The Writers, The Artists, They Light Up The Sky For You.

What is up, mi gente?!?!
​This week so far has been a riot and a half. Lots of work to get done and some amazing art hits the streets of Houston and beyond. Today's blog will capture some of what is in the works for HTX beginning this THURSDAY and the REST OF THE WEEKEND. - and WHAT A WEEKEND!!!  I kid you not, there are too many events to count for this weekend, that I will only be able to highlight three of them - all totally different, but equally important to the Houston Community and the arts in general.  You ready?​

LAST BLOG TEASE:

So, this guy (and before you ask - nope, no relation) is an amazing writer. Both Matt and I are included in the latest edition of Huizache and I finally got a chance to meet Matt while in Tucson almost a year ago, for the Librotraficante Caravan. Matt Mendez is fresh new voice in Mexican-American Literature and just as impressive with his words in person.  We already talked and sadly, no familia between us - genetically. But yeah, that's my hermano, holding it down in Tucson, AZ. ​
​     His newest work TWITCHING HEART has just come out and I wanted to highlight his work and talk about the book . . . that WAS the plan, but the book hasn't come in yet!!!  I ordered it and am still waiting for its arrival. Sad face. BUT, no worries. Matt if you read this, I apologize for not being able to salute your work - that just means we get to talk about the book AGAIN, next blog!!  
​     What I can do, until I get a hold of the book, is connect you to an official book review, written by none other than SERGIO TRONCOSO. Click here for the link. Then, click on MATT MENDEZ's name to hit up his website.  FInally, get the book. Read the book and support this new addition to Latino Literature. 

TONIGHT!!  TONIGHT!! TONIGHT!!
​
​Yo, you have to try to make this! I know its short notice, but go! (AND then get me a copy of the book!!)  - Chitra Banerjee Divakaruni has just come out with a new book, OLEANDER GIRL. From what I have heard about the book, it looks to be interesting and a good read. In addition, Chitra is HTX mainstay - so we have to support!! 

SO, tonight, Houston plays host to the grand release of her new work!!  She had the choice to have the release party in NYC, but she chose to do it at home. Mad props to her for that, because it gets people out and about and into new venues - THE ASIAN SOCIETY (TEXAS). The space is relatively new and starting at 7pm, Divakaruni will impress the crowd with excerpts from OLEANDER GIRL. If you can make it, please go and support Asian Literature and the Houston Literary scene.
​
More details about the book and Divakaruni: 

THOUGH SHE WAS ORPHANED AT BIRTH, the wild and headstrong Korobi Roy has
​enjoyed a privileged childhood with her adoring grandparents, spending her first seventeen years sheltered in a beautiful, crumbling old mansion in Kolkata. But despite all that her grandparents have done for her, she is troubled by the silence that surrounds the circumstances of her parents’ death and clings fiercely to her only inheritance from them: the love note she found, years ago, hidden in a book of poetry that had belonged to her mother. As she grows, Korobi dreams of one day finding a love as powerful as her parents’, and it seems her wish has finally come true when she meets the charming Rajat, the only son of a high-profile business family.
​    Shortly after their engagement, however, a sudden heart attack kills Korobi’s grandfather, revealing serious financial problems and a devastating secret about Korobi’s past. Shattered by this discovery and by her grandparents’ betrayal, Korobi decides to undertake a courageous search across post-9/11 America to find her true identity. Her dramatic, often startling journey will ultimately thrust her into the most difficult decision of her life.
​
Chitra Banerjee Divakaruni is the award-winning author of many books, including The Mistress of Spices, Sister of My Heart, One Amazing Thing and, the soon to be released, Oleander Girl. Her work has appeared in The New Yorker, The Atlantic Monthly, and The New York Times. Born in India, she lives in Houston and teaches in the nationally-ranked Creative Writing program at the University of Houston.
​
​Here are the final details: 

​Time: 7pm
​Where: Asian Society - 1370 Southmore Blvd. Houston, TX 77004
​Contact: 713.496.9901
​
​This is a "ticketed" event, but only means email/ call to reserve a seat as I think space is limited.  Click here to get the event page. 

SWITCHING GEARS - YOU THINKING ABOUT AN MFA?
​
​So occasionally, you will read me brag about certain events or projects I am involved with, and for the next 2 - 3 years, I will refer to my MFA program. GO MINERS!!  

