Ryan and Cindy, C.A.M.P. particpants

LEADERSHIP

A small part of the summer, 2010, I spent training C.A.M.P (college freshmen and sophmores) particpants in videography.

Though I was hired as a teacher, I must say I learned so much. Let me go backwards. SMYLI, CAMP, what’s it mean? The Summer Migrant Youth Leadership Institute. And CAMP: College Assistance Migrant Program. These programs provide experience and access to higher education for young people that might not otherwise get the chance. This year it was hosted at CU Boulder.

In my close to twenty years of experience sharing the arts of theater, video and poetry across the state of Colorado, from the migrant summer programs of the 90’s when they had Artists in Residence at each site to the suburban cafeteria-gymnasiums of Colorado Springs, it is rare to see so many motivated and talented  young adults or to be a part of such a positive and successful program.

These young people are taking the next step. Growing up, I saw certain people in my culture, the Chicano culture, taking the next step, moving forward while looking back. Luis Valdez, in his time, for instance. I see the next step. I can see working with these high school and college students to create a feature film made by and about them and their stories.

To be continued.

Kandrick plays a relentlessly flatulent zombie.

Summer 2010

I had so much fun.

A gaggle of 10-13 year olds at the Cope Branch Boys and Girls Club started doing Forum Theater and improvisations with me, one thing led to another, and while I thought I was destined for a summer of finger puppet making, and launching my project Geronimo (read more soon!), I found a group of eager actors and FX filmmakers who were obsessed with the undead.

Blood. Vomit. Disambiguated feet and hands, I can’t think of a better way to learn the craft of filmmaking. Or spend a summer.

Did anyone remember their lines? I edited out my screaming, “the horror, the horror.”

Zombie Club will premiere at the Boys and Girls Club, Cope Branch, on September 17th, 2010.

The residency was part of NEA’s YouthReach Grant Project and was sponsored in Denver by ArtReach, Inc.

Sharing poetry with young (really young) readers

Residencies

I can’t think of a better way to serve my country than invest in its youth.

For nearly twenty years, from Castle Rock’s IB program to the migrant camps of rural Colorado, I’ve shared Forum Theater (a.k.a. Theater of the Oppressed) Poetry and Video Art with schools and communities across the state.

A skype session with Mexico and Bolivia

I’ve even taught in Bolivia, and via computers, Mexico. I love it.

Art makes meaning. (That’s John Dewey.) Just like having recess, or playtime, when a child makes art (be it theater, a painting or a poem) they are exercising the fundamental human quality of making meaning. After graduating from Yale University I consider it a privelege to have “grown up”  in Resdiency programs, I’ve been able to share my Art and Passion while being afforded the time to pursue my own work.

A bullfight via pantomime. Who woulda thought there were toreadores in Burlington?

I’m working on structuring a non-profit that will provide more residencies for at-risk youth.

I do not believe Art is an extraneous hobby nor a playground for the rich.

I mentioned in another post how making art (theater and imrpov) allowed 3rd – 5th graders express the resentment and racism they felt by their own school. Art provided the platform for expression, and expression led to change! Read more.

Thanks to the hard work of dedicated individuals, like Judy Kelly, who personally wrote grants to bring me to the Contemporary Learning Academy,  the work continues…

Though I finished drafts of a play titled “Aztlan Apeiron”, I’ve never really settled into it and thus have never produced it. One of the reasons is its about fathers and sons. There’s everything and nothing to say about such a subject. Though I hate using Latino characters in white stereotypes, i.e., the gangsta monologue included in this book, when Lori asked if I’d write something for the book I realized I grew up with friends who became the very stereotypes I thought I didn’t know.

From a review on Amazon – “This collection sparkles more than its predecessors because of its dynamic design, featuring black-and-white photographs and line illustrations incorporated with the text in a collagelike magazine layout. Few pieces are longer than a spread or two, and the entire package encourages endless browsing, flipping, and double-dipping.”

Read more or buy the book here.

You can find one of my favorite early poems included in this young reader’s collection -

“… another bilingual collection of poems that appear in both Spanish and English. Included are many well-known writers, such as Gary Soto and Luis J. Rodriguez… Divided into loose categories–language, identity, neighborhoods, amor, family moments, “victory”–the poems often speak about the complex challenges of being bicultural… ”

Go to Amazon to order a copy here.

Swinging in America

NEA brings artists to rural Colorado

Thanks to a great project I was in Burlington working with the children of migrant workers. I’d love to say “farmworkers” like my hero, Cesar Chavez, but the migrant population often works the slaughterhouses and meat packing plants.  Watching boys pantomime their fathers slaughtering pigs and cows was straight of “The Jungle” for me. It was a treat and insight to bring Forum Theater (a.k.a. Theater of the Oppressed) to these kids. The project was sponsored by the NEA’s YOUTHREACH program and was designed to bring the arts to underserved and at risk populations.

The following piece was my favorite of the three I made with the kids during the residency. It is a simple metaphor that expresses a child suffering under racism, institutional or otherwise.

A student in Bolivia gives a thumbs up.

Inside/Outside/North/South

Watch this documentary about an amazing international art project. 9 works of art were made by high school students. The students were selected from three different countries, Mexico, Bolivia and the U.S.  The students were from two diverse neighborhoods in one city (here, it was North High School from Denver and Columbine High School from Littleton) They were asked three questions about stereotyping and prejudice and responded by making art with nine different teaching artists and then shared their responses through Skype and gallery exhibits.

The project was hosted by Museo de las Americas in Denver, Colorado, U.S.A.

It was one of the coolest projects I’ve worked on. What was so neat, aside from the amazing and talented students, were the amazing and talented artists and the camraderie we shared, spanning nations, politics and pretenses. That planning meeting in La Paz was fun however walking up stairs was never so difficult.

Watch Part Two! -

Poster for the Rejoicing the Roots DVD

One of FMP’s biggest client projects to date! Months in the making, Jae Ram Arts premiered the feature length dance movie at Denver’s Landmark Esquire Theater. The Cleo Parker Robinson dance ensemble takes the stage. Cano’s editting brings life to old footage, giving you a front row seat on one of the greatest moments in the ensemble’s history, now captured forever.

Also on the DVD is the dance Mournin’ Son featuring Marceline Freeman.

Opening Night

Dancers from Rejoicing the Roots

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A moment of ecstasy in Ovideo 2.3

Ovideo 2.0

With the heated debates regarding health care, Ovideo couldn’t resist reconnecting with Merika in this series of three video “letters”. Watch!

To read more about the Ovideo series,  click here.

Ancient petroglyph of a poet

The first poetry book

but hardly the last! My first chapbook, published by my bud, John the Denvar Poet and the Denver Poets Guild. There was a magic time Friday Nights at the Merc when the disparate city poets gathered. Even old bearded guys came down from the mountains and whispered secrets into the mic. There was a tough guy attitude. It was “street” poets. Ed Ward was the host. I became a host for five years, as well as others. The scene changed. The smoke circles that gathered in the Jungle Room and in the alley out back have all dissipated.

We had a great book signing. Joe Bonner played! You can watch a selection from the reading, “Bunnies.”

A really special part of the book is Tony Scibella’s collages. His last. For me, there’s a special connection, Venice West energy,  two generations of poets, and the magic of times gone in the times yet to come. Trino (Trinidad Sanchez Jr.), my compadre, wrote my Intro and gave me my props.

Interested in purchasing a copy? The chapbooks have all sold! (Or – half were stolen cos they were in my car when my car was stolen!) Either way, all but a few are gone. That being said, I’m looking into online publishing – and like to think that 2010 will see the “second printing.” Let me know if you’re interested! -! g.