Celebration of the Arts to showcase cultural diversity

There is something in this year's Celebration of the Arts that will excite everyone.

Hosted by Pueblo Community College, the annual Celebration will showcase a myriad of talent while maintaining a "cultural diversity" theme during its April 11-28 run. Activities are scheduled all day long on Thursday through Sunday for three weekends on PCC's Pueblo Campus. The event publication is an El Escritorio Publication. The publication cover image was done by Nathan Solano.

Included in the extravaganza are a film festival, a Native American powwow, exhibits by well-known artists, a gospel choir, a world famous band with Chicano roots, award-winning student displays, poetry and short story writing contests, Scottish bagpipers, several arts-related workshops, and much more!

Dr. Loco & the Rockin'' Jalapeño Band is one of the hottest and most innovative Chicano roots/ world music bands. The San Francisco Bay-area band will perform with its "get-down-and-dance" style on April 13. This blend of musicians explores the diversity of Chicano-Latino music through distinctly original reworkings of classics.

The Robert M. Young Film Festival is a tribute to the internationally renowned film director. Five of Young's films, starring Edward James Olmos, will be shown on April 18, and a reception will enable the public to meet the director. Young is a John Cassavetes winner for outstanding achievement in American independent filmmaking. A free public screening of Young's soon-to-be-released new film Caught will be held on the eve of the Festival.

Augustin Lira and Alma, an all-acoustic ensemble brings to life the Chicano/Latino experience through musical presentations and theatre. The group, which will perform April 26, presents original works by authors from throughout Latin America and is popular in many different cultures.

The Pikes Peak Highlanders is a Colorado Springs-based Scottish bagpipe and drum group that performs at festivals throughout the region. It is comprised of about two dozen men and women who share a deep love of both pipe music and performing, a fact that is evident in the way they play. They will perform April 27.

Native American poet/actor John Belindo has been involved in professional film and theatre, television narration, video and theatrical production, and professional modeling. On April 19, Belindo will conduct a theatre workshop, and judge a High School Scene Festival competition.

The House of Joy Choir is a twenty-five member gospel choir and band that celebrates the African-American art form. The blend of beautiful voices enables them to enjoy the mass appeal of diverse cultures. They will perform April 27.

While big-name national and international performers and artists will be spotlighted during the Celebration of the Arts, local talent will be featured as well. Among them will be artists Nathan Solano, Anthony Armijo, and Cheri Barnes-Prado, the Pueblo Friendship Powwow Association's Contesting Powwow, various area high school vocal groups, arts and crafts exhibitors, and several vocational-related contestants. There will even be a 5-kilometer (3.1 mile) walk/run on the morning of April 27.

Also part of the Celebration is the "Anne Frank in the World" art exhibit that will be on display at the Sangre de Cristo Arts and Conference Center.

Activities are open to the public. Most are free of charge, but tickets will be sold for some of the main events.

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A Commitment to Achieve
by Charlene Garcia Simms

Sculpture of César Chavez by Augustine Romero at El Centro del Quinto Sol Park at Sixth and Erie

Three years ago Augustine (Gus) Romero had his heart set on creating a sculpture of Emiliano Zapata to be placed at Zapata Park on the east side of Pueblo. He felt that there was a need to have a sculpture of a Mexican icon or role model that Hispanic children could look up to. He was sharing this dream with some friends when one of them suggested he sculpt César Chavez as a memorial since he had just died. Gus was intrigued by this idea. The more Gus learned about César the more he was impressed. Caesar Chavez, often called the Martin Luther King of Hispanic Americans, founded the United Farm Workers of America. He continuously fought for the well being and dignity of farm workers and their families.

Gus envisioned more than a sculpture. He wanted all the images in his design to be associated with the migrant worker. His design encompassed a base with the image of the Virgen de Guadalupe cut into it on which the bust of Caesar Chavez could be placed. He wanted a pyramid of 1-inch steel to rise around the bust and the pyramid topped by a large stainless steel eagle and surrounded by a large steel circle symbolizing the sun. The Virgen de Guadalupe would appear because she is a sign of revolutionary change and a presence in Hispanic culture. The effect of the design would allow her image to drift along the foreground. This image would allow the viewer to reflect on the stance of the farm worker who works in a back bending position everyday. By supporting the bust it would point out that César was an individual who had much faith. The pyramid would symbolize the very rich culture and noble past of farm workers from Mexico and Central America, while the eagle would symbolize the United Farmworkers logo and also a strong western and American image. The sun which brings light and growth to the earth also has been harsh to the farmworker. Except for the bronze bust and the concrete foundation the memorial would be all steel, an acknowledgment of Pueblo's history as a steel town. At the bottom of the bust would be César Chavez' words, "We are not beasts of burden. We are not agricultural implements or rented slaves. We are men."

Gus knew he didn't have the financing to do all this. However, he felt so strongly about getting it done that he has spent the last three years making presentations to sell his idea and has held grass root fund raisers all over the city to raise the money. He enlisted the help of other people. He asked Emilio Gonzales, welding instructor at Pueblo Community College if he would do the welding part of the sculpture. Mr. Gonzales advised Gus to enroll in a welding class at PCC where he would have the opportunity to do the welding himself. Leroy Martinez, also a welding instructor at PCC, helped Gus learn the art of welding. Gus is now only two classes away from being a certified welder. Others from the community, such as Jimmy Valentine, helped him with the engineering aspect, and Kenny Baum with the necessary equipment. Since the sculpture was going into a low income neighborhood he was given $1929 in Community Development Block Grant Money. Thanks to the generosity of several individuals and organizations from the community who donated money, and Brian Yoder who did a lot of the leg work, he has raised almost half the money needed to cover the cost of the memorial. Even people from outside the community such as author and poet, Jimmy Santiago Baca, helped to get the concrete donated by a Denver-based company and an electrician's union located in Colorado Springs contributed $500.

Today, except for two minor welds, the work is complete and Gus' dream is a reality. Gus will never be compensated for his time or money spent, but according to Gus that's not important. What is important is that many children from Pueblo will know who César Chavez was and what he stood for. He will not be forgotten. When viewing this art piece at Quinto Sol Park one can hear children playing and laughing. At times they'll stop and stare at the sculpture. If you catch the light at a certain angle you can see a halo around the Virgen de Guadalupe and right above the base the bronze sculptured bust of Caesar Chavez glows. Gus hasn't forgotten his dream of one day sculpting Emiliano Zapata, but for now he is in New York City on a scholarship from New York University where he is working on a master's degree in sculpture. He has a new respect for welding and is incorporating it into his work. The Broadcasting and Production Department of Pueblo Community College has produced a video on Augustine Romero and his sculpture that will be shown on Channel 39 during the Celebration of the Arts.

Caesar Estrada Chavez was born in Yuma, Arizona, on March 31, 1927. He died April 23, 1993, apparently in his sleep, at a relative's home in San Luis, California. His eldest son, Fernando stated that a 36 day fast in 1988 weakened his father. The fast was to protest the use of pesticides on California table grapes. This fast caused César to lose 19% of his body weight and he ended up with kidney damage. This was just one example of him sacrificing himself to improve the plight of the farm worker. He improved the condition of the farm workers by getting them basic rights such as clean drinking water and bathrooms in the fields. One of César's biggest successes was the passage of the Agriculture Labor Relations Act which was the strongest law ever passed to protect farm workers. César Chavez commanded respect from presidents and governors and became a hero to a new generation. In his study you could find pictures of those he most admired Robert Kennedy, Martin Luther King, Jr., and Mahatma Gandhi. Atop his desk sat a short-handled hoe, the back-breaking farm tool that he was instrumental in banning.