Solidly, one of the best decisions I have made in my adult life. - It is an amazing program filled with genuine individuals who advisor their candidates on what works in their craft in poetry, in fiction, in poetics, in non-fiction and style. The photos above are but the tip of the iceberg when it comes to the individuals ​that make the MFA ONLINE program a success. So far, I am a slow schooler - I am only taking one class at a time (cuz that's how I roll!) and it is working out well. The flexibility of each my professors (seen above - Lex Williford, Sasha Pimentel, Jose de Pierola, and Daniel Chacón) has been amazing and yet they push my thinking, and its working. I am stretching my "writing legs" in ways I hadn't in a long time. I am getting a ernest look at where I want to take my writing to. I get to kick myself in ass for the challenges presented, pushing to work on the technique of my writing, in fiction, in poetry and in non- fiction. It's been healthy for me to do this.
​      At the same time, I get to work on my MFA from the comfort of my own home and my professors are amazingly "human". I mean that they are fully aware that the candidates are human and have lives and responsibilities, and when the push, they are also understanding if one of us has a sick child, or dealing with a personal matter of some urgency. It's refreshing to hit up my class this semester with Professor Pimentel - "Sasha" as everybody calls her, every Tuesday night at 7pm (my time) on Skype. On her end, she has a classroom full of RESIDENCY MFA CANDIDATES who I get to talk to and workshop poetry with. On my side, I get to chat and message the other 7 ONLINE MFA CANDIDATES as we workshop.  - That's just one way how the program works. It's innovative, its unique, its flexible, its mine and it works.
​        So yes, I will try to sell you on the MFA program at UTEP, because for writers like me, working writers, yes, there are programs made to help us create what we create. - A major thank you to Benjamin Alire Saenz and Daniel Chacón for running such an amazing program.  
​
​WITH THAT SAID - 
​
​Check this link out, here. 
​The College of Liberal Arts Honors Program and The Creative Writing Department cordially invite you to attend a UTEP Centennial Lecture
​
​"American Labor: Poetry for Whom There is No Poetry”
​- Philip Levine, 18th Poet Laureate of the United States
​
​Tuesday, March 12, 2013 - 5 p.m. Undergraduate Learning Center, Room 106
​UTEP Campus
​
​YES, that's right. That's what's up at UTEP for next Tuesday. If you are in EL CHUCO, you need to make this reading.  That's how big the program is - they have world renowned poets visit. Big. 
​
​NOW FOR THE WEEKEND!!
​
​So this what is going on for the weekend here in HOUSTON. My head will explode if I can actually make it to all this, but I will try and you should too!!
​
​So, officially both me and the wifey (Jasminne Méndez) get to perform our poetry on Friday night at this amazing event - 

Everything actually kicks off tonight at Scott Gertner's at Houston Pavilions, as many of the Salsa artists will slow arrive for the major to-do's this weekend. A major THANK YOU to Ruby Rivera and the TEXAS SALSA CONGRESS for adding the cultural landscape of the HTX!!  Click on the link to see the site for the whole weekend, here.​ 

​DO YOU LIKE BEAT WRITERS!?!?!?  

Because I do. So you should make it to this - 

So I have talked about this before and yes, you should make this during the day, this Saturday. Everything kicks off at 3 and lasts 'til 10 at night. Its an amazing day for poetry and art as Stephen Gros, Tanyia Johnson of MAKE.PLAY.SPEAK ​​have worked really hard at putting this show together. Panels, reading, round tables and music abound. So make it out to the ORANGE SHOW and be a part of Houston's 1st Kerouac Fest!! (click on the bolded words to see links)

​WOMEN'S HERstory MONTH!!
​
​March is Women's History Month, and so if it wasn't enough that you have two women , Ruby Rivera and Tanyia Johnson organizing events, then get a load of this: 

CREATIVE WOMEN UNITE - under the direction of Monica Villarreal, is putting together an amazing event at MECA. ​- Opening night is this FRIDAY and then on SATURDAY, there will be an amazing series of workshops hosted by prominent women from all aspects of art and media.  Click on the link to find out more info, here.  
​If you hit them up on Facebook, you will get a full details on the opening reception and the next day's sessions. 
​
​Here are the details: 
​
​Friday  Night - 6 - 7pm (Opening Art Reception) ; 7 - 10 Performance Artist present
​Where: MECA - 1900 Kane St., Houston, TX 77007
​
That's a lot going on. Take your pick and enjoy these Houston streets. 
​I hope I get to see you around and if you like the blog, please tell your friends and enemies about it!!  See you next week!! 
​
​NOW for the TEASE . . .

Tell Me About Your Day After You Read This

Hey Gente, ​

This week has been a solid one, full of brilliant ideas and few new bits of news, but nothing too over the top. Thank Jesucristo, cuz I need a bit of a breather. With that, I hope you guys had a great "Hump Day" and I hope you have an amazing rest of the week. Let's get this going: ​

LAST BLOG TEASE . . .
​​

So I started reading Manuel Gonzales' THE MINIATURE WIFE AND OTHER STORIES out of Riverhead Books and it is cleaver. I haven't read the whole thing yet, but if the first half (about 100 pages) can keep my attention, then hell yeah, I'll eat the rest. (When I say eat, I mean read, ha. )

So far, Gonzales manages to take a dive on fresh ideas - that is to say he takes you, by the neck, opens the book for you and you nose dive into the stories. His set up of the back drop in each story isn't some long diatribe, he just nails it. His use of language is clean and simple and your eyes never lift off the page. Gonzales in this book (HIS FIRST ONE!!!!) take you through 18 stories in this collection. Its good. Me like. He touches on a bit of old school horror (shrinking wives, wolves, perpetual oil, etc.) and keeps the rise and fall of the action in each tale very different than the last.

 I am by no means a book critic, so you don't have to pick it up because I said so, BUT, GO. GET. THE. BOOK. - Cuz I told you to. AND. IF you want to know more about the author, then click here. 

​
​A WEEKEND REVIEW
​
​So sometimes, I get the chance to either see something amazing or be a part of something amazing and I then get to tell you about it. Here is one of those moments. I say moments, but, what I really mean happened in like 4 friggin days!!
​

It all started on a Thursday - the rest of the Nuestra Palabra crew - Tony Diaz, Laura Acosta, Liana Lopez and I packed in my little SUV and trekked it down to Edinburg, TX, into the lovely RGV (Rio Grande Valley) for the NACCS Conference - National Assoc. of  Chicana/Chicano Studies. Let me tell you how refreshing it was to meet and talk, dissect and describe things with esta gente. It was an amazing time. I learned alot and was humbled at how everyone I met was willing to listen. 

