THE CRISALIDA VAN!

THE CRISALIDA VAN! 
By, Lenin Silva

The newly acquired Crisalida van pre-modifications still in the LA area (Van Nuys)

On Friday the 19th of December the Crisalida team took its first step in acquiring the long awaited Crisalida Art's van. That friday I had the opportunity to drive out to the LA area to make the purchase of the van on behalf of the Crisalida team and also pick up the vehicle registration from Amy Bertram, the former owner of the van.

Former owner of the Crisalida van Amy Bertram signing the registration document over to the Crisalida team 

For some time now the team has speculated what may be possible with a mobile Crisalida van. Such projects as a mobile art studio where team members may give art workshops, art exhibitions, movie screenings, listening projects, and countless other ideas have been in the Crisalida thinkshop for some time. Now with the acquisition of the Crisalida van it is only a matter of time before the team has the opportunity to get their feet in the water and actualize some of these projects.

Former owner of the Crisalida van Amy Bertram exhibiting the various features of the van

Farewell to David and notes from the team meeting at the Ranch

Farewell to David and notes from the team meeting at the Ranch 
By, Lenin Silva

The team, post meeting, at the ranch bidding a farewell to David as he leaves to the LA area then to the East Coast the following day (left to right: Sofia Enriquez, Lenin Silva, Gina Chapa, David Gonzalez, missing is Jonathan Becerra)

On the evening of Friday 19, 2014 the Crisalida team had a meeting at David's rented house (our Rancho!)  where the team had an opportunity to update each other and provide individual summaries of their experiences since David's arrival the week before, and also to speculate on the upcoming short term and long term endeavors of the Crisalida project.

The team summed up the activities that had taken place the week prior and critiqued what went well and what needed work. A couple notable events was the acquisition of the Crisalida van, and the addition of Lucinda Perez as the Crisalida Art's Project accountant/secretary, and Gina Chapa, as a Crisalida team supervisor, manager of formal documentation, and manager of projects pertaining to the van. 

Aside from relating to each other notes from the meetings that had taken place up until this point. The team got a chance to speculate on the future projects that are in the works. One is the Crisalida listening booth that will be on site at the Galilee Center in Mecca on January 8, 2015. Another point of discussion was the upcoming multimedia festival. where the setting of the event will be, and what projects will be actualized. 

Perhaps what took up most of the discussion was talk and speculations on what will happen once the newly acquired Crisalida van has it's modifications done and is operational. Sofia Enriquez, the Crisalida member who has her finger on the pulse of the art world, had a notebook full of ideas and projects waiting to be put into action. 

Such projects included mobile art workshops, that may be taken to events, housing complexed, and local communities once the van is ready. Having mobile art exhibitions was also an idea that got some momentum, it entailed having established local artist donate some of their art and have it on exhibit with the van. So if there was an event or etc. the crisalida team may have a mobile art exhibit ready to roll out and display on site. The team also talked about potential plans to exhibit the van at the Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival the upcoming April of 2015 once the Crisalida van is fully modified and operational.

After all the important notes were touch on, at the conclusion of the meeting, the team bid farewell to David, and David bid farewell to the team by serenading the folks in attendance with a poem and a song accompanied by the playing of his guitar. 

Look out for the Crisalida van at community events around the Coachella valley starting early March 2015 or sooner. 

Discovering the Arts at the Indio Teen Center & the Coachella Valley Housing Coalition

Discovering the Arts at the Indio Teen Center & the Coachella Valley Housing Coalition
By, Lenin Silva

Director of the Indio Teen Center (ITC), Rosalva Campos (right), giving David Gonzalez (left) a tour of the ITC

On the week of December 15, 2014 the Crisalida team had the opportunity to met with Rosalva Campos, director of the Indio Teen Center, and also make connections with Joe Mota and folks from the Coachella Valley Housing Coalition.

David Gonzalez (left) meeting ITC recording artist and assistant at the ITC's recording studio Julian Venegas (right)

The Crisalida team got an in depth tour of the ITC thanks to Ms. Campos. Countless services are offered to youth school year round from weekday afternoons to evenings. Programs ranging from computer labs, graphic arts activities, arcade and billiard facilities, indoor boxing gym and classes, intergenerational activities with conjunction of the local Indio Senior Center, and a studio quality music recording studio available to youths 8th grade through 12th.

