Let's make this project happen!

SHE: BIKE/SPOKE/LOVE by FW bicyclist and writer Tammy Gomez is going to AUSTIN for performances along the hike/bike trail in the Spring of 2012.

And Tammy is doing the dollar holla – raising funds now. And YOU CAN HELP!

CLICK HERE for more info and to MAKE A PLEDGE. It's easy!

If you make a pledge of $5, 20, $50, $100, $400, you’ll not only be part of an amazing project, but you’ll get some cool perks for pledges $20 and up. Like getting your name/company listed on the bikespokelove.com website as a funder or “Big Wheel.”


“'Extreme' production fascinates with variety”
-Mark Lowry (FW Star-Telegram theater critic)

“It's extreme in that it involves bicycles, of various sizes and shapes, with the actors riding them around a small stage, close to the audience. But it's also extreme in how it fascinates with a variety of performance styles. It's modeled after hip-hop theater, using spoken word (the 'If I Hit It' passage was the best verbal moment), showboating (there's a bicycle stunt dude) and a turntablist (DJ SOL*LOS). There's also multimedia, live music and agitprop (the line about how we're 'choking on auto exhaust and government deceit' sums it up best). One thing's for sure, you'll probably never see anything else like it.”

(Photo credit: Shannon Atkinson)

For pledge forms (so you can donate by check), email Tammy: sound_culture(at)hotmail.com or reach her at 817.924.9188. THANKS!!!!

Listen to my story on NPR's "The Story" tonight, Jan. 31st, 2011

JUST found out that my interview for "The Story" radio program is going to be broadcast on National Public Radio TONIGHT!!!

(In the DFW metroplex, that means you can hear it on KERA 90.1 FM - 9pm)! ~
WOW, that's fast. We just recorded last Tuesday! ~ Check it out!

And if you won't be near a radio tonight, you can listen to the show online at 9pm,
streaming live via the KERA 90.1 website at:

http://www.kera.org/audio/

Also--You can listen to the archived podcast of my segment w/ host Dick Gordon:

http://thestory.org/



Let me know what you think - Gracias for listening!

My new show: PALABRA: The Written Word, Spoken --- opens tonight, Dec. 3, 2010!

19 poems, prose pieces, excerpt from a prison memoir, and scene from a play--each interpreted and dramatized for the stage by 8 talented performers who themselves are unique writers and musicians, dancers and actors. Two shows only: Friday and Saturday, December 3rd and December 4th, at the Rose Marine Theater, 1440 N. Main, Fort Worth, Texas. For more info, call the box office/theater at 817.624.8333.
(Or visit director Tammy Gomez' Facebook page: Tammy Melody Gomez.)



PALABRA: The Written Word, Spoken (La palabra escrita, hablada)
Viernes 3 y sábado 4 de diciembre @ 7:30 pm

Una noche de poesía latina nos presenta la palabra escrita de poetas hispanos.
Acompáñanos en esta producción especial en la que participan actores, bailarines y músicos interpretando piezas escritas por poetas de España, Latinoamérica y Estados Unidos.

Dirigido por Tammy Gomez. Evento Bilingüe.
Admisión General $15. Estudiantes y Adultos Mayores $10.
Para boletos o mas informacion llame al Teatro Rose Marine al 817-624-8333.
Tambien pueden comprar su boletos en linea www.rosemarinetheater.com.

Encore presentation of my one-woman show "Saliendo Abierta" on Sunday, July 11th at 7pm - FW, TX

[Please click on this flyer/poster image to see it in a bigger format.]

By special request, I am going to--once again--be sharing my story about being trapped in my bedroom closet for two and a half days. It's a dramatic stage work, with digital projected images and a live musical score (performed by Ramsey Sprague). I hope you'll want to come witness this encore performance.

Several women who are members of the Westside Unitarian Universalist Church--in my neighborhood--attended a performance of SALIENDO ABIERTA in May and immediately invited me to present this work to their congregation-at-large.