There at the conference, we were able to put on a session about the Librotraficante Caravan, of course showing the highlights of the trip - traveling with the banned authors, meeting the students in Tucson, AZ and the trip itself, but we also got to talk about the behind the scenes elements. THERE were college students, professors, community organizers that were even more thrilled at the way we planned it all out. It felt as if we spent more time talking about how to organize a community than how we rubbed elbows with folks. But then, that's what NACCS and Chican@ Studies is about - the community.  I even got to drop a poem in the middle of the session - ​

In addition to getting a session at the conference, we also got to attend several session - two of my favorite were totally dissimilar: ​

one was a presentation of proposal - a bold young lady, by the name of Laura Oviedo  who is working on her Masters there at UTPA is currently working on uncovering and connecting to records of Mexican-American participation in the military from WWII to VIetnam. It is an arduous undertaking, but she got it, she got it. We got a blessed chance to help this impressive young lady out. Somehow, and I can't remember who, but we found out that one of the guys that's she's uncovered info about is a Freddy Gonzalez - they even have a street named after this WWII vet, has his mother still alive and kicking, apparently working in the same hotel we were staying at - "The Echo". Well, the next morning, Sunday, as we are planning on eating breakfast and heading back to HTX, our waitress looks to be a sweet OLD LADY - well, Tony, brave as ever asks her if she is the mother of Freddy Gonzalez and she says (and I kid you not) "no, no, she works at the H-E-B across the street. Me, no, not the mom, but I am his AUNT." ANd just like that, a connection is made. She showed us in the Echo photos, plaques, messages and posters all about Freddy. We quickly got a hold of Laura and told here to get in contact with the Gonzalezs - his tia was so proud. She told me personally "thank you all for remembering him". I cried a bit. 

The second session I attended was a reading by Helena Maria Viramontes. I am a fan. I am a big fan. I am a book nerd, so nerdy that sat up in front and when it came time to ask questions the only I could ask was "What got you back into finishing your MFA after 12 years?". Yep it was amazing. It has helped my soul figure out what direction I want to take my MFA experience in. ​

​A major thank you to Ed Vidaurre- "the Barrio Poet", Laura, Ruben and everyone from the RGV. I now know I have a home away from home. 

​the road back into the HTX was quiet, full of conversation and battle planning between me, Tony and Laura. I was glad to get home and about all I could do was take a nap, because that night, my boy, MARLON LIZAMA took center stage - with CULTURAL LADRONES - it was an amazing expression of poetry, music and art. It was intimate and positive. It was hype. It was classy. It will happen again. 
​Here is just one of the many amazing moments from that event - 

NEW DETAILS... ​

​So with last weeks intensity, we end up here, in this week. All is calm on this battle ground. I am some somewhat rested and ready for the week. About the only thing I can report is the following - 
​
​Rubén Martínez is COMING TO HOUSTON!!! (Click on his name to get more info on the man) . His new book Desert America is coming out and he will be at Brazos Bookstore today!!  Go see him. 
​Click here for more details. Maybe I will see you there, yes?

So I think that wraps up this blog for the week. Hope you have an amazing weekend. Make sure you click on all the buttons on this blog, the vids, the links and like the damn thing. Leave a comment too!!

I leave you with this teaser: 

The Words, Las Palabras, They Flow Past the City Walls.

Hey Gente,
​
​First off, I must apologize that this blog post comes a day ​late. Yesterday was filled with so much work that I needed to get around that first. A lot can happen in seven days!!  So, let's get started.  

First with the tease:

       From a first hand account, the TEXAS SALSA CONGRESS is an amazing event. My dear friend and fellow artist, Ruby Rivera, knocks it out of the park with this masterful celebration of dance and music. The salsa congress is made up of dance workshops, presentations and special guest performances from salsa dances of all ages and backgrounds from all over the U.S. It is truly a spectacle and sight to see. You can see the schedule for the 4 day event here. 

          The most important aspect of this event is how damn good a job Ruby does to include young, growing dancers. They attend in droves from both coasts and eat up all the workshop opportunities and celebrations. The TEXAS SALSA CONGRESS also serves a second purpose (well two actually) (1) to raise scholarship funds for students as they pursue dreams of a college education and (2) a well deserved "hell yeah, I did it" kind of party, is the ONLY FEMALE organizer of a SALSA CONGRESS. It happens no place else, making Houston home to someone very special. If you can make it to the event, please do. You won't regret it!! (PLUS, you might get to see and the wifey perform on Friday night - yep, Ruby and the CONGRESS are fans of poetry!

MEANWHILE, LAST NIGHT . . .
​
​   I would classify what I was a part of last night as "educational advocacy"​. In simplest terms, a few local Houston Latino leaders and I got together to being planning H.O.M.B.R.E.S. - Helping Our Men thru Brotherhood, Respect, & Education for Success.
​The idea is this: 
​

3 mentors will share 5 steps they took up the pyramid. They will share the challenges and obstacles they overcame. This will be followed by our youth tellling tell us what they need from us to help them succeed. If we do not tell our young men how to be adult men, then videos, rappers, and movies will.  Every one is welcome who wants to help our men and young men fulfill their great destinies. - Last night's meeting was a solid step forward. I served as scribe and as everyone talked about either their definitions of the issues our young men are facing or their own backgrounds, I was able to translate that into viable topics for discussion for future meetings. We are still in the planning stages, so stay tuned. A major thank you to TONY DIAZ for spearheading the idea!!

