Every Day is Magic: Ada Limón
In her 2015 collection, Bright Dead Things, a National Book Award finalist for poetry, Ada Limón writes of moving to Kentucky: “Confession: I did not want to live here.” It’s perhaps not a surprising sentiment coming from a coastally oriented person who was raised in Northern California, attended college in Seattle, and then spent over a decade in New York City.
But Limón and her husband, Lucas, have been in Lexington for seven years now and the effects of settling into this place are noticeable in her new book, The Carrying (Milkweed, Aug.). It’s a phenomenally lively and attentive collection replete with the trappings of living a little closer to nature. While Bright Dead Things is marked by a preponderance of light, such as images of fireflies and neon signs, The Carrying features numerous appearances by various trees, birds, and beetles. Limón also demonstrates a greater willingness to be explicit in naming colors, particularly green. “It’s crazy green, the whole book,” she says. “Lexington is the greenest place I’ve ever lived.” Similarly, where in Bright Dead Things, Limón tells a lot of stories and anecdotes, in The Carrying she is very present in her thoughts and experiences.
As it turns out, these shifts in focus have another, altogether unexpected source. While putting Bright Dead Things together, Limón was diagnosed with chronic vestibular neuronitis, which can cause bouts of vertigo. “If I’m really having vertigo, it’s pretty intense and I really have to focus,”
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From the archives: UCSB Library showcases community art collection
“An exhibit of groundbreaking prints dating back to the inception of California’s Chicano Civil Rights Movement opens on Oct. 25 at UC Santa Barbara Library.
The event, “Cultura Cura: 50 Years of Self Help Graphics in East LA,” highlights the library’s Special Research Collections extensive archive of art, records and related ephemera from Self Help Graphics & Art (SHG), an intergenerational Los Angeles-based nonprofit that has been facilitating and promoting printmaking and other art media by Chicano/a, Latinx and other BIPOC artists since 1970. SHG was founded by artists Carlos Bueno, Antonio Ibañez, Frank Hernandez and Sister Karen Boccalero…”
Marissa Pérez discusses artistic background, evolution of styling
“Through her eclectic background in the arts, Marissa Pérez is tailoring her own trends.
Previously an event producer and managing director of the Student Committee for the Arts at UCLA, the alumnus currently works as a wardrobe stylist in the fashion industry. Pérez has assisted in dressing a number of different celebrities, including actresses Laverne Cox, Catherine Zeta-Jones and Zendaya.
Pérez spoke with the Daily Bruin’s Sanjana Chadive about the evolution of her interest in styling and how her background in other artistic mediums has informed her career…”
https://dailybruin.com/2023/10/01/qrez-discusses-artistic-background-evolution-of-styling
This Mexican American artist crafts paintings and furniture out of plaster Boh caroline biggs By Caroline Biggs
“Monica Curiel’s work is rooted in self-exploration, and more specifically, her Mexican ancestry. Drawing inspiration from art, music, architecture, design and fashion, the Denver-based artist aims to interpret—and discern—her place in the world at-large. “My work is a celebration of Mexican heritage and every sacrifice made in pursuit of a better life,” she tells Business of Home…”
https://businessofhome.com/articles/monica-curiel-mexican-american-artist-paintings-and-furniture
Yahritza y Su Esencia: Mexican American Identity Is Complex
“By now, many have already heard hot take after hot take about the controversy surrounding Yahritza y Su Esencia, the Mexican American musical trio that specializes in the urban sierreño subgenre. Since the start of the controversy, Latinos, especially Mexicans, have endlessly scrutinized and reexamined how the sibling trio’s comments about Mexico reflect the often contentious topic of Mexican American identity. Many Mexicans have argued that Mexican Americans forget the “Mexican” part of their identity and instead choose to fully lean into — and sometimes weaponize — the “American” part. As a first-generation Mexican American, a part of me can’t help but agree…”
https://studybreaks.com/thoughts/yahritza-y-su-esencia-mexican-american-identity-is-complex/
Blue Beetle Review: The Greatest Mexican-American Hero
“Look at what’s happened to Jaime…he can’t believe it himself! Suddenly he’s on top of the world; should have been somebody else…
Those with long enough memories will recall The Greatest American Hero, that early ’80s TV series about an alien super-suit bestowed upon a meek, hippie-ish schoolteacher named Ralph who promptly loses the instructions. At the time, the silliness of the spandex suit was an extra layer of discomfort for Ralph alongside powers he couldn’t properly control, even with the assistance of a trigger-happy CIA agent who had hoped the suit would be for him instead…”
https://www.superherohype.com/movies/544384-blue-beetle-review-the-greatest-mexican-american-hero
Gerardo Ortiz’s net worth, salary, property, and earnings
“…Gerardo Ortiz is a renowned Mexican-American singer, songwriter, and record producer. Most of his singles have become popular anthems in the Latino music scene. He is one of the flag-bearers of the fastest-growing alternative corrido movement. Read more…”
Las Cafeteras Presented By ¡Viva el Arte!
