All the Streets and Saints and Sinners

Head nigh into spring, otra primavera colorida en Califas, check your shoelaces and remember to greet the Southern California sun, which has rolled in mightily almost as if to snub the cloudy fog, the remnants of our public sayonara to the poet-mentor. Threaded throughout, are the engines of prose, the need to organize at least of few of these writerly impulses, an incurable curiousity and the need to celebrate who we are and where we live. Couple these with any number of similarly LA-born effusions and you get a flurry that motivates and stimulates.

The Flowers, by Dagoberto Gilb, who likewise rolled through mightily (and oddly enough, during the week we lost the beloved elder) is a perfect place to begin and simply one more lustrous example. On a brief local tour that included a vivid LA Library conversation with poet Marisela Norte, Dago introduced us to his new novel, a rivetting tale told in the elegantly provocative and tastefully restrained prose Gilb is known for. The story is delivered through the precociously muted voice of Sonny Bravo, the proto-antihero who embodies the search for self amidst the chaos of a suburban landscape that we know without a single specific reference to be Los Angeles. The streets team with danger and possibility in a world where black, white and brown dance with shadows and skirt the hidden layer of tension that informs a stark reality grounded in truth and tenderness. 'Nuff said.

With another worthy riff on the streets we've come to know as our own, artist and author J. Michael Walker has concluded his seven year love letter to Los Angeles with a major exhibition at the Autry Museum of Western Heritage. Walker walked the nearly 100 streets in LA named for saints and has created an epic elegy with paintings and drawings that reverberate with meaning and emotion and history. Caught a brief glimpse at the opening and obviously need to go back because it was just too much to absorb during a crowded reception. All of the Saints of the City of Angels is presented in a baroque, very bilingual manner that enhances the intensity of work that addresses contemporary issues of class and race and gender with remarkable sensitivity. Walker is unafraid to speak truth to the dominant elite within their very own sanctums of privilege and cultural power while addressing the turmoil and tension that keep so many of us from connecting with others. A companion hardcover book wasa published as part of the project and a booksigning at Book Soup is scheduled on March 6th.

Others who spoke truth did so in theatrical presentations and panel discussion offered as part of a two day conference on the prison industrial complex and the proliferation of torture and violence as legitimate tools of the state to suppress dissent, interrogate alleged enemies and as part of a multi-million dollar for-profit "correctional" enterprise that makes mass imprisonment and dubious criminalization of our young people big business and a tragic fact of life. On Saturday night, poet, professor and now playwright David Lloyd presented a staged reading of The Press, a play revolving around a painter and a poet imprisoned by a brutal regime. The proceedings, loosely tied together as "The Politics of Art and Imprisonment" took place at the the 24th St. Theatre and were followed on Sunday by an afternoon presentation of a play developed by USC professor Brent Blair and writer/youth activist Mario Rocha--himself once imprisoned for ten years as part of two life sentences for a crime he did not commit. The production culminated with the real parents of real children who have been incarcerated filing across the stage, carrying photographs and sharing their own stories, many with very real tears in their eyes, their voices trembling in English and Spanish. Blair is a cofounder of the Center for Theatre of the Oppressed and Applied Theatre Arts.

Roll Call Dispatch & Radio Days

The February 16th funeral services for maestro raúlrsalinas in South Osten near the campus of St. Edwards University where Raúl taught as an adjunct professor in media studies were met with chill winds, a cold, drizzling rain and finally a rainbow, a fitting signal that the poet had been lifted into the great hogan in the sky and declared a human being. The list of despondent and solemn mourners who offered music, sage, poems and prayer was long. Among those who paid their respects were: UFW's Dolores Huerta; poet and famed Royal Chicano Airforce founding father José Montoya; San Francisco-based writer Alejandro "Gato" Murguía; Dr. Louis Mendoza, who co-edited Telling Tongues: A Latin@ Anthology on Language Experience published jointly by Red Salmon Press and Calaca Press; artist/activist Jane Madrigal; Pocha and Victor Payan who are now coordinating the Guadalupe Cultural Arts Center Cinefestival in San Antonio; director/actor Rodney Rodriguez; documentary filmmaker Andrea Melendez; playwright and poet Sharon Bridgforth; NOKOA Newspaper publisher Akwasi Evans; painter Anna Salinas; cinematographer Lee Daniel, documentary filmmaker Susanne Mason... the list goes on and on. Laura Varela is working on a documentary about "Tapón" as we speak and made her way north from San Anto to attend as did Victoria Garcia, another S.A. artist/administrator. The creative tide left in our mentor's wake was and is a tanglible gale force of energy that goes on. This week's national broadcast of Latino USA offers my own humble tribute to Raul. The radio essay is called "Death of a Poet."