THE WEEKEND IS UPON US . . . 
​
​and sometimes, you will get some info of what happens outside of H-TOWN. Peep this: 

Yes, you read the flyer right, not in H-TOWN, but in El Paso ("el Chuco"), T!!  A buddy of mine, Roberto Santos, MFA graduate from UTEP, college professor, host and damn good poet has served as the organizer for the BARBED WIRE OPEN MIC SERIES (BWOMS) for over 5 years. That show and that art, shows no signs of slowing down. Its a golden night, that last Saturday of the month. The crowd is appreciative, supportive and on point to hear some poetry and music. The artists are humble and dedicated and Roberto, along with his crew are the people that make it happen. I had the pleasure of being a feature a few months back and it was a grand experience. If you want to get more info about this Saturday's event, then log onto your FB account and get more info here. - and straight from Roberto himself: 
​
​"For this month's edition of the BWOMS we are featuring published poet Robin Scofield, and the poems from her latest book, 'Sunflower Cantos' (Her book will be on sale at the event; see below for author bio). 

We will also have a freestyle cypher at 6:30 and the open mic starting at 7. Anyone can perform any type of creative expression. Vendors are welcome and encouraged to join us at no cost. 

​**Author Bio: Robin Scofield** - 

A native Texan, Robin Scofield is the author of Sunflower Cantos, from Mouthfeel Press in El Paso, and has written poetry, memoir, and fiction for 44 years. She was awarded an M.A. in Creative Writing from the University of Texas at Austin in 1986. She has had poems appear in Paris Review, Western Humanities Review, Theology Today, Poetry Motel, Center: A Journal of the Literary Arts, and Texas Observer. As an experienced editor, she offers manuscript consultations and creative workshops.

She has been a featured reader in several venues, including the El Paso Arts Museum, and she regularly attends The Tumblewords Project, a community-based writing group and is active in regional as well as international literary events, such as the juried San Miguel Poetry Week."

MORE FROM EL PASO 
​
​So I will forever sing the praises from that town! Aside from being an MFA candidate at UTEP (online, too!!), I am totally impressed with the people and places within "El Chuco"​. There is so much going on that had to make sure to get into it. Here are two examples: 

​​1) Words On a Wire (yes, click the title) - a radio show hosted by Benjamin Alire Saenz and Daniel Chacón (both MFA -Creative Writing professors at UTEP) that focuses on poetry, fiction, creative writing, memoir writing and more. They conduct interviews with other writers and discuss all things written. Make sure you take a listen. Like their page too. DO THAT HERE

and 2) THE READER -  an online magazine out of El Paso, Texas. The Literary Muses (8th grade student writers) host various Chicano & Latino guests: poets, novelists, essay, short story, fiction and nonfiction authors, digital and print-media reporters, world-renowned educators and more... Guests visit in person as and via Skype.
​Hosted by a prima-hermana Librotraficante there in El Paso, Georgina Cecilia Perez teaches Chicano and Latino Literature to her 8th grade students AND gets them right.
​She is doing amazing work, instilling the want of literature and the want of writing to her students. In March, I get to be a part of the program. Truly a blessing!!

So now we bring it back to H-Town!! ​

​If you can make it to no other show, then please join me here:

CULTURAL LADRONES will take place on Feb. 24th from 8 to 1am. 
​The event is for fans of art, music and poetry who are 21 & up. 
​Where: - House of Blues ( 1204 Caroline St. 77002 -Foundation Rm.)

If you are interested in tickets for the event, click here.

Please, support the local art scene!! This should be an amazing event.

​And now, to close out this blog post, a small teaser... its something I am about to start reading and give you a little review: 

You Should See What Writers Can Do.

Buenas Tardes Gente, 

Welcome back!!  Hope all is well on your side of the screen. Happy Mardi Gras and if you celebrate, then I hope this Ash Wednesday was a good time of reflection. Que te sigue lo bueno.  These last two weeks have been amazing for literature and writing in my world and the whole of Houston and it doesn't seem to be taking a break. - So let me fill you in on more events and details.

If you saw last weeks post, then you saw this last flyer:

Now, here are the details as promised - From Marlon Lizama himself 
"Cultural Ladrones is an event celebrating true grassroots artists. Focusing on artists who not only embody the grassroots mentality, but also contribute to their community. The term 'Cultural Ladrones' was chosen on the fact that 'OUR' type of artist generically taught him or herself by combining cultural, sub cultural, the conventional, and the un- conventional route. We focus on the power of art, music, words to create and reach as many people as we can through movements, ideas, and social justice." 

CULTURAL LADRONES will take place on Feb. 24th from 8 to 1am.
The event is for fans of art, music and poetry who are 21 & up. 
Where: - House of Blues ( 1204 Caroline St. 77002 -Foundation Rm.)

If you are interested in tickets for the event, click here.

Please, support the local art scene!! This should be an amazing event.

SO you might be wondering what's before this particular event, huh? (Humor me.) 

THIS Saturday, get ready for the 10 year anniversary of one of Houston's finest poetry shows - Starving Poets: Poetic House Party.