I'm very honored to see that my work touches people in ways that inspire and uplift. Also, it is very important that my performances reach people who may not be conventional theater-goers.

There's additional background info on the evolution of this work in this FW Weekly profile article by Jimmy Fowler that was published back in May.

You can also check out this video excerpt from SALIENDO ABIERTA, via YouTube:

If you can attend on Sunday--great! If you have previous plans or can't attend for other reasons, please help spread the word anyway!

Thanks so much for your love and support.

My latest show - "Saliendo Abierta" - opens next week, May 14-15, in Fort Worth

This is my most personal performance work yet, and now I will finally get to present it in my current hometown--Fort Worth. At the beautiful Rose Marine Theater.

I've been invited to present "Saliendo Abierta" (Emerging Open) as part of the Artes de la Rosa 2010 Film and Theater Festival, and I get to perform this work FOUR TIMES on two consecutive weekends in May (Fridays and Saturdays, May 14-15, 21-22).

I'm really hoping that all my close friends and family, longtime colleagues and collaborators come out to see this work. It's quite a quiet piece, and really shows some inner dimensions that you might have never seen me reveal about myself.

Oh--important to note: this is not a big and flashy "Lion King" or anything remotely like that. Best to keep small children and infants at home during this one.

[Please click on the flyer below to see a larger version in a new window.]


We will be hosting a CLOSING NIGHT reception/pachanga IMMEDIATELY FOLLOWING the final performance on Saturday, May 22nd.

Please help spread the word! Gracias.

Other Arts presents "Other Texas Music Festival" at the FW Community Arts Center this wk-end

I rarely perform spoken word/music sets here in the 817, so this is a great opportunity to check out the project I've got going with my comrade and artistic colleague, Ramsey Sprague (aka The Shortest Distance). We're on the bill for tonight at this, the inaugural outing of Herb Levy's "Other Texas Music" Festival. That's TONIGHT, FRIDAY, APRIL 30th, at 8:30pm. 10 bucks cover. Get there early, for better parking options.

Ramsey will be playing guitar and his looping station, which should make for some cool layering effects to accompany my vocal production work (fancy term for spoken word/singing). Because I just got back to Tejas from DC/Maryland on Wednesday, we haven't had a chance to rehearse, which means our set will be raw, experimental, and astoundingly fresh. Ha. See you there, my friends.



Oh---I cannot forgot to unequivocally state that I am familiar with, and (in some cases) have performed alongside many of the musicians who are in this Festival and they are bonafide badasses. Paul Unger, stellar bass player. Max Oepen, great drum chops, particularly in the jazz style. (I used to be in a project with Paul and Max, around 2005. We played the Bath House Cultural Center, and a few other places.) Tamitha and Chris Curiel--of SWIRV--are great friends and longtime collaborators in theater and music events. I've jammed with the Hentai Improvisational Orchestra (HIO, for short) boys, and had alot of fun mouthing off to their sound wildness. And David Bithell--UNT music prof--he's really out there (for north Texas); I got to see/hear his set at the Out of the Loop Festival in Addison last month.

It's a measly 15 bucks for both nights' worth of music, mayhem, aural madness. That's a steal of a deal. (Herb Levy puts on a very good show, as producer of Other Arts.) HIGHLY RECOMMENDED.

Join us on Sunday, Feb. 14th - benefit party!

This event will help support our annual PALABRAZOS Spoken Word Festival, the only one of its kind in North Texas. It promises to be alot of fun, and people like Natasha Carrizosa, Shannon Atkinson, Angelique, Cesar Hernandez, and Cristina Snoke are going to be unveiling some surprises for us there. Hope to see you!! And please spread the word...

I'm a guest performer for the MAD SWIRL spoken word event at Absinthe Lounge in Dallas

That's tomorrow, Wednesday, December 2nd. Kicks off at 8pm.