Amorindio... descanse en paz, maestro raúlrsalinas

Llantos y lamentos y aullidos y un dolor profundo desde el mero corazón, because the world has lost a blazing warrior, a down crusader for human rights and social justice and a literary lion. Just a month or so shy of his 76th birthday, my mentor and honorary godfather and the vato who kept me off the streets and out of trouble for so many years during a troubled post-adolescence, one ex-pinto, self-described cockroach poet and the founder/owner of Resistencia Bookstore, author of Un Trip Through the Mind Jail y Otras Excursions and so much more, raúlrsalinas caught the bus early this morning. The legendary poet, who shared the stage with Oscar Zeta Acosta, José Montoya, Ernesto Cardenal, Piñero, Pietri and a multitude of others took me on twenty-four years ago and put me to work. Dusting bookshelves, painting rooftop bookstore signs and loading boxes of books onto the back of a pick up for trips to the San Antonio Inter-American Bookfair where he introduced me literally to Luis Rodriguez, Dagoberto Gilb, Trinidad Sánchez and many others, I soaked up jazz monsters and read with a voraciousness that stemmed from his plain, matter-of-fact revolutionary stance. From Angela Davis and Leonard Peltier to Charlie Parker and Miles Davis, my South Austin residency at Resistencia, Casa de Red Salmon Press was all about the education I would never have gotten in the halls of academia. I was proud to lug around the jailhouse graphics department in a plastic file folder case. We ran together for ten years until I ventured out into the world as a reverse mojado in Matamoros, then a music flack for La Mafia in Houston and finally as a sometime wordsmith in East LA. The last time we spoke, a month before Christmas, he had not even the energy to give me my requisite regañada. Just a year before that, at a fundraiser tribute for him hosted by actor Jesse Borrego, he'd given me a serious tongue lashing over the fact that I'd let a good woman get away or run her off, rather. "Nephew, what did you do to her?" he'd asked with his traditional good-natured gruffness, the slight scolding implicit. I could only look away in shame and offer a nervous laugh while shrugging.

Raul spent many years in the prison system and thus became an engaged political activist. His transformation enabled my own eventual commitment to kids caught up in the juvenile justice system. It's ironic that his passing comes a week or so after my own introduction to the inside of a county jail complex and a troubling first hand glimpse at how that jail machine is built to break you down. Raul stood up. He wrote and he taught and he blessed us with his wisdom, a sage body of knowledge acquired through a lifetime of experience filtered through one of the keenest intellects I've ever encountered. His work on behalf of Native American rights and at-risk youth in detention facilities across the nation, his struggles against oppression and political censorship around the globe, and his gentle demeanor as a humble bookminder shall be heralded through the end of time. Adios, uncle. I'm a better human being for having known you and need you to know that your work will go on. It will continue far beyond those admiring liner notes for your first spoken word CD from Calaca Press, te lo prometo... La lucha continua.

Even Malverde Nods to San Valentin

Insiders know that Machete Music recording artist Malverde, who takes his name from the patron saint of smugglers, is on the verge of a national breakout. His conscious hip-hop and bilingual rap first came to my attention at about four years ago when he crashed a couple of NALIP conference receptions and offered a demo and some righteous plática. The lyrical eloquence of his palabra, bespoke an awareness of his role as an agent of change, as a young man concerned about the violence in our communities and a visionary who crossed easily in and out of either language. The CD release party held downtown last night was a celebration of his maturation and a second major label release. Distributed by Universal Music, Malverde rallied guests from here to Riverside. Spotted in the crowd were jeweler Araceli Silva and Magdaleno "Guic" Robles, who launched Creativo Management after our own ill-fated feature film project (and his directorial debut) went haywire and bust amidst dubious support from our producers. Taco Chihuahua catered directly from the discos and Jarritos introduced their semi-urban marketing campaign which is highlighted by the phrase "What the fruit?!" Gimmicky but effective. It bears mention that the fiesta was sponsored by MTV3. Mad, mad props to a young artist who's paid his dues and continues to spread positive messages. Aplausos para Daniel Hastings as well, the Chicano-panameño NALIPTster and long-time member of NALIP and president of the Atomicus Creative Group who directed Malverde's scorching new video and a long-time NALIPster who wants to get us in to a Grammy after-party on Sunday.