Here are the details:

The Poetic House Party of the decade hosted by the Starving Poets will be a night to remember in February. Live music, poetry and a few special surprises and guest. Be a part of history and dont miss what everyone will be talking about for years to come.

10 Year Anniversary
Starving Poets: Poetic House Party - Poetry, Spoken Word & Soul
Friday, February 15 at 8:00PM
Purchase Tickets: 1-866-811-4111
www.starvingpoets.org

Featuring:
HBO Def Poet Rock Baby
Savannah Blue, Houston National Slam Team
Donte Newman, TED, TSU Poet
DJ G Woody
More TBA

and Saxophonist Stephen Richard + Band

Host:
PJ
Outspoken Bean
2-Die-4

at AvantGarden
411 Westheimer
Houston, TX 77006
Btw Taft and Whitney

Well, if you are a romantic and a fool in love or just want a chance to get your hands on some intense art and poetry, then look no further: 

ART & VERSE - 

You can join in on an intimate event highlighting the talented work of Lizbeth Ortiz and the lovely words of my better half, Jasminne Méndez. (I never introduced her to you guys, did I? OOPS.) Check out her blog and Lizbeth's website. They are highly remarkable artists and our event ART & VERSE gives them the opportunity to shine. 
Not only will you get a chance to hear and see the art and the poetry, you will get a chance to take a part of it home with you, as both ladies have collaborated to create a set of postcards, one side depicting Lizbeth's work and the other, a poem specifically written for the image. Kinda neat, yes?  Here are the details: 

Saturday, February 16th, 2013 ( very Valentine's Day-ish)
2:00pm - 4:30pm @ Casa Ramirez FOLKART Gallery - 241 West 19th St., Hou,TX 77008
Light snacks and drinks to be provided, courtesy of Casa Ramirez

This next part is really me, trying to get YOU, to support Latino Cinema. No, for real, please support Latino Cinema. Point Blank. There are amazing stories that need to be told. OUR stories need to be told (soapbox ends) and only we can make that happen, so SUPPORT!!  Here is a classic that if FINALLY being brought to the screen: 

BLESS ME, ULTIMA by Rudolfo Anaya. Its an amazing book. A controversial text (¿Por que? - Sabra Dios) that has finally come to the big screen. 

So this last week, I had the honor of getting a sneak peak of the film - y fue  espectacular. The seats were packed, the audience entranced and the mood was right. So, if you are a fan of Mexican American Literature (or read the book once, a looooooong time ago), love images of mysticism, and tender period pieces, then please, please, go support this movie. You can see the movie preview below:

The film opens February 22nd NATIONWIDE, asi es que agarra tu gente, tus amigos y vamonos al cine.

OK, so with all that coming through, I think this is where I get to tell you a little bit about what I have been up to (aside from readings and stuff).  Lately, poetry/literary events have been keeping me busy for more than a month now and show no signs of stopping. I have just finished my commitment to Public Poetry - having served as one of the selection committee members for this past 2012-2013 year (if you want more info on that , take a look here ) and those readings have been sheer joy to attend. A new selection committee has just been organized and they are already choosing this next year's set of poets for the year. 
      Aside from that, I am with pad and pen constantly writing so I don't go crazy and still working on my MFA (Masters of Fine Arts) in Creative Writing. So far, so good. I am now in my 4th class - Advanced Poetry Writing, with the wonderful Sasha Pimentel-Chacón and its kicking my ass. I think more so what's kicking me in the head is working toward a refinement of my poetics, my style and fine tuning my voice. - I am able to write for performance and for the page, but now, I think I am at a point where I want to see how I can intertwine and respect both forms. I am up for the challenge and loving every minute of it. PLUS, its the first time in my educational career that I can say I am a 4.0 student (cross your fingers, that it stays that way, no me den mal de ojo, cabrones. 
          From there, I get to humbly work an incredible group of people with NUESTRA PALABRA: LATINO WRITERS HAVING THEIR SAY. It's been about 14 years since I started working with the group and man, its been an amazing experience. NOW, we get to take the work we do and talk to people about it!  So last year (close enough) we started the LIBROTRAFICANTE MOVEMENT , and now we just received an award - thw 2012 DOWNS INTELLECTUAL FREEDOM AWARD.  On top of that, in a week, we get to talk to students and faculty members at the NACCS TEJAS 2013 Conference about the experience and the insights gained in creating such community around banned books and bringing light to what's happening with Arizona's HB2281 (If you don't know, look it up). If you want to learn more about the conference, click here.  So far, so good . . . 

And now, I think I will leave you with an event to think about - I think I will always end with a tease of sorts, just to keep you coming back for more - if I get the details correct, this should be coming around Spring Break and on one night, both me and the wifey get to show our writing skills - love when dynamic arts meet : 

Houston is a Literary Capital

Hey gente,

Man, there are alot of things to fill you in on, so lets get started:

OK, so this past Thursday, I had the pleasure of taking part of an amazing event - "MAGNITUD/E" - a bilingual poetry reading that spoke/highlighted/discussed the ever present affects of the drug wars that occur between here and Mexico. Three poets from Mexico, Sara Urribe, Marco Antonio Huerta & Minerva Reynosa all were present (Sara in spirit and a video poem) and joined John Pluecker and myself. It was amazingly raw and unique. Packed house!! I estimate we had 80+ people in attendance, students, teachers, concerned citizens, all taking in the poetry and the magnificent artwork on display as the next night, "CRONICAS", the Fotofest exhibit that MAGNITUD/E stemmed from, would open. 

