of-2012.html
On-line Poetry Anthology: Chicanas en Italia
In her column Monday, Xánath Caraza announced the publication in Italy of seven Chicana poets. Here's a YouTube that includes readings of the works, in Spanish and translated into Italian.
The cover arte is by noted Chicana artist Pola Lopez. Pola's Los Angeles studio shares space in Avenue 50 Studio.
Once there were two Raza-Centric Writers Conferences. With the suspension--or demise--of the National Latina Latino Writers Conference formerly hosted by the National Hispanic Cultural Center in Albuquerque NM, only the East Coast iteration remains, the Comadres and Compadres Latino Writers Conference in New York City.
Offering workshops, camaraderie, keynote addresses, comida, and, most importantly, individual interviews with influential gente in the publishing industry, the 4th annual conference helps open the door that quality work keeps open.
Find out what is going on with these Chican@s in
Italy: Alejandro Murguía, Natalia Treviño y la que escribe--from Rome to
Mantova y de regreso.
Upcoming at the Instituto Cervantes in Rome, Italy,
Alejandro Murguía, poet laureate of San Francisco, CA, will be part of the
reading series, El Latido, organized by Zingonia Zingone on June 5 at 7 p.m.At the same event, he will also have his book
realease of Offerte di Carta
(Gilgamesh Edizioni, 2015). This should be a wonderful opportunity for the
Roman literary community to hear and learn about Murguía’s work.
In addition to the reading Murguía will have in Rome,
he has recently had one in Italy.See
the series of photos of his book release in Mantova, Lombardia during the
International Poetry Festival Virgilio 2015. Buena suerte!
Offerte di Carta (Gilgamesh Edizioni, 2015) by Alejandro Murguia, Mantova, Lombardia, Italy
Alejandro Murguia and Igor Costanzo
The International Poetry Festival Virgilio 2015 had
the participation of dos Chicanos this year.In addition to Murguía, I had the wonderful opportunity to be part of
this festival too, and on Sunday, May 24, with the support of Silvia Favaretto,
who kindly translated several of my poems into Italian.As well, Emily Pigozzi read and performed my
poems in Italian, we had a meaningful bilingual event in Mantova with a full
house.Viva la poesía!
Silvia Favaretto, Xanath Caraza and Emily Pigozzi
In addition to Murguía and myself, another Chicana in
Italy is Natalia Treviño who is working on her second book of poetry focused on
La Virgen.Here is a photo of her
writing desk.I am looking forward to seeing
her second book of poetry be published soon.Más y más, Natalia.
El escritorio de Natalia Trevino
What is more, additional Chican@ writers, artists as
well as musicians are being celebrated in Italy.Today, Progetto 7Lune released a wonderful
Chicana Issue, Plaqueta Digital, in Venice, Italy. Seven Chicanas were
translated into Italian, in addition to one artist and a Chicano Band.Find out who they are.
In Other News:
As part of presenting Chican@ literature in Italy, I’d
like to take a moment to thank Zingonia Zingone for the invitation to be part
of the Poetry Reading Series, El Latido, on May 22, in Rome, and to thank Cinzia Marulli
for reading/performing my work in Italian.
Los libros de Xanath Caraza
Xanath y Zingonia
Cinzia Marulli
Not only Chican@ literature, but also additional
international literature is on the horizon it Italy.In the city of Salerno, Italy the 100
Thousand Poets for Change World Conference will take place June 3-8.
Yet, one more story of celebrating Chican@ literature
while in Italy, I would like to share with La Bloga readers that I received a
pleasant surprise in the middle of the night, when I learned that my book of
poetry, Sílabas de viento / Syllables of
Wind (Mammoth Publications, 2014) is the Award-Winner in the “Poetry” category of the 2015 International Book Awards.Parts of Sílabas de viento /
Syllables of Wind were written with the support from the Beca Nebrija para
Creadores 2014 award from the Instituto Franklin in Alcalá de Heneares, Madrid,
Spain.Translators, Sandra Kingery and
Tirso Bautista Cárdenas, art by Adriana Manuela and foreword by Carlos J.
Aldazábal.Viva la poesía!
Syllables of Wind, Award-Winner in the "Poetry" category of the 2015 International Book Awards
“Mama exhorted her children at every opportunity
to ‘jump at the sun.’
We might not land on the sun, but at least we would get
off the ground.”
–Zora Neale Hurston.
On Maple Avenue, in Historic South Central LA,
there lives a breathing piece of sky, CIELO. On the surface, CIELO Galleries/Studio appears to
be just another industrial complex in the neighborhood. Not everyone passing by may
notice it. There aren’t any flashy signs to guide visitors into the
9,000 square foot property. When I first visited, it was night time, and I circled
the block several times unable to spot the address.
