Some dangerous art

Column one from the LA Times' Oct.24 issue is about humble artist Jose Espinosa who paints for "narcos"...their homes and mausoleums. Click on the link for the intriguing, detail filled column.
"Brushwork he can't refuse"

*Photo from the Los Angeles Times by Don Barletti.

A night of Latin American unity

The Semblanza Latinoamericana held its annual Latin American Folk&Dance festival at the Los Angeles Theater Center on October 17. The night was filled with beautiful representations of  Bolivia, Panama, the United States, Spain, Mexico, Guatemala, Colombia, Argentina, and Ecuador. Audience members in the cozy theater rooted for their respective countries just as passionately as the fans of the Los Angeles baseball team that was playing somewhere else not too far from there. Even so, their was an all around respect and admiration for all of the countries in general, for it seemed that each country received a gasp and wondering stare from at least one audience member who was not familiar with their dance. Evey one learned something that night, whether it was a lyrical gesture or a greater tolerance for their fellow Latin American neighbor. Most of all, the most prominent lesson was that there is a richness and diversity throughout the countries that form Latin America, and it was appropriately displayed through dance.


Here are some photos from that night.
1.Los Angeles Based Tierra Blanca performing an Afro-Mestizo dance from Veracruz, Mexico.
2.Colombia's group Folklore de Mi Tierra performing "La Puya Loca" cumbia.
3.From Cuatro Caminos Art&Flamenco, Lisa Solar and guitarist Walter Molina performing a style called Alegria.
4.Panama's Ballet Folklorico "Viva Panama" dancing to "El Borracho" and "Viva Panama".

CNN special about Latinos

Watch CNN's special called "Latino in America." It will air both Oct.21st and tomorrow,the 22nd at 9pm. This link is filled with interviews with  Latinos from all backgrounds and the struggles and triumphs they face.

Latino in America

El Tendedero

In our parents' homelands, it was the place to be for chisme. Kids here (and over there) play chase and la queda in and out of it. If one found themselves in the campo, it had that fresh smell of clean air, and maybe, if you were UNlucky enough, chicken feathers. Whatever the case, here, it just sits there, doing it's job of drying our clothes when a mechanical dryer cannot, and brings those memories back. Gracias,tendedero.

Orgullo Hispano en el Phil

From the Times' Ann Powers article:


"As a band, we always mix genres, cultures, generations, and now to have a musical director who does the same, it's awesome," said Ulises Bella of Ozomatli, the Latin hip-hop fusion band, during one introductory segment. Like much of the day's banter, this statement was in English and Spanish, now the unofficial parlance of the Los Angeles Philharmonic.
y le decimos "bienvenido a Gustavo"

El Taquero

The host of the best impromptu party on the street: the taquero. A friend who feeds you. A figure which to congregate around and make new compadres. El taquero: because you know that name brand stuff in a frozen shell seems illogical after the first mordida.

Una señora was selling treats for the kids that attend John Liechty Middle School on Union Avenue in Los Angeles...from a stroller. You do what you can with what you have. Just as this photo was taken, her daughter, who was doubling as her watchguard, exclaimed, "Ahi vienen! Here they come!" The police were right around the corner. She told me to hurry up,so I did...so that she could stand in front of another populated place para ganarse la vida, or to earn a living.