So with that amazing reading done and in the bag - many thanks to MAKE.PLAY.SPEAK. FOTO FEST, JOHNPLUEKER, STEPHEN GROS and NUESTRA PALABRA: LATINO WRITERS HAVING THEIR SAY, for making that happen!!  

That leads us into this week. 
SO, as I am writing this blog, right now, its about 4:40 pm and I am at Boomtown Coffee (stop by, this place is pretty chingón) and I will be part of yet another reading starting at 6pm. I am hoping I can get all the info I want you to be a part of at least by 5!!  Here are the details for that reading: 

HOUSTON, TX – Huizache, the nation's premiere Latino literary journal hosts New York Times Best Seller and 2012 National Book Award finalist Domingo Martinez in Houston for national launch - 6pm, Wednesday, February 6th at Casa Ramirez Folk Art Gallery in the Historic Heights District (241 W 19th St., Houston, TX 77008.)

Martinez, author of The Boy Kings of Texas, joins acclaimed author Dagoberto Gilb, the founder of Huizache and CentroVictor at the University of Houston - Victoria, to celebrate the second issue’s national launch. 

The newest edition of Huizache chronicles the exploits of the Houston-born Librotraficante Movement, founded to defy Arizona's prohibition of Mexican American Studies, with prose by its leader, Houston novelist Tony Diaz and poetry by Lorna Dee Cervantes, Margaret Randall, Levi Romero and Lupe Mendez.

If you can make it, please drop by!!  It should be classic!!  

So now, that brings us into this weekend.
As if you wouldn't get enough of latino poetry, or if it's not your cup of tea, then prep yourself for this - the FIRST annual Kerouac Fest in Houston happens in March!!
Details here: 
The purpose of Kerouac Fest 2013 is to educate, entertain, and enlighten the public. Whether you're familiar with Kerouac's writing or just have a passing notion of what the Beat Generation is, you'll find something to appreciate at Kerouac Fest.

Produced by Tanyia Johnson of Make.Play.Speak and poet Stephen Gros, Kerouac Fest will include a rich lineup of performances, readings, panel discussions and in depth analysis of the Beat Generation. Scheduled for the day include:

• Youth poetry performance
• Biographical Timeline of Kerouac: infographics and highlights
• Video+Film: screening of two beat films
• Kerouac panel discussion
• Live poetry showcase
• Poetry buskers and twitter aggregate poem
• Selected readings from On the Road
• Live jazz performances

BUT, in order to get ready for this event, Tanyia and are putting together a FUNDRAISER for the Kerouac Fest this weekend! 

With KerouacFest: Go!Go!Go! right around the corner in March you can get your poetry fix and help support the festival at the same time at this fundraising event. 

Please join them, THIS Sunday, February 10, 2013 from 2pm to 4pm at Brazos Bookstore. 15% of sales during the reading will go to support the success of KerouacFest. 

Poetry Performances by:
Gerald Cedillo
Tracy Lyall
David Sha
Ken Jones
Dean Liscum
BGK

Visit http://makeplayspeak.com/kerouac/ to learn more about the festival, or come meet the organizers at Brazos on February 10 at 2pm.

The festival is presented by Stephen Gros, Make.Play.Speak. and The Orange Show. The festival is at The Orange Show in Houston on March 9, 2013. Buy advance tickets at http://orangeshow.org/events/121/

Then, last but definitely not least-  is this event, I will tease you with. Then give you details later. Check it. My boy, Marlon Lizama is hosting a new arts/poetry event at the House of Blues. 

Magnitud/e // FotoFest // January 31, 2013

Hey Gente, please check this out . . . 

www.fotofest.org

Thursday, January 31 - 6-9pm

Fotofest - 1113 Vine Street Houston TX 77023

A Literary Event Presented in Conjunction with the FotoFest Exhibition Crónicas

Magnitud/e is one of the major programs for FotoFest’s new original multi-media exhibition "Crónicas," showcasing seven contemporary Mexican visual artists who are interpreting, rather than documenting, the violence of the Mexican drug war.

This bilingual poetry event features three acclaimed poets from Northern Mexico and two from the Houston area. The work of each of these poets creates a dialogue around the on-going violence in Mexico using a variety of techniques from appropriation to translation, from slam poetry to post-conceptual writing.

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Un evento literario presentado en conjunto con Crónicas, una exposición de Fotofest

Magnitud/e es uno de los programas principales que forman parte de la nueva exposición multimedia de FotoFest, Crónicas. Esta exposición muestra el trabajo de siete artistas visuales contemporáneos de México, quienes interpretan, no solo documentan, la violencia provocada por la guerra contra las drogas en México.

Este evento de poesía bilingüe  muestra el trabajo de tres poetas reconocidos del norte de México y dos poetas de Houston. El trabajo de estos poetas crea un dialogo acerca de la violencia en México usando una variedad de técnicas desde apropiación hasta traducciones, de poesía slam hasta escritura post-conceptual.

(El resto de la versión en español sigue abajo.)

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FEATURED POETS:

Marco Antonio Huerta (Cd. Victoria, Mexico) - Translated by John Pluecker

Lupe Méndez (Houston)

John Pluecker (Houston)

Minerva Reynosa (Monterrey, Mexico) - Translated by Stalina Villarreal

Sara Uribe (Cd. Victoria, Mexico) - Translated by John Pluecker

Magnitud/e is co-sponsored with Make.Play.Speak and John Pluecker.

