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Broomfield artist Robert Dussart honored at Cinco

Contributed by: renee fajardo on 4/9/2008

Chicano Humanities and Art Council presents
Return of the Corn Mothers: A 30 Year celebration of CHAC
May 2nd- May 31st 2008

By Renee Fajardo


The Chicano Humanities and Art Council, 772 Santa Fe Drive, host a 30 year anniversary celebration with an extravaganza of art, story, food and music. To honor the success of Denver's oldest continually operating artist co-op dedicated to promoting the art and culture of Chicano/Latino art, a month long showcase titled, " Return of the Corn Mothers: A 30 year celebration of CHAC" will begin festivities with a free Cinco de Mayo/ First Friday concert by nationally renown L.A. based musician Martin Espino from the band Mexika, a blessing ceremony by Aztec dance troupe Huehueteotl and a meet and greet with the shows featured artist , free food, and spectacular art show on May 2nd from 6-9 p.m. at the CHAC gallery.

The theme of the show is based on the Pueblo mythology of the Corn Mothers who were said to have sung in the essence of all creation including the sacred Katchinas of the South West. The shows content is said to be one of the most unique exhibitions to come to Denver. The focal point of the showcase is a photo journalist exhibition of women from Colorado, New Mexico, Arizona and Texas who have earned accolades for their community activism and creative endeavors. This photo display was the recipient of the prestigious 2007/08 Rocky Mountain Women's Institute fellowship award and will begin a year long tour with the premier at CHAC.

Visual artist Arlette Lucero of Art Reach fame known for her feminist art, Meggan De Anza award winning Santera and print artist, Holly Wasigner former Art Street community muralist, Santiago Jaramillo Aztec and Mexika muralist join rock and stone relief artist Mike Penny, photo journalist Todd Pierson along with beat poet Suzanna Vega, storyteller Carl Ruby and legendary master embroidery folk artist Rita Wallace from Mexico as the tour de force from the CHAC gallery. They are joined by with three guest artist; Li Harding acclaimed African American sculptor, Evelyn Valdez Martinez award winning San Luis Valley painter, and the late Robert Lopez Dussart a renowned Native American portrait artist. Together this dynamic mix of energy and talent explores and highlights the rich cultural heritage of Colorado's creative spirit.

In keeping with the theme of the show every piece of art reflects the bounty of the earth, the regenerative nature of life and the contributions of women in through out the vast south west territories. It is a deeply emotional show full of color and texture. From the intricate weavings of Mexico to the vibrant paintings of the Tarahumara to the almost ethereal stone carvings this is a show that will conjure images of the ancient while promising a new beginning. "It is something you would expect to see in Santa Fe" said long time CHAC board member Stevon Lucero, an internationally recognized Chicano visionary. "It is so full of diverse mediums and cutting edge work."

Lucero added "This is kick off celebration is just the beginning of a whole month and a whole year of special events to really express the talent and power behind CHAC's success. Martin Espino came all the way from California to be here for this event and the work is beyond imagination. This is the cream of the crop. It is one event not to miss.....museum quality work by real living legends, mind blowing!"

Lucero also pointed out that the " CHAC" experience is about the mixture of cultural heritage within the Chicano community including Mexican, Indian, European, Asian and African influences. The gallery also received a special donation from Yoko Ono for auction in honor of their 30 year anniversary.

Historically CHAC was founded in 1978 by a group of visual and performing artist as a place where Chicano/Latino artists were provided with a venue to explore the visual/performance arts and to promote and preserve the Chicano/Latino culture through the expression of the arts. Don Cardenas former channel six staff member, Lorenzo Trujillo and the late Enrique Montoya both of Ballet Folklorico fame, Carlos Santistevan Spanish Market Santero, visual artist Juan Salazar, Stevon Lucero, and Al Sanchez were the original founding members.

