My Wife Had A Book Signing In San Antonio

 

My wife Ann Marie Leimer had a book signing and lecture in San Antonio this past weekend. We had an opportunity to see friends and also go out dancing. Fun times.

Photos:

Annie and I having a beverage at an outdoor San Antonio Tejano dance club.

Annie at the Ruiz-Healy Art Gallery.

Annie preparing for her presentation at a San Antonio Hotel.

My wife with our good friend Dr. David Montejano of UC Berkeley.

César Estrada Chávez: Lost But Not Forgotten Photographs

When I get really bored, I scan old negatives and slides. Recently I found a series on César Estrada Chávez. I remember printing, publishing and exhibiting many of them. This one in particular, I never reproduced. I felt it was about time.

This series of photographs were taken in San José, California in the early 70s. It was at a benefit concert for the United Farmworkers Union. Chavez was in attentendance. I have seen the UFW leader many times before. He was not a stranger in San José.

I have two examples of the photo. One is full frame and the other is cropped. Since I shot the black and white photograph with my Hasselblad medium format camera. The pictures are quite sharp. Feel free to contact me should you have any questions about this and any of my photographs. My website is www.JMMGarza.com. 

Copyright 2022 Jesús Manuel Mena Garza. All rights reserved. JMMGarza@Gmail.com

Corporate Friendly Museum of the American Latino?

(ArtWeek) The forthcoming National Museum of the American Latino in Washington, D.C., has named Jorge Zamanillo as its inaugural director, beginning May 2. He will take over for Eduardo Díaz, director of the Smithsonian’s Latino Center, who has served as the institution’s interim director while the search for a permanent director was underway.

Managed by the Smithsonian Institution, the new museum was established by Congress in December, along with the American Women’s History Museum, “to illuminate the story of the United States for the benefit of all by featuring Latino contributions to the art, history and culture of the nation since its early history.”

Zamanillo is currently the executive director of the HistoryMiami Museum in Florida, which is a Smithsonian Affiliate institution. During his tenure, he organized numerous exhibitions, including “Operation Pedro Pan: The Cuban Children’s Exodus” in 2015 and a rehang of the museum’s permanent collection galleries, titled “Tropical Dreams: A People’s History of Southern Florida,” and helped establish its Center for Photography. He started at the institution as a curator of object collections in 2000 and was promoted to senior curator and then deputy director before becoming executive director. In addition to managing the HistoryMiami Museum’s $6.2 million budget, Zamanillo spearheaded a $45 million expansion project that was completed in 2016.

In a statement, Smithsonian Secretary Lonnie G. Bunch III, who was founding director of National Museum of African American History and Culture when it opened in 2016, said, “Jorge’s accomplishments at HistoryMiami Museum highlight his commitment to exploring the full sweep of the American story by bringing to life the complex and profound narratives of Latinos in the United States. His transformational leadership will be invaluable as we build this necessary museum from the ground up, helping us create a robust, dynamic, responsive museum that exemplifies what a 21st-century cultural institution should be.”

Zamanillo was selected from a 10-person committee that included Díaz; Anthea Hartig, director of the National Museum of American History; Kevin Young, director of the National Museum of African American History and Culture; Taína Caragol, curator for Latino art and history at the National Portrait Gallery; and Kevin Gover, Under Secretary for Museums and Culture, who served as chair.

In a statement, Zamanillo said, “The Latino experience is American history, and I want to make sure our story will be preserved for future generations. This museum will celebrate Latino accomplishments and resiliency through powerful stories that capture the adversity faced over centuries by Latinos in the U.S. and their perseverance to move forward and create a legacy.”

The Holidays

"I am grateful to live one more day." JMMGarza 112221

I'm at home remembering that many of my friends and family have departed. Instead of feeling bad for ourselves and our loss. It's important to remember that many others around the world have suffered their entire life. They've never felt free of pain and suffering. 

My departed parents and friends enjoyed most of their lives. Today, I celebrate another day of contentment because of their struggle. You are missed. En paz descanze. #Christmas #Holidays #Hannukah

Chicano Photography Patrons Wanted!

 If you are able, become a JMM Garza Photography Patron. Thanks. http://www.jmmgarza.com/patreon

Chicanx and Latinx RVers

More Latinos are enjoying the RV lifestyle. Just like you, Latinos enjoy traveling with their families and enjoying the great American outdoors. Taking the kids fishing, biking and hiking. My wife and I are prime examples of couple's campers. Latinos are building RVs too! From making, to purchasing and enjoying the outdoor lifestyle. Latinos are changing the RVing world. It's time to take notice America. #LatinoRVer #LatinoCamper

Download FREE PowerPoint and PDF: Teatro Chicano 1974

 Keeping it super simple. I created an easy to use FREE PowerPoint presentation and PDF. Just go to my website to download. It's that simple. The project is called, Teatro Chicano 1974. Here's the link: https://chicanophotographer.myportfolio.com/teatro-chicano-powerpoint-presentation

#Chicano #Chicana #Chicanx #TeatroChicano #CentroCultural #JMMGarza

 I've lived in many college towns. Both in Texas and California. Universities have varying degrees of civic interaction. From insular to interactive. 