Special support Nuestra Palabra. This event is supported by a grant from Poets & Writers, Inc.

BIOS OF WRITERS:

Marco Antonio Huerta is a Mexican translator and post-conceptual poet, currently living in Ciudad Victoria, Tamaulipas. During the summer of 2009 he decided to kill his own lyrical self. Part of his work has been published in the first international Conceptual Writing Journal Crux Desperationis 1, Luvina, and in Public Interest (LACE) in the Not Content section. His book Magnitud/e (2012), in coauthorship with Sara Uribe, was recently translated to English by John Pluecker. His tweets can be read at @moteltampico.

Lupe Mendez is a poet and educator (Galveston, Guadalajara, Houston), who works with Nuestra Palabra: Latino Writers Having Their Say, the Word Around Poetry Tour and the Brazilian Arts Foundation to establish workshops and free poetry events. Lupe’s recent work is now part of Norton's newest anthology Sudden Fiction Latino: Short-Short Stories From The United States and Latin America, Flash (University of Chester, England) the international forum for flash fiction, and Huizache, the magazine of Latino literature. Lupe is hard at work on an MFA through the University of Texas at El Paso.

John Pluecker is a writer, interpreter, translator and co-founder of the language justice and literary experimentation collaborative Antena.His texts have appeared in journals in the U.S. and Mexico, including The Volta, Mandorla, Aufgabe, eleven eleven, Third Text and Animal Shelter, among others. He has translated numerous books from the Spanish, including most recently Tijuana Dreaming: Life and Art at the Global Border (Duke University Press, 2012). More info at his blog johnpluecker.blogspot.com.

Sara Uribe is a poet, originally from Querétaro, living in Tamaulipas since 1996. She has received numerous awards and grants including the FONCA and PEDCA grants from the Mexican government. She has published "Lo que no imaginas" (2005), "Palabras más palabras menos" (2006), "Nunca quise detener el tiempo" (2008) y "Goliat" (2009), among other books. She recently published the hybrid book Antígona González with Editorial Sur + in Mexico City. Her poems have appeared in periodicals and anthologies in Mexico, Peru, Spain, Canada and the United States.

Minerva Reynosa is a poet and essayist from Monterrey, Mexico. She has recently published Fotogramas de mi corazón conceptual absolutamente ciego (Consejo Estatal para la Cultura y las Artes/El Tucán de Virginia, 2012) and Atardecer en los suburbios (Fondo Nacional para la Cultura y las Artes/Universidad Autónoma de Nuevo León, 2011). She has participated in literary festivals in Mexico and abroad; her work has been translated into German, French, Russian, Swedish, and English. She has a blog with Benjamín Moreno that contains visual, technological and textual experiments: BENERVA: http://benerva.tumblr.com/

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Poetas presentados:

Marco Antonio Huerta (Cd. Victoria, México) - Traducido por John Pluecker

Lupe Méndez (Houston)

John Pluecker (Houston)

Minerva Reynosa (Monterrey, México) - Traducido por Stalina Villarreal

Sara Uribe (Cd. Victoria, México) - Traducido por John Pluecker

Magnitud/e es copatrocinado por Make.Play.Speak y John Pluecker.

Apoyo especial de Nuestra Palabra. Este evento es patrocinado por Poets & Writers, Inc.

Sobre los poetas:
Marco Antonio Huerta es un traductor y poeta post-conceptual de México, vive actualmente en Ciudad Victoria, Tamaulipas. Marco Antonio ganó el Premio de Poesía del Noreste 2005. Es el autor de tres colecciones de poesía: La semana milagrosa (Conarte, 2006); Golden Boy (Letras de Pasto Verde, 2009); y Hay un jardín (Tierra Adentro, 2009). Durante el verano de 2009 Marco Antonio asesinó a su 'yo' lírico.Sus textos han aparecido en antologías y publicaciones periódicas de México, España, Uruguay y Estados Unidos. Ha participado en foros de escritura experimental como “Not Content”, curado por Vanessa Place y Teresa Carmody (Los Ángeles, California, 2010), en el foro “Los límites del lenguaje” (Monterrey, NL, 2012) y en el “& Now Festival” (París, 2012). Tuitea desde http://twitter.com/moteltampico

Lupe Mendez es un poeta y educador (Galveston, Guadalajara, Houston). Lupe trabaja para las organizaciones Nuestra Palabra: Latino Writers Having Their Say, Word Around Poetry Tour y Brazilian Arts Foundation ayudando a organizar talleres de poesía y eventos de poesía gratuitos. El trabajo reciente de Lupe es parte de la nueva antología de Norton Suden Fiction Latino: Short-Short Stories From The Unites States and Latin America (University of Chester, England), Flash, The International Forum for Flash Fiction, y Huizache-the magazine of Latino literature. Lupe esta hacienda una maestría en la Universidad de Texas en El Paso.