“Born and raised East of the Los Angeles River, Las Cafeteras are a sonic explosion of Afro-Mexican rhythms, electronic beats, and powerful rhymes that document stories of a community seeking to “build a world where many worlds fit.” This dynamic group transcends genres from Afro-Mexican to Americana, from Soul to Son Jarocho, from Roots to Rock and Hip Hop. The use of traditional instrumentation like the eight string jarana, four string requinto, quijada (donkey jawbone), and tarima (wooden platform) produce their unique and electrifying sound…”
Mexican-American artist Angelica Contreras uses her artwork to explore identity, culture, and social justice
“One of the most pronounced differences between Southern California and Wisconsin are the winters, and for Angelica Contreras six years ago, that was what welcomed her to Madison. Although Contreras moved from Los Angeles, she grew up in Guadalajara, Jalisco in Mexico. After earning a bachelor’s degree in art and a master’s degree in art education, Contreras moved back to the United States and eventually ended up in Madison where she was able to connect with a community of artists…”
Student Mariah Hernandez spotlights strong Latina characters in directorial debut
“Mariah Hernandez is embracing unconventional forms of self-love in her upcoming film, “Self-Love, Mija!”
The fourth-year English student and member of UCLA’s Latine Film and Theatre Association made her film directorial debut exploring young womanhood and the significance of friendship in one’s healing journey, Hernandez said. Entering UCLA without prior film experience, Hernandez said LFTA presented her with the opportunity to delve into an art form she had been interested in but never explored. Beginning primarily as a writer, she said LFTA provided her with the encouragement she needed to challenge herself in a larger, directorial role…”
UCLA releases part 1 of 2023 Hollywood Diversity Report
“Conducted by UCLA faculty and students, the 2023 Hollywood Diversity Report, Part One: Film is the 10th report in an annual series analyzing the degree to which underrepresented groups were involved in front of and behind the camera in 2022. Researchers primarily tracked the following identities of individuals working in Hollywood’s top films: race and ethnicity, gender, and disability status. Overall, both on- and off-screen diversity has improved in some ways and remained the same in others, said Michael Tran, a doctoral candidate in sociology and co-author of the report…”
https://socialsciences.ucla.edu/hollywood-diversity-report-2023/
To lionize his Long Beach barrio, Christopher Suarez turns to clay
“A darling of our anthropologic past, pottery has been embedded in culture for thousands of years, leading to great insights about different communities of people and how they lived their lives. Today clay is only one of many available materials, and for most everyday uses, it isn’t the most practical option. But in a new exhibition at UC Santa Barbara’s Art, Design & Architecture Museum (AD&A), artist Christopher Suarez
is using clay to record the everyday spaces of his Long Beach barrio.
“I was looking at Indigenous pottery and thinking about how those cultures would use clay and ceramics in their daily lives, whether functional or religious … and how clay can serve as a recorder of time and place,” said Suarez, a Los Angeles-based sculptor, in a public talk presented by the museum. “I want to work in that same manner, putting my values in my work — mine, my family’s and my community’s
https://www.news.ucsb.edu/2023/020983/lionize-his-long-beach-barrio-christopher-suarez-turns-clay
The second edition of the Mexican-American Film and Television Festival was launched
“More than 130 Chicano/Mexican American filmmakers from the United States were encouraged to submit their films, shorts, documentaries and television projects, stories that speak about identity, high school angst, love, animation, relationships, immigration, marriage, among others.