Rosalva Campos (left) giving David Gonzalez (right) a tour of the ITC's boxing facilities

Ms. Campos related to the Crisalida team that the ITC's Boxing center is state of the art and open to all youth. It's counterpart gym at the Indio Boy's and Girls Club is more competitive and has the Diaz brothers, Ms. Campos related. Despite the more competitive nature and celebrity trainers, the ITC also has an experienced boxing trainer who is dedicated to training youth and providing athletic guidance to kids at the ITC.

Rosalva Campos (left) and David Gonzalez (right) observing an intergenerational art project done by kids from the ITC in conjunction with their counterparts at the Indio Senior Center

The team concluded the meeting with Ms. Campos by preliminarily setting dates for future engagement with the Crisalida and the ITC. David speculated that perhaps the program may find some "synergy" by actualizing one of our Storycorps inspired "Listening/StoryTelling" projects. Another potential vehicle for collaboration that was speculated on was the assisting in connecting Mr. Venegas, the ITC's music studio guru, with some of the local Hip-Hop artist the Crisalida program has befriended (RowLow, Mario A. Giant, AZ, etc.) in the past couple months since its inception and seeing what type of collaborations might develop through those relationships. David also suggested potentially organizing Crisalida art, literature, and music workshops at the ITC.

The Coachella Valley Housing Coalition's logotype on display outside of their Indio office building 

The Crisalida team also had the opportunity to meet with Joe Mota, a local community leader, and a director at the Coachella Valley Housing Coalition (CVHC). The CVHC is a non-profit organization dedicated to helping less affluent families in need of housing to attain affordable shelter in state of the art housing facilities through the greater Coachella valley. Folks from the CVHC estimate that they serve up to 15 to 20 thousand individuals through their reach who otherwise would be homeless or significantly struggling to make ends meet when it comes to housing affordability.

David Gonzalez (left), Joe Mota (middle), Lenin Silva (right), after the Crisalida CVHC meeting 

Mr. Mota shared that the CVHC organizes countless activities aimed at enriching the lives of the folks who participate in their housing program. The CVHC has housing centers throughout the Coachella valley where programs such at movies at the park, computer literacy, and youth/intergenerational art workshops/activities, are organized by the staff of the CVHC either within themselves or in councutions with outside individuals/organizations. David and Mr. Mota in conjunction with CVHC communications director, Nadia Villagran, speculated potential points of collaboration between the Crisalida project and activities that take place at the CVHC. The first preliminarily scheduled event between the two organizations was a film documentary by Crisalida of a toy drive held by CVHC youth where kids would deliver gifts to seniors living at CVHC facilities. Other points of collaboration included potentially a movies at the park Crisalida listening tent, and potential Crisalida art (youth, all ages, and/or intergenerational) workshops (and/or art exhibitions) to take place at some of the CVHC  housing centers.


Special thanks to Rosalva Campos, from the Indio Teen Center for courteously hosting and giving the Crisalida team a in-depth tour of their facility and thanks also to Joe Mota from the Coachella Valley Housing Coalition for sharing some of his time and providing the Crisalida project with opportunities to potentially collaborate with them in the future. 

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.

A Festival is Born.

By Jon Becerra

Last night I was determined to lead. I wanted the first meeting to be a gathering of like-minded artists who were ready to make something amazing; to make an art show like no one has ever seen. There was going to be a white board, charts, and facts and details punched out by the end of the night. But, art is an organic process. 

(From Left: Sofia, Lucinda, Venessa, Gina, Paulina, Jon and Chris)

(Cooking and Photo by David Gonzalez)

We gathered family style with delicious food and just started talking. 

And, in the best possible way, the meeting seemed to feel more like the start of a good book club rather than a rigid board meeting. All the structure we needed was just the ability to have a real conversation. 

We talked about our hopes and our ideals for the art show we planned on creating. We discussed the art and artists that excited us individually. I even learned about exciting events and artists I’ve never heard of. It was great. We got to take off our ‘social-worker’ hats and just go on about art and our home and community we all love (The Coachella Valley). 