John Pluecker es un escritor, interprete, traductor y cofundador del grupo Antena, un grupo de colaboración por la justicia literaria. Sus textos han sido publicados en periódicos de los Estados Unidos y de México, incluyendo The Volta, Mandorla, Aufgabe, eleneleven, Third Text y Animal Shelter, entre otros. Ha traducido numerosos libros del español al inglés, recientemente tradujo “Tijuana Dreaming: Life and Art at the Global Border” (Duke University Press, 2012). Para más información visitar su blog johnpluecker.blogspot.com

Sara Uribe es una poeta, originaria de Querétaro, desde 1996 radica en Tamaulipas. Sara ha recibido varios premios y becas, incluyendo las becas FONCA y PEDCA otorgadas por el gobierno Mexicano. Ha publicado: Lo que no imaginas (CONARTE, 2005); Palabras más palabras menos (IMAC, 2006); Nunca quise detener el tiempo (ITCA, 2008); Goliat (Letras de pasto verde, 2009); Magnitud –en coautoría con Marco Antonio Huerta– (Gusanos de la nada, 2012); Antígona González (Sur+, 2012) y Siam (FETA, 2012). Poemas suyos han aparecido en publicaciones periódicas y antologías de México, Perú, España, Canadá y Estados Unidos.

Minerva Reynosa es una poeta y ensayista de Monterrey, México. Minerva publicó recientemente Fotograma de mi corazón conceptual absolutamente ciego (Consejo Estatal para la Cultura y las Artes / El Tucán de Virginia, 2012) y Atardecer en los suburbios (Fondo Nacional para la Cultura y las Artes/Universidad Autónoma de Nuevo León, 2011). Minerva ha participado en festivales literarios en México y otros países, su trabajo ha sido traducido al alemán, francés, ruso, sueco e ingles. Minerva escribe en varios blogs, entre ellos esta http://ladoncelladilatada.blogspot.com/

Animo, gente, but say a prayer too!

15 DECEMBER, 2012

Hey Gente,

I want to play catch-up with you, fill you in all the writing, poetry, project stuff happening lately and from the last year, but my heart is a bit heavy. Just read, or watch your news.

I won't get political, nor too sentimental, but what I will do is keep a chin up in honor of those children and those educators who lost their lives in Newtown, CT and anywhere in the world.

I post this poem in Facebook just a few minutes ago, so I thought I would do the same here:

I Teach
I wrote until
the chalkboard
became
clear and white,
until
textbooks
became
laptops,
lockers unfolded
out of cabinets,
no tiza dust,
but erasable markers,
shinny boards that I
close my eyes in front of.
I  hold my breathe right
before the first bell rings,
and every morning

I run all sorts of thoughts
and I know.
I  teach because the money
is a hot meal, nothing more,
I teach because I can see

myself

in their faces,

desperate,

I teach because they want to be here,

I teach because they hate being here

and there’s no place else.

I teach because I let them feel

at home

and sometimes the kids,

they ask if they can spend

the night in the classroom.

I smile.

I provide cots for the ones

that can’t sleep at home; with

a pillow and matching sheets.

I’m a taxi service when it gets too late.

I’m a social worker when the school nurse

forgets the hearing aid paperwork . . .

I teach because the world

does not provide for an

A,B,C,D bubble life.

I teach because I hated teachers

and I am sick of hating them.

I teach to be humble.

I teach because I want them

to remember their own fathers

and quit slipping and calling me “Apa”.

Sometimes they hug me afterwards.

I teach for the laughter. I see the tears

and I can recognize

the hearts of children,

at least today.

Today is the only thing I control.

So,

I will:

ice a few busted lips,

glue a shoe sole,

fix a spiral notebook,

contain a seizure,

collect twelve love notes

and correct the spelling,

organize three games of

kickball, soccer and

red light/green light,

make the boys shake

after a fair fight,

dig in the closet for extra

clothes after someone’s accident,

make a rainbow and speak of magical

refractions and sunlight,

and the kids, yeah, they

will only hear me say

rainbow, blah, blah, blah

magical blah, blah, blah, light,

use diplomacy while playing UNO,

introduce deodorant,

provide at least four lunches,

repair two sets of  glasses,

burn all the paperwork,

defend a child from a drunk parent,

stop a bus with a single hand,

control the weather with

my imagination,

bridge a nose bleed,

wish, then, shake the shit

out of that hooker/momma

when I need her Gustavo

in my Math tutorials,

make all the kids live to read,

convince eight pairs of parents

from Lantern Village that “camping”

is good for their hijitos

and

combat a system that wants

to swallow my kids whole.

I save children everyday,

every time I open my door.

So tell me,

just what the hell do you do?

© 2010 Lupe Mendez 

If you have children, hug them tighter. If you talk to your kid's teacher, thank them. If you are friends with a teacher, tell them they are doing a good job. Its an amazing profession. Then call home and talk to your loved ones. 

Back with a Bang and a Holiday Blog Tour !!!

Ok Gente, so I KNOW its been a while - (SORRY, but I got into grad school and this one site had to suffer, gonna fix that), but its a great time to get something going!!!

As of now, consider this site back up and running!!!

WHAT A WAY TO START!!  So if you read last year's blog post : http://www.elpoetamendez.blogspot.com/2011/12/holiday-bloggin.html
then you know what time it is!!

This year, the lovely Icess Fernandez has done it again, organizing well over 15 to 20 bloggers to present to you written works dealing with Holidays. I am honored to be the first one up to get the party started. She has done a knock out job,  getting things going and its great to have a second chance to share some time and writing. 

So sit back, get a cup of chocolate and enjoy this first read.

Last year I did a story about my family for Christmas, so this year, I wanted to get back to basics and do what I do best, poetry. This piece is still my family, but instead of it in Galveston, Its in Jalisco.

The piece should speak for itself.