After the primaries and the optimism derived from Obama's muscular showing in a gap-closing Super-Tuesday election, Malverde was a follow up signal that life is looking up. Malverde delivered his own flows as well as refrains from "Volver" and "Tragos de Amargo Licor," both chicano and paisa sing along standards. He also offered a track to his grandparents who have been married for about 50 years, evidence that life-long love is possible and it leads directly into a round up of the Valentine's Day events and activities that will perhaps make all of our love lives (or lack thereof) interesting this weekend. I'm pleased to confess that I'll be writing love poems on demand with original illustrations by José Lozano at the Self-Help Graphics "Botánica de Amor," a love fair featuring tarot readings, love potions and prints from the SHG print taller. Spoken word artists who will share "sexy-love" poetry include Adolfo Guzmán López and Consuelo Flores.

And if that weren't enough, San Anto-bred Ana Guajardo, la switchera extraordinaria, also hosts a can't miss artesanía and love-stuff happening on Sunday. "Amorarte," as she's dubbed the sale and gathering of good friends over food and wine, brings together a number of LA's best Latina/Xicana/Mexicana artisans, designers and fashionistas who craft their wares by hand at home. Contact her at her website for an invite and details. Meanwhile, Karla Lopez, founder of the enormously popular Mamacita's Market has organized "A Day for Love: As Sweet as Chocolate" with a special performance by musical soulmaster Alex Painter on Sunday as well over at Placita Olvera in conjuntion with Casa de Sousa. Support local artists and taste the fruits of cariño in the process, por fa'...

La Candelaria & the Beyond the LA County Blues

Today marks the second anniversary of the celebration I came to host at my cantoncito in honor of "Candlemas," La Candelaria. Traditionally, if you find a baby Christ figurine in your slice of rosca cake on Jan. 6th (Epiphany/Reyes Magos) you are obligated to host a fiesta on February 2nd. This year, we've moved the feast to Ave. 50 Studio in order to honor our brother Peter Harris and the spoken word event he's put together as part of the LA Black/Brown Dialogues, a series which seeks to shed light on how we can better understand one another. Peter created and hosted "Inspiration House" over at KPFK once upon a time and actually participated in a journalism program for writers of color at Berkeley alongside my sister almost a lifetime ago.

And on the subject of family tradition, here's the latest from queridisima Vicky Grise, playwright and dramaturge from San Antonio, as well as author of the Panza Monologues, who's written a play about her Mexican/Chinese ancestry. Check out her blow by blow on the nascent production of the piece at Cal Arts where she's getting a Masters.

It wouldn't be a blog without a weary confession of the fact that I'm still nursing my soul after a sojourn into the maelstrom of the LA County lock up on an old traffic violation I never took care of. More on how I earned my County Blues in another blog or an article. It's enough to say that you never want to go there. On another level, it brings me closer to the kids I've worked with in juvenile hall as a creative writing teacher for the last four years and gives me a bonafide perspective from the inside. It was, simply, a tragic and overwhelming, soul-searing, chain-gang rattling mindfreak through the halls and cellblocks of misdemeanor time. Never before had I been on the receiving end of such a brutal, systematic process, a journey that strips you of your dignity and humanity in the worst possible ways. In light of this, the Candelaria has an exponentiated significance... I am once again on the outside under the vibrant glow of a Southern California sun. Light a candle and thank your lucky stars. A community of artists and writers was ready to send out the search party, and I realized, once again, how fortunate I am clan-wise. Mil gracias a mis amigos y a mi familia. Los quiero muchisimo...