More interesting was that all of our ideas organically went towards supporting and showcasing the local artists of the Coachella Valley. Even when we tried to be as selfish as possible with our ideas for the art show, no one really could shake off the sense of support for the Coachella Valley artists. We agreed collaboration and community would be a big aspect of the art festival we want to create. 

It’s always exciting to meet like-minded individuals. However, last night felt like something bigger. I think we all left he Crisalida Clubhouse knowing that we were on track to create something truly great for the East Valley art scene and I'm excited about the Vision we all move towards. 

The Day of the Virgen de Guadalupe in Thermal and Mecca - WOW!

The Day of the Virgen de Guadalupe in Thermal and Mecca - WOW!

I'm rushing out to a new play reading by the wonderful Carlos Garcia at Coachella Valley Arts Center in Indio so quickly putting up these pix in the meantime to share the world I'm discovering.  Thanks to Gina Chapa for being my guide!!

THERMAL

Procession led by folks from PUEBLO UNIDO through two mobile home parks where they are working to provide better living environmental health.

Sister Gabi, instant friend!

MECCA

Procession and festival in honor of the Virgen de Guadalupe -- amazing community spirit!!

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!!!

Locolandia Live!

Locolandia Live!

By, Lenin Silva

During one of the opening performances at the "Locolandia Live!" event

On Thursday the 11^th of December 2014, the Crisalida-Arts project, along with College of the Desert’s Mark’s Art Center, and Riverside County’s Department of Mental Health’s program, “Cup of Happy,” hosted a night of live poetry, spoken word, and musical performances inspired by Lalo Alcaraz’s art on display in Palm Desert California at College of the Desert’s Mark’s Art Center presents “Locolandia Live!”

The penultimate spoken word oration recited at the conclusion of "Locolandia Live!"

The night’s events began a couple minutes past 6:00P.M. Crisalida-Arts project Manager, David Gonzalez, was host and master of ceremonies for the night. Dr. Lisa Soccio, art director and curator of the Marks Art Center, could be seen fastidiously prepping upcoming performers as Mr. Gonzalez opened the night with a poem he had prepared for the occasion.

People in attendance at "Locolandia Live!"

About 25 to 30 people were originally expected, but around the climax of the event there was easily 65 to 80 people in attendance. From College of the Desert (COD) students, to COD faculty, and other local students and educators, the audience in attendance was a potpourri of individuals.

A spoken word performance accompanied by electric guitar background music.

Local artist, and Hip-Hop performers such as RowLow, and Mario A. Giant were in attendance and highlighted the event with a poem/performance. Co-Founder of “Teatro de las Chicanas,” Chicana and women’s rights activist Felicitas Nuñez, also made her way out to Locolandia and presented a lecture on the yonic symbology of “Our Lady of Guadalupe” (The Virgin Mary). Ms. Nuñez related the iconoclastic and syncretistic properties that may be observed in postcolonial Mesoamerican art such as the incorporation of indigenous culture into colonial (European influenced) art, in this case The Virgin Mary.

A young woman who painted her face in the style of La Calavera Catrina 

There was a 15 minute intermission where the folks in attendance were welcomed to tour the Mark’s art Gallery and observe Lalo Alcaraz’s art that was on display there. Mr. Alcaraz was kind enough to supply College of the Desert with about thirteen original prints of his syndicated comic strip cartoon “La Cucaracha,” which may be found on the LA Times Sunday edition, and countless other newspapers across the country.

An audience member observing some of Lalo Alcaraz's work during the intermission at "Locolandia Live!"

Initially the event began with folks reciting poems, songs, and/or spoken word orations inspired by one of Mr. Alcaraz’s prints on display at the Marks Art Gallery. As the night concluded the event turned into an open mic night as folks who wanted to speak but were not prepared jumped on stage and improvised an oration not necessarily inspired by Mr. Alcaraz’s art.

Master of Ceremonies at "Locolandia Live!" David Gonzalez, closing the night with a poem.

The concluding moments leading up to the event’s conclusion resembled a jazzed up 1960’s beatnik poetry reading as Mr. Gonzalez and two of the other performers (one on an electric guitar, and another playing a homemade drum set configured out of a rectangular wooden box and steal drum appendages) closed the night with a call and response type performance with engaged the audience to become part of the performance. The night concluded with a spoken word poem accompanied by the guitar player and wooden box drummer.