This small core group was formed as a direct result of a project called the City Walls Project where in the summer of 78 Lucero, Santistevan, Carlos Sandoval, Jerry Jaramillo, Fred and Al Sanchez designed and painted murals in and around Denver. The most famous of these murals being in the North Lincoln Projects and La Familia Recreation Center.

"Carlos Santistevan did a lot of organizing and pulling together these meetings to formalize us into a cohesive group of artist." Said Lucero. "We also met with a Hispanic task force from Washington D.C. to help the National Endowment for the Arts gather information on Hispanic art. See at that time we could not even get our foot in the door of any galleries. Every one thought we were just a bunch of radical La Raza rebels and couldn't possibly be serious as artist. We knew if we were to be taken seriously we had to organize and promote our own art."

Later women such as the renowned muralist Carlota Espinoza, Maria Zimmerman and teatro story teller Geraldine Lawson would join the ranks of what was to become known as CHAC. Rick Manzaneres now curator of the Fort Garland Museum became president in the 80's and catapulted the festival that would become a CHAC signature known today as the Chili Harvest Festival.

Lucero added that today CHAC is at a cross roads, where they have the capacity to become a permanent institution that is respected and supported nationally
"Museums are for the artifacts of the dead, places like CHAC are where those who aspire to be in museums get their training." Laughed Lucero. "Seriously we have had many famous artists come through here for instance Ramón Kelly and Immanuel Martinez both hugely successful and commercially viable. CHAC provides the community with a venue so artist have a home venue where they can hone their skills."

Lucero now thinks CHAC needs to take the next step forward. "There are grants from huge corporations those other non profit large arts organizations go after. These institutions that are supported by people who have money because they are in the lime light. We are grass roots but if we are to survive with all the competition out there we need to now go after the funding we deserve to do it. Crystal O' Brien our Director is striving to get us there, but she needs help from those who have made it commercially and the community."

Carlos Santistevan, who open one of the countries very first Chicano art galleries in 1968 added that " CHAC originally was formed to give Chicano art form a voice. We still have to struggle today , if you look around it is norm to lump all Hispanic art into one pot. South American art has it's own wonderful voice ,but it should not confused with Chicano, nor should we feel that just because we have a gallery or museum that show cases South American art we are covering the Chicano art movement. Our art form deserves to have recognition. The challenge for the next decade is make the new generation aware that they have their own voice and a rich cultural heritage that needs to be appreciated in it's own right. CHAC provides the venue now the rest of us must ensure they continue for the next 30 years."


The May 2nd celebration features a free concert at 8pm by Martin Espino who tours the United States and Mexico highlighting native instruments and music from the Americas. This will be his first visit to Denver. Aztec group Huehueteotl along with the Colorado Folk Arts Council have made it possible for Martin Espino to tour Colorado for the week prior to this concert. He will also perform two free concerts on May 5th at 11:30 am and 1pm at the Aurora Fox Theater 9900 E. Colfax in Aurora.

In addition to the Corn Mother Show at CHAC Norte , there will be a Santero show in the CHAC main gallery running May 2-31st featuring the work of Carlos Santistevan, Stevon Lucero, Jose Esquibel, Lena Blea and others.

Special workshops and lectures will take place through out May:
May 2nd Grand Fiesta celebration 6-9pm, May 3rd Spoken Word Poetry Slam 1pm and Storytelling 2-3pm ( CHAC Norte), May 10th Finding Meaning In Universal Symbols lecture 2pm ( CHAC Norte), May 17th Painting Sacred Places demo 2pm (CHAC Norte) and Children's Sculptor Workshop CHAC (Main Gallery) 2pm, May 24th Creating Ritual Workshop ( CHAC Norte) 2pm and May 31st Open Poetry ( CHAC Gardens) 2pm.

For more info contact CHAC at 303-571-0441 or visit www. Chacweb.org. or call the CFAC at 720-329-0869.




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CONTRIBUTOR INFORMATION

renee fajardo

arvada , CO

renee fajardo has posted 143 stories and 0 comments since joining on 4/1/2006. renee fajardo 's average story rating is 5.
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