Making connections with local leaders

Making connections with local leaders
By, Lenin Silva

"El Chamuco" by Jesus Olivares on display at the INKA shop in Indio 

On the morning of Friday December 12, The Crisalida team had an opportunity to meet with two coachella Valley locals who have made a difference in their community, Jesus Olivares, local artist, graphic designer, and founder of INKA Screen Printing & Embroidery in Indio, and Beatriz "Bea" Gonzalez, community activist and program director of After School Education and Safety (ASES) program for the Eastern Coachella Valley.

Jesus Olivares (left) showing David Gonzalez (right) pictures of art shows that have been held at INKA

 The team met with Jesus Olivares first at his shop/studio in Indio a little before 10:00A.M. Jesus gave the team a tour of his shop as he related experiences he has had as an artist and business owner in The Coachella Valley.

Jesus Olivares giving David Gonzalez a tour around the INKA shop in Indio 

The team also had the opportunity to meet with local community activist, and program director of ASES for the Eastern Coachella Valley Beatriz "Bea" Gonzalez at her office on Church St. in Thermal, Ca. Ms. Gonzalez shared with the team her experiences as the program director of ASES and the passion she has for the work she is doing.

Beatriz "Bea" Gonzalez and David after the team's meeting in Thermal

"I see myself in these kids, they are me," she related. "Our after school programs deal primarily with the arts, I don't like it when kids just cut paper and glue things, or make the turkey's with an outline of their hand, I want them to learn how to read music, and be taught art from local artists."

Bea Gonzalez showing David artwork that she has on display in her office

Ms. Gonzalez mentioned how much pride she has in the ASES drumline program, and how it seems to be one of the most attractive after school programs for youth in the area. She notes that these past couple years some of the kids that have gone through the ASES program in elementary or middle school have now graduated college and started working with ASES, "some of the kids that were in the program early have gone full circle and come back to serve their community.

Both individuals expressed interest in working with The Crisalida Team for future projects, and the team looks forward to see how it may be of service to them and the community. Special thanks to Jesus Olivares and all the folks at INKA, and Bea Gonzalez! for sharing some of their time and experiences with the Crisalida Team.

Carlos Garcia's "Luna Mala" Table Reading at The Coachella Valley Arts Center

Carlos Garcia's "Luna Mala" Table Reading at The Coachella Valley Arts Center

By, David Gonzalez & Lenin Silva

A copy of the "Luna Mala" play folks who read used during the table reading 

The power of theater was in full form Saturday evening at the Coachella Valley arts Center in Indio. Carlos Garcia's moving play "Luna Mala" was performed by seven intrepid actors before of an appreciative audience. The performance began a little past 6:00P.M. with Carlos Garcia giving a brief introduction about himself and his play. 

David Gonzalez (left) with the author of "Luna Mala," Carlos Garcia (right) after the table reading of "Luna Mala"

Before the reading began Mr. Garcia related how much of this play was based on his life experiences growing up in Texas. "Luna Mala" tracks the downfall of a young Chicano somewhere in a border town in Texas during the early 60's - 70's as he encounters a slew of obstacles, meeting each one with a bad choice... needless to say it all ends badly. Shakespeare set the tone for tragedy and Mr. Garcia's play transposes it into our present time.  

Critique and discussion about the table reading for "Luna Mala" at the Coachella Valley Arts Center

It was a hearty discussion, with lots of good ideas and suggestions for future involvement with the Latino theater community in the east valley.

A big thank you to Bill Schinsky for letting us use his wonderful space at CVAC!!!

Laying it down! Giant and Verz, DMHS, Galilee Center, 24th St. Theater!!!

They won hearts and minds, and that's what really counts.  Giant and Verz kicked it hard and with big love at the Tilted Kilt Open Mic Final last Wednesday night...no, they didn't win the grand prize but definitely came away with new fans and heaping dose of positive energy.  It was a joy to coach these guys.  Check em out...

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Thursday morning 7AM, after a LATE night with Giant and Verz...the day began at Carlos Garcia's black box studio theater/classroom at the Desert Mirage High School in Thermal.  Three back-to-back classes learning by doing; voice, body, text and style...in a funky bi-lingual flow with these curious kids.

Theater class at Desert Mirage High School

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Thursday afternoon started with a coaching session with an aspiring playwright/actor from Indio, Reggie Davis.  We talked at length about his love of art and theater, and about his ambition to find a way to continue studying, hopefully in LA or another larger city, and about overcoming obstacles...something he knows a lot about.  

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Back to the Galilee Center in Mecca -- this time to get a first-hand taste of the line, the people, the love...

Galilee Center, Mecca, distribution day.

90 minutes of fast and grateful food-banking.

Galilee Center, Mecca, fresh Tilapi in a sack!

Galilee Center, Gloria and Serafim.

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Friday brought me to the award-winning, ground-breaking, and very hip 24th Street Theater in Los Angeles.  

Jay McAdams, co-founder with Debbie Devine of The 24th Street Theater in LA.

Jay McAdams, Executive Director, was waiting for me in the lobby and took me into the inner sanctum -- the wondrous and funky theater, where Artistic Director, Debbie Devine was working with actors on scenes from the simply gorgeous "Walking the Tightrope" which I saw in Pittsburgh last winter, and which will tour to 8 cities this fall (including four shows for bused-in students at the McCallum!)

Watching rehearsal of the award-winning Walking the Tightrope...touring to the McCallum in October.

Jay and I talked about the goals for the Crisalida Project.  The 24th Street Theater received a grant from the Irvine Foundation last year so we had a lot of common ground.  We talked about setting up a "meet and greet" type gathering with LA Latino theater artists and teaching artists to begin establishing a "talent pool" to help realize Crisalida's mission.  They have been working without pause to make the theater a place where all people are welcome, and to that end have commissioned and produced a number of plays in Spanish and tour them to Mexico and South America.

I love my job.