Fruit Trees, Music and the Art of Creation

Since I'm prone to side with long-time camarada Jimmy Mendiola and heave an exasperated sigh with respect to all the Democratic party South Carolina side show antics. He rightfully and insightfully defers to a brilliant take by Roberto Lovato for New America Media which was reposted over at Huffington. Add to that the endoresment of Hillary by the UFW and I won't even begin to bother. Rafael Childress, my lifelong friend and a former child actor on a bilingual educational PBS series called Carrascolendas (created by Chicana TV pioneer Aida Barrera) sent a text from Texas or New York or wherever he's got himself to recently about how César Chávez must be rolling over in his grave. Como se llama?! Se llama Obama and go tell that to yo mama!!! According to the poorly equipped and eerily under-informed pundits in the mainstream media we are "overwhelmingly" supporting a former Goldwater republican and the daughter of an old school racist/segregationist because of an alleged animosity against blacks. Give me a frackin' break! Check out these fotos from the aforementioned TV show that ran for eight years in the 70s for a look at where the Rainbow Coalition was actually born. No, mis queridos lectores. Best leave well enough alone. Even if I have been tapped to do a little sribblin' about Mr. Paul, the charmin' lil' old doctor feller from Tay-haas for a local mag. Instead, I'll jump up and down beside myself with pride and glee because my El Sereno neighbor and righteous Zocaloc artist Pete Carrillo is curating a bang up exhibition right under everyone's nose at the Sony Pictures Entertainment Studios in Culver City. With music as a thematic thread, the exhibition features work from Poli Marichal, Timoi, Eriberto Oriel, his sun and Jokerbrand kingpin Esteban Oriel as well as Sandy Rodriguez (these are just the folks whose work I know and admire) among many others. The show includes photos, paintings, mixed media, and art created on musical instruments. House that for subversive knocking on the White House back door in the middle of the night? Can't wait to check it out tomorrow mañana. Should be a good party.

And as an antidote to all of the madness and chaos nosotros los pobres poetas are so eager to embrace while railing against it at the same time, there's comadre Daisy Tonantzin, mujer caracol, supervising the great fruit tree giveaway at Proyecto Jardín, the Boyle Heights community garden that continues to thrive in spite of everything. If you're around, head over there between 10:30 a.m. and 1 p.m. to help out. Proyecto Jardín is located at 1718 Bridge Street in BH just behind White Memorial Hospital. Urban farming... get with it. Support the garden, Tree People and Girls Today, Women Tomorrow, a leadership mentoring program for young women in our community.

New Year, New Day y El Destino Ante Amor

How does one begin? Fiestas navideñas on and across the supple backs of four weeks that literally flew by, perhaps? And so it was back from Tejaztlan and the bright lights and big music of mi querido Austin. Flying in to LAX after dark for a Christmas rendezvous with myself and the shades of destiny. It was a return to temporary work at NALIP (National Association of Latino Independent Producers), but more importantly, a fundraiser a few days after for a few of us who've been invited to the Decimo Tercero Festival de Poesia Internacional en La Habana. Held at Miss T's Barcade, the retro-cool arcade-cum-cantina co-owned by Ricardo Gómez, accordion player with Very Be Careful, a band that turns in Colombian vallenato and cumbia standards with celebratory joy and musical madness over trago 'tras trago. Compa' was kind enough to let us keep the nominal cover. So here we are en el año del dinero or so I'm told by a lovely dominicana in Boston. Finished it all with a New Year's Eve party of one, alone in El Sereno. Followed it a few days later at the birthday pachanga for KPFK's Pocho Hour of Power co-host and reformed bad boy Esteban Zul in Silverlake. Tamales and tequila with a bang. Esteban is an official ambassador of Aztlan as recognized by the Cuban embassy attaches in Mexico City.

The holy-days would not, finally, have been complete with out the traditional Rosca de Reyes on January 6th in celebration of the Reyes Magos. I was honored to have LA's premiere Chicana Poetas Chingonas (CPC)--Gloria Alvarez, Reina Prado and María Elena Fernández as well as cultural arts maven and camarada Fabiola Torres over to the humble cantón for tamales and champurrado. Friend and brother for life Jesse Katz read from his upcoming memoir soon to be published by Crown Books. Last year we celebrated the Three Kings Day at Rudolpho's in Silverlake. Much cozier at home and can't wait for the candelaria, the party those who find the tiny niño santo figurine in their slice of rosca (King Cake). Of course, Francisco Hernández would wind up with one as did pintor y artista del grabador extraordinario José Lozano. Props to Reina who baked her own! This is the season... and stay tuned for a poem titled as such written on January 12th, a day imbued with uncontainable personal meaning and magic and memory and melancolía nostalgica. Promised myself I wouldn't use this blogspt for poetry, but I'll renege. Recommended: the exhibition of Graciela Iturbide photographs at the Getty. There are no words to conjure the mastery yet. The title suffices in a way these humble excursions can't. See her photo from Tijuana at the top. See, it isn't just Chicanos that make a fetish of Guadalupe-Cuatlicue...