From CIELO FB Page: An Inconspicuous Piece of CIELO:
Depending on the day, the
time, the mood of any given event, you may have to wander a bit around CIELO, like
I did, exploring several portals to see which one opens up and welcomes you in. But that is part of the charm, and definitely, once you enter, welcomed you will be.
Inside of CIELO, you’ll find a space where
art, community, and conscious-raising meet. Beneath the high ceilings, there is
plenty of open espacio, hanging photos, art supplies, words to ponder. There
are sofas to lounge on, blooming plants, a keyboard, paper butterflies on walls, a full kitchen with a large wooden table ideal for intimate conversations and
breaking bread.
It’s a multidimensional place--part home, part school, part
industrial loft, part gallery, part work studio, part literary space, part sky, as in you can stretch
your artistic self and reach for something beyond the ordinary here. You can 'jump at the sun' and organize, as Teka Lark Fleming and Skira Martinez did this past March, the Blk Grrrl Book Fair, or host a unique live stream broadcast of a collective reading of Zora Neale Hurston's Their Eyes Were Watching God. Yes, the entire book! Anything can happen at CIELO.
Skira Martinez and Teka Lark Fleming: Photo from LA Weekly
CIELO’s founder and owner, Skira Martinez, shares
that “one of the most important things about the space is that it is open to
everyone and that it’s diverse in all ways.” Like the visionary/dreamer that she
is, Skira first conjured up CIELO in her mind and heart, and then several years
ago, she set out to manifest her vision in concrete ways. Aside from hosting
and/or organizing art shows and literary events, Skira rents space to local
artists and also has a Liberation School component, which is a free radical
school that she proudly describes as “anti-fascist and anti-capitalist.”
Photography by Slobadan Dimitrov at CIELO Galleries/Studio
Liberation School exists outside the realms of
institutionalized education, so do not expect rows of desks, rigid schedules,
or even mapped out curricula. There have been workshops and discussions on topics
such as Copwatch, gentrification in various parts of the city, and radical
feminism. The birth of any given class is highly organic and very much in the
spirit of Pablo Freire, where classroom subject matter stems directly from the
interests and needs of the participating community. Skira explains, “If
you want to teach or share something, then you come to Liberation School and
you do so. If you’d like to learn something, then you put a shout out and say, ‘I
want to learn more about this,’ and I try to find someone who wants to come and
speak about that.”
About the Liberation School’s
scheduling, Skira adds, “Basically, it runs whenever it runs, so if someone
contacts me and says, ‘I wanna do a class,’ then I post it and it’s Liberation
School. Sometimes we’ll go on a spurt where we’ll have classes every day for a concentrated
time period, and then it peters out a bit, and then it starts up again. It’s
organized but at that same time it’s not organized, or it appears not to be. There are weeks when there’s nothing and weeks when things are
really active. It depends on who’s here, who feels it. Every once in a while, I
call a mass meeting to get people to come and to open up the doors and get
something going again, but for the most part it just sort of happens, people
decide when they want to do something or learn something.”
Important to Skira is also
assuring that children are an integral part of CIELO. “One of the things I like
about the space, and this is part of Liberation School, is that people feel
welcomed to bring their children. Even in the classes, it’s important that
children not have to be off in some little room somewhere else. I really like
the idea of children being in the classroom, and if we need to speak louder, then we
need to speak louder. If someone needs attention, then they need attention. We
work it out. What happens is that kids keep coming, and after a while they just
get into the routine of things. It’s good because the children hear those classroom
conversations and they stay with them in their subconscious in one way or
another. They are able to be around those conversations and to connect and even
participate on certain levels.”
Photo from CIELO FB Page: Children Painting at CIELO
In regards to future plans for an evolving CIELO, Skira says that she’d like to make the space a literary
capitol of LA. “I really want this to be a place for people of the literary
world to come and to do their thing. I feel there are so many of us artists,
whether that be visual or literary or whatever, that are waiting to be accepted
into some place or some circle, and I just want us to have
this mind set of ‘We can do this shit ourselves.’ We can support each other and
we don’t have to always go to the mainstream or have to be looking at
White-approved spaces. I think the literary world is very dominated by men and
it’s also very White; it’s time that we stop trying to get in that door and
that we have our own spaces, and then we’ll have them come and be our audience
because they will come, trust me, they will come. That’s one of the important
things about the Zora Neale Hurston reading that the Blk Grrrl Show organized
here. Zora had such strong convictions. She was going against the grain in many
ways, and even people that loved her didn’t always support her. Zora wasn’t
scared to stir the pot. She wasn’t going to play that part of ‘Hush-hush-hush.
Let’s be good Black people. Let’s be respectable. Let’s be acceptable.’ I can
relate to that. I respect that.”