Let me detail my experiences. I started life in the San Francisco Bay Area near SJSU and I currently reside in Fort Worth near TCU. 

I'm going to subjectively rate these schools from 1 to 5. Five being "very involved" in the community.

UCLA photography lecture. 2011

SJSU -3

Stanford -2

UC Berkeley - 2

UCLA - 5

CSULA - 4

UT Austin - 4

Midwestern State - 4

TCU - 1

TCU wants you to go to their football, baseball and basketball games. That's where they make money. Sadly, their primary community art gallery is located in a tiny strip mall off campus. Not much there.

UC Berkeley and Stanford are the proverbial ivory towers. It's all about academics and they don't offer much programming for the public. But they do much better than TCU.

UCLA is heavily involved in the Los Angeles arts and culture scene. When I lived in Southern California, it seemed every week there was either a lecture, an exhibition or an event my wife and I would find interesting. Same with CSULA.

So there you are. These are my impressions of various universities I've experienced. I loved going to UCLA and UT Austin. Too bad conservative TCU, just 10 minutes away, is a stick in the mud. I'd rather be in Austin or LA. Or in the Bay Area near my familia.

A Chicano Visits the Rez

A few years back I was the News Director at a radio station near the Arizona San Carlos Apache Rez. During my time there I met many of the local Apache leaders.

One of my favorite discussions was with Ola Cassadore Davis. She was quite vocal on Apache issues and traveled internationally. In one conversation I was elaborating about border issue between Mexico and the USA. She responded, "You are both theives!"

I covered many meetings and events in Arizona during my tenure at the radio station. When I tried to cover a Rez council meeting, the leadership would immediately cancel the session. My experience dealing with Rez NDNs was confrontational to say the least. 

I met several San Carlos Apache Rez leaders who had large ranches and all the material trappings. Others who were just on the dole. My time in the region taught me a lot. One is that being a Chicano doesn't gain me entre into the nations. Many prefer that you stay far away. That you stay apart. #apache #SanCarlosApache #rezlife

My Chicanocentric Photography Website

For more than half a century, I (Jesús Manuel Mena Garza) have captured photos and shot film (now video) for clients and exhibition. Today, I am still busy creating art. I have attached a link to my Chicanocentric website where you can download photographs. My general website is JMMGarza.com. Feel free to contact me should you have questions, suggestions or comments. Here is the link to my new Chicanocentric website: https://chicanophotographer.myportfolio.com

Flor del Pueblo Zoom Event

A conversation with San Jose's

Flor del Pueblo.

A Zoom Facilitated Event

Thursday, April 22, 2021

8:00 PM to 10:00 PM CDT

Link to registering for the Zoom event:

https://www.eventbrite.com/e/sjsu-luis-valdez-speakers-series-flor-del-pueblo-tickets-148840575167

The Luis “El Machete” Valdez Annual Speakers Series honors the work and accomplishments of people of Mexican ancestry in the areas of social justice, community involvement, culture, politics, and the arts. Past speakers have included Luis Valdez, Blanca Alvarado, and Dr. José Carrasco.

This year’s guest speakers will be the members of the San José-based Flor del Pueblo, one of the most influential musical ensembles of the Chicana/o Movement whose music inspired activism for social justice with local roots and intergenerational reach.

Formed in the 1970’s through their participation with different South Bay Teatro Chicano groups. Including El Teatro Campesino. The members of Flor del Pueblo, (Ed Robledo, Deborah Rodríguez, Felipe Rodríguez, Francisco Rodríguez, Ben Cadena, Yolanda Pérez, Ramiro Pérez, Enrique Castillo, Clay Shanrock, and Richard Garcia) found a meaningful avenue of engagement through the arts with the ideals of the Movimiento Chicano. 

Members of the group were active at numerous events, including being on stage at the Chicano Moratorium on August 29, 1970, when police violence broke a peaceful demonstration. Their 1977 recorded album, Música de Nuestra América, established a new sound of Movimiento music with the incorporation of Latin American protest music influences on Chicana/o Movement music as well as the group's unique vocal style.

Featured speakers:

Deborah Rodríguez-Garcia, Yolanda Pérez, Ed Robledo, Francisco Rodríguez, Enrique Castillo, and Ben Cadena

About the Department of Chicana and Chicano Studies at San José State University

The mission of the Chicana and Chicano Studies Department is to serve SJSU students and diverse communities through an interdisciplinary Chicana/o Studies Program that is based on principles of education for Social Justice. The program prepares students to critically examine and address intellectual traditions and contemporary issues resulting from race, ethnicity, class, and gender intersections in Chicana/o-Latina/o and other communities.

Co-sponsored by SJSU Chicana and Chicano Studies Department, Aspire/McNair Trio Programs, La Raza Historical Society of Santa Clara Valley, SJSU School of Music and Dance, the Department of Anthropology and the Department of Sociology & Interdisciplinary Social Sciences at SJSU.

Event link will be sent via Eventbrite and updated on Eventpage for livestream closer to the event date.

 https://www.eventbrite.com/e/sjsu-luis-valdez-speakers-series-flor-del-pueblo-tickets-148840575167