This year, the Mexican-American Cultural Education Foundation (MACEF) will continue its mission to amplify the voices of these creators through the screening and awarding of their work in person and virtually during the two-day festival…”
https://aldianews.com/en/culture/screen/honoring-chicano-cinema
Spotlight Dorado was created for Latino filmmakers
“Today, Latinos make up nearly 20% of the U.S. population and are a driving force in countless industries, including media and entertainment.
While Latinos are avid moviegoers (24%), their stories are often overlooked and currently make up only about 1% of those told by Hollywood.
Bridging this gap is key to helping shift the narrative about the Latino experience in the U.S., and fostering new voices. With these numbers in mind, Spotlight Dorado was created by McDonald’s in collaboration with Ben Lopez from the consulting firm L21 Consulting and the The Hispanic Heritage Foundation…”
https://aldianews.com/en/culture/screen/spotlight-dorado-2023
UCLA professor emeritus Judith Baca receives 2021 National Medal of Arts
“…Among her many works, Baca created “La Memoria de la Tierra: UCLA,” a mural displayed outside of Ackerman Union highlighting the presence of the Native American communities where UCLA was founded. The mural, which was unveiled last year, showcases the original Los Angeles River and its original peoples, highlights influential members of the UCLA community and displays a future in which the university coexists with and recognizes the Native land…”
Unity in Rhythm Cumbia connects nations and generations through music and dance; an upcoming symposium explores the genre’s culture
“…Some of Raquel Pacheco’s favorite childhood memories are of family trips to Mexico City. The relatives they visited there were deeply religious and, as the cultural anthropologist recalled, not especially into partying…”
Danny Trejo
““Danny’s incredible life story shows that even though we may fall down at some point in our lives, it’s what we do when we stand back up that really counts.” – Robert Rodriguez, American filmmaker…”
Unfolding Histories Artist Sandy Rodriguez illuminates forgotten pasts of the Central Coast
“…Through the work, Rodriguez draws attention to a largely forgotten piece of local history: The Chumash Revolt of 1824. That year, the native peoples of this region rebelled against the Spanish and Mexican colonizers who controlled the area…”
Student Jasmine Gomez sells designed Slayed Sets to accessorize nails
“Jasmine Gomez’s Slayed Sets is nailing what it means to be a small business.
In August 2021, the fourth-year Chicana and Chicano studies and education and social transformation student launched Slayed Sets, which sells custom ready-to-wear press-on nails. Gomez said she started doing her own nails during her freshman year of college and came up with the idea of Slayed Sets after diving deeper into nail art at the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic…”
Latino nominees for the 95th Academy Awards
“Latina nominees for Best Actress
Ana de Armas scored her first Academy Award nomination at the upcoming Oscars 2023 ceremony. Armas is up for Best Actress for her role as the fashion icon Marilyn Monroe in Andrew Dominik’s Netflix film, ‘Blonde’.
De Armas is running against two-time Oscar winner Cate Blanchett and her role in ‘TÁR’, Michelle Williams, who has been nominated for four career Oscars, this time for starring in ‘The Fabelmans’, Michelle Yeoh for her role in Everything Everywhere All at Once’, and ‘To Leslie’ star, Andrea Riseborough…”
https://en.as.com/entertainment/latino-nominees-for-the-95th-academy-awards-n/
Sunday Morning Eva Longoria: “You don’t have to be a politician to be political”
“When Eva Longoria invited “Sunday Morning” over to her Beverly Hills home for lunch, we assumed it was just that, lunch. But she also served up a tasty morsel of culinary history, too. “People think Mexico’s just about tacos and tequila,” she said. “Mexican cuisine is the only cuisine in its entirety protected by UNESCO as a World Heritage treasure – corns, beans, chili, chocolate, vanilla, avocado…”
https://www.cbsnews.com/news/eva-longoria-searching-for-mexico-desperate-housewives/
