New Project: Poem-Lorenzo Martinez

photo by Andrew MacDonald


Lorenzo Martinez

flexed brazos and the sun melt
color into sugar beets adding that
special ingredient
making it sweeter
manos harvest the ground
to find micas, permisos
and reasons for living
callused skin crossed over
on the year of the rat
still holding the papers
to prove one’s worth
in the creases you can smell the labor
still read the misspelled name
see the hours labored and money earned
by just another number
wonder why no one ask the paper for its story
as it sits in box, tucked away with forgotten history.

rodrigo sanchez-chavarria

San Francisco: Day 3-Galeria de La Raza Performance

After a long night in San Jose, This last day we had the morning off. so i cooked some lomo saltado! and i actually ate fish (I am ashamed to be peruvian and not enjoy seafood). then we got down to business, we practiced our set, hoped lorena's health would improve. checked in with the kids ( a daily thing that made the travel much easier on my family,thank god for video chatting!)

chillaxed and then went to Galeria de La Raza.

i had heard about Galeria and the wonderful Mission District, for reals, this made me more homesick (for the motherland) but i loved being surrounded by brown people, brown stores and spanglish overall ( there was a washeteria and a burbujeria)

had some cafe con leche, then thanked the lady who let me use the bathroom at the washeteria ( i am really liking this term)


we saw las manas 3 perform, it was amazing. they were really good and gave us a glimpse into what Palabristas can be like.

it was our turn, we did our thing, brandon read his stump speech, lorena talked about her flint tongue and i flew in condor's wings. We let them know that Minnesota has some pretty good Brown Poets or as BLC puts it, brownies.

we received alot of love from the bay, from artists, like paul flores, marc, milta, las manas tres, molina soleil.

we had a great time...now time to create.

Day 2: Mission District School and MACLA Performance

On our second day, brandon, myself and David decided to get a brief tour of the uppity oakland area that mr. lacy campos found himself. as we walked around getting mean mugged by residents, we walked around the neighborhood and saw the flora and fauna and let the time get the best of us.

we ended up running a bit late to our workshop at a mission district high school. Milta (Marc's Fiance) has a writer's workshop with some 9th graders, all of them poc. We came in to talk about what we do, and share our work then get to writing. It was a wonderful experience! the kids loved us and mostly we loved them, for their willing to write and listen to us. they wished we could come every friday. We also wish the same thing.

after putting feelings with words on paper we went home and got ready for our show at MACLA, in San Jose.

At MACLA, we had 2 shows. met someone from ANOKA! we Minnesotans are everywhere. Met some new people, ate some pupusas ( pics will be provided by lorena) and went on our merry way back to oakland.

enjoy the pics.


visit to the school









MACLA, San Jose






more pictures

San Francisco: The Arrival

the flight got delayed twice, but overall the flight was good. there was this weird noise coming from the plane but if you been on planes in latin america, that is the least of your worries. me and lorena watched Man of the House on my psp and then got our isht and waited for marc.

The bay are reminds me of home, with the hills and the lights, kinda like lima at night.

but we got to brandon's and the beautiful home he is at!




brandon showed us around his place and the room i will be staying at. then we settled in. called home, and got ready to meet some local artists marc piñate gather at his place.



when we got to marc's place it so reminded me of the times of a peña in peru, people gathering in small places and great food (it was off the hook! the rice and the plantains). Made me feel welcomed and at home, talked to Paul Flores and his lovely family, talked about plays and what people are doing. how the arts scene in the bay area is strong. gave me hope and new inspiration to push what i am doing and show people what not only palabristas can do but what minnesota poet@s can do!

thanks marc and all the artists! thanks brandon! thank you all for the support!

i can say..


i am ready to rock the bay!

Remember tonight!


Friday Feb. 6th- San Jose

MACLA (Movimiento de Arte y Cultura Latino Americana)
Show Starts at 730pm

Movimiento de Arte y Cultura Latino Americana, Inc.
MACLA
510 South First Street San Jose, CA 95113
(408) 998-2783
info@maclaarte.org


http://www.maclaarte.org/2009events.html

One Year Later: El Cafe Open Mic Anniversary

"Its been more than a year and it started as a simple of discussion about exchanging work with an emerging writer.One event made it possible and now it has developed into a place in the heart of the Westside of St. Paul where voices young and old can express themselves"



This past Saturday January, 31st was a the anniversary of something that has become permanent event in my calendar but also in my life.

Open Mics gave birth to what i guess i can call my artistic career and i always wanted to be able to give that opportunity to someone else and over this past year, young kids, older poets, established poets, people like me and you have been able to express themselves through a microphone and shear determination.

I can say that it has been a journey filled with ups and down, but one worth fighting for. Call me old school, but for me the Westside has always been a special place. Whether its the history or the artists coming outta the green stairs (westsiders know what i mean) it has always had its grasp on the ever expanding Latin@ community of the Twin Cities.

that is the main reason for the creation of the open mic.to expand the possibilities of self expression through the power of the word.

i am fortunate to have a good support system ( thats you Tomas!) and determination to see this through.

The second year, shall be oh so much sweeter.

keep the last saturday of every month open and you will find out.

Thank you Tomas, El Guante and Katie Ka Vang for making this a memorable night.


rsc


Pictures from Anniversary





Katie Ka Vang




El Guante


People standing in the back


Tomas Silva


Jesse Ramirez


Hugo Wong Cardona


Toki Wright

for more pictures click on link
El Cafe Open Mic Anniversary Photos