[altroots] Re: Jose Torres Tama's "Inages of Youth" Performance in Alaska

Dear arte aficionados, poets, performance artists, patrones, cyber
publico & ROOTERsitos:

This is your friendly neighborhood performance artista coming to you very
vivo and lively from the land of no night--sin noche por aca. Yes,
amigos, I have had a three-week long day in Anchorage, and it is coming
to a close as the teens that I have been working with to develop another
fantastico "Youth Performance Project" will be transformed into young
performers this weekend at OUT NORTH Contemporary Art House. Again, I
have been privileged to work with an ethnically diverse group of youth
who will be presenting their writings, performance and video art talents
before the local community, speaking their minds concerning the effects
of television, Hollywood, pop culture, and the general invasive media on
their identity, race relations and their search for the "American Dream."

The project has drawn much attention from the local press, and there will
be about three stories coming out through the local Anchorage Daily
News--ay que rico! In addition, the local NPR station recorded a profile
on one of their radio programs featuring two of the young stars/artists
performing excerpts from their monologues and discussing the creative
process in the project--muy suave as the two young teen girls ages 14 and
16 were articulate and expressive. For a narrative on this project and to
sample some of the work that has developed, you can go directly to this
URL address of http://www.torrestama.com/alaska_youth on my web site.

This project has developed in collaboration with Seattle based video
artist Kelly Wilbur, who has guided the participants through the process
of creating video art which has become an integral element of the
ensemble performance. Her keen eye for video art composition has added a
strong visual and virtual video component to this performance project,
transforming it into a truly a multi-disciplinary work that includes the
spoken word, live music, video art, movement, and conceptual vignettes. 

So if you happen to be strolling or pasiando near Anchorage, come and see
some young people making art that matters, about their dreams, hopes and
fears. Through these Out North Youth Programs, this art center is
nurturing local talent to be the artists of tomorrow. This center is a
safe haven for freedom of artistic expression in this remote state that
has been overwhelmed by Christian conservatives--que pendejada. Like
VISA, they are everywhere we want to be, but long live the freedom to
make art that speaks of the difficult truths of our lives in this
collective trance called the United States. 

Over and out cyber gente and below is the press release on this project. 
As I often say in Sprench, "Asta la prochaine" 
and cuidado con el nacionalismo que ensiega/and beware of nationalism
that blinds! 

Jose Torres Tama - http://www.torrestama.com
or just call me Bond... Juan Bond from her Majesty's
Secret Salsa Service with a license to transport
subversive art across state lines. Viva el arte subversivo!

June 27, 2002 
OUT NORTH CONTEMPORARY ART HOUSE  IN ALASKA
PRESENTS 
PERFORMANCE ARTIST JOSE TORRES TAMA?S
YOUTH PERFORMANCE PROJECT 
Jose Torres Tama treads that dangerously vague turf of performance art
gracefully... with dexterity and daring. ---The Village Voice (New York)
Torres Tama is both a versatile writer who can be lyrically evocative as
well as bitingly humorous, and an impressive performer. ---The
Philadelphia Inquirer 
From June 10 ? 29, Out North Contemporary Art House in Anchorage, Alaska
is sponsoring a three-week residency by New Orleans performance artist
Jose Torres Tama. Within this time, the artist will develop a Youth
Performance Project with a diverse group of teens from Anchorage area
schools and introduce them to the genre of performance art as a medium
for self-expression.  Torres Tama will be collaborating with Seattle
video artist Kelly Wilbur to have the young participants explore "Images
of Youth" and their sense of place as teens in the remote state of
Alaska.
Through daily three-hour workshops conducted by the artist, the
participating youth will be guided through the process of creating an
original ensemble performance piece based on their personal experiences. 
The workshops focus on the development and writing of monologues, poems,
and ensemble improvisations.
The students are encouraged to "tell their story" as they define
themselves against a backdrop of popular culture in their search for the
American Dream.  Video artist Kelly Wilbur will instruct the teens on the
development of video as an art form as well as instruct them on the
process of documenting the workshops.  With Ms. Wilbur's guidance the
youngsters will create video shorts that will be fused with the actual
performance piece, incorporating video as an integral element of the
final ensemble performance.
The workshops take place from 10AM - 1PM at the Out North Theatre
facility located at 1325 Primrose in Anchorage.  The project will
culminate in a public performance of the teens? original performance
piece on Saturday, June 29 at 7PM at the Theatre.  For ticket information
call (907) 279-8099.
In 1996, the National Endowment for the Arts awarded Torres Tama a
"Regional Artists Project" Grant to develop $CASINOAMERICA$, and he is
the recipient of a 1999 Louisiana Theatre Fellowship.  Also. Torres Tama
is a contributing editor to ART PAPERS, a national arts magazine
published in Atlanta, and he has written for the Chicago New Art
Examiner, The Mexico City Times, and Urban Latino Magazine in New York. 
Visit his web site at WWW.TORRESTAMA.COM to learn more about his work and
tours.  His performances and lectures have been presented at numerous
venues and universities including Performance Space 122 in New York, NY;
DiverseWorks in Houston, TX; The Center for the Arts in Tucson, AZ; and
Duke, Cornell, Spelman, University of Michigan, Arizona State West and
Rutgers Universities. Torres Tama's performance work has been featured on
National Public Radio's All Things Considered and Latino USA.
UPCOMING SUMMER TOUR 2002:
Miami, FL: Tigertail Productions, ARTEMIS and Abriendo Puertas
Three-week "Youth Performance Project" Residency from July 8 - 27
New York, NY: The Nuyorican Poets' Cafe
"In Exile Close to the Equator" Performances from August 22 - 25 & 29 -
Sept. 1

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