SWIRVE--Tamitha on voice, Chris on trumpet and effects pedals, Gerard on drums--have invited me to be a guest poet performer with them tomorrow. I haven't sat in with these folks in about a year, and they are so much fun to play with. I'm hoping for a big crowd, despite the cold weather, as it's pretty rare that I get to spend an evening in Dallas doing spoken word.

Absinthe Lounge --- fun performance-friendly spot at Southside on Lamar in Dallas
MAD SWIRL --- a monthly open mic and performance melee in the best possible sensessss..

FREE and FREEING!!!! Join us, y'all.

I was selected to perform at the Out of the Loop Fringe Fest next year

Forgot to mention that my application and proposal to present my one-woman show "Saliendo Abierta" was selected for the Out of the Loop Fringe (Performing Arts) Festival in Addison, Texas. The Festival takes place in March 2010, and my performance will be presented on the mainstage on the evening of Sunday, March 14, 2010. Save the Date!

Looking over the Out of the Loop website, I see that some wonderful performers and shows will also be featured during the 2-week span of the Festival. Check it out.

I'm hoping to tour "Saliendo Abierta" to other venues and festivals, possibly even on the Eastern seaboard, in the coming year. (My undergrad alma mater, Goucher College, in Towson, Maryland, has invited me to speak on a panel about literature and poetry next April for the 125th anniversary its founding.) Also, my friend and colega, Claudia Acosta, has tentatively invited me to take my show to New York City for a monthly performance series she is spearheading called "Culture Shock: a melting pot of raw arts." So many possibilities. I hope the planets configure to make good on the promise and the plan.

The glass ornament i painted for the State Capitol holiday tree

I finally finished the holiday ornament that Lon Burnam's office gave me to decorate for the Lone Star Celebration Tree, which will be displayed in the State Capitol through the beginning of January 2010.

Photo credit: Four Hearts Photography

Thanks to the O'Briens (Danny and Kathy) for giving of their time to photograph the ornament before I delivered it to Lon Burnam.

To achieve the smoky color effect on the ornament, I poured silver, black, and white acrylic paints into the small opening at the top and swirled the colors around to mix them together for a marbleizing finish. I also used a pipe cleaner to spread the color evenly. Afterwards, I used a permanent paint marker to write the following poem on the exterior of the ornament:

sleeping panther rise
remove the smokescreen from our eyes
no more gas drill lies

I think this ornament will aptly represent what's on some of our minds lately here in the District 90 sector of the Metroplex.

I'm performing at tonight's Spoken Word Salon @ Christopher Walker in FW

There is going to be a special edition event at the Christopher Walker Salon tonight, Saturday, June 6th, from 6-9pm. Apparently, one of the owners at Christopher Walker is a poetry/spoken word aficionado and has spearheaded this first-time Spoken Word Salon--which will feature various "speaking" artists, including some mc's (rappers). I'll be on the mic too, starting sometime between 7:30pm and 8:30pm. Doing about a 15-20 minute set.

Wine/fruit/spoken word/camaraderie with creatives/Los Vaqueros tex-mex-----sounds good to me.

10 dollars at the door.

817.207.9898 to rsvp or for more info.


6-7pm wine reception
7-8:30pm performances
8:30pm more food, catered by Los Vaqueros Restaurant

Christopher Walker Salon
3065 Greene Avenue
Fort Worth, TX 76109

follow me on Twitter at twitter.com/trappedNcloset

i'm re-enacting my closet ordeal,
via twitter only. it's a 2.5 day finite experimental performance work.

don't worry, i'm not actually IN the closet physically, just a little bit emotionally, psychologically, and artistically.

one friend DID panic, thinking i was actually trapped (again), and drove over to check on me yesterday evening.
sorry, Lindsey.

another thing i'm doing to celebrate my 1-year anniversary of the struggle to carve a hole in the door to get out of the closet, is that i'm EATING and DRINKING as much as i want for 2.5 days. i'm having a cup of Wild Berry Zinger tea at the moment, whereas this time last year i was enjoying (barely) "essence of saliva."

be in the moment, wherever you are!

This Friday, May 1st, at Embargo Bar downtown FW, Tejas

mic + pOetry=SPOKEN WORD allowed-->PALABRAZOS 5/1/09

Da'Shade Moonbeam - an actual spoken word capoeirista, not a Manga character name...

Natasha Carrizosa - local long-tressed poet of romance and survival, with sabor del Caribe...

Mary Melisse Mier - ex-Caravan of Dreams Theater actress/director and now poet/playwright/director based in Santa Fe (once traveled on a Chinese junk--a ship, y'all--'round the world, performing classical theater works everywhere from Germany to Kathmandu..)...

Angelo Jaramillo - bard and theater performer, teen arts educator and published poet, also from Santa Fe...

Ernesto Abraham Garcia - San Antonio-based writer and emerging filmmaker, is in love with anarchy, netflix, and a baby boy named Samuel (his son)...

All of these folks AND a few others, AND their VIDEO POEMS,
will be presented to you, on Friday, May 1st, in our

2nd Annual PALABRAZOS festival of performance literature.


JOIN US ! BRING $$ FOR BOOKS, RAFFLE TICKETS, T-SHIRTS,
and mojitos/cervezas at the bar.

otherwise, this SHINDIGGITY is FREE of charge. o dollas admission.

love the poetry that unites us. spend a great evening w/ me...
and a few other talents of note.


[thanks to INOPE for the dope flyer design!]

Thrills and chills in Austin, Texas this past weekend for Sor Juana Festival

My upcoming gigs and current productions - artistic workflow for the moment

Current projects and forthcoming:

uno-
The Second Annual "PALABRAZOS", an annual festival of literary performance poetry, is coming up on Friday, May 1st at Embargo Bar here in downtown Fort Worth. I co-produce this annual festival with Cesar Hernandez (Cara Mia Theatre of Dallas), and a great collective of literature-loving gente. This year we're bringing in for showcase presentations:
LAS KRUDAS (CUBAN FEMALE HIPHOP)
NATASHA CARRIZOSA AND JOAQUIN ZIHUATANEJO, LOCALPOWERHOUSES OF POETRY,
AND FROM SANTA FE: MARY MIER AND ANGELO JARAMILLO.
ALSO: POEM VIDEOS BY CESAR HERNANDEZ AND TREY MOORE.

dos-
Three poems by Tammy Gomez were selected by renowned writer Jimmy Santiago Baca for publication in the Spring 2009 issue of the Yellow Medicine Review, a literary journal of indigenous writing.
http://www.yellowmedicinereview.com/

tres-
I will be performing a new work entitled "Abierta Saliendo" at the upcoming SOR JUANA INES DE LA CRUZ festival of Mexican
American Women Performers on Saturday, April 18th, at the Mexican American Cultural Center in Austin, TX.
Yikes--this is in one more week, and i'm still rehearsing and rewriting the script. My new work, a one-hour one-woman monologue, is based on the 2 and a half days that i spent trapped in my own friggin' bedroom closet. I'm trying to do this experience some justice via a public performance. Wish me luck!
Download the festival brochure: http://www.ci.austin.tx.us/macc/downloads/sorjuana.pdf

cuatro-
I was asked, by author Dr. Michelle Vela (TX A&M-Kingsville) to write the preface for her scholarly book on Chicana Autobiography, which will be published by the Edwin Mellen Press later this year. I submitted the preface (last November), and am just waiting to hear when the book is ready for release.

cinco-
I am also currently co-producing, with a collective of artistas and activists, a local television program for cable access. The show, titled "817 FLAVORS" focuses on the arts, culture, and grassroots organizing in the area spanned by the 817 area code. The first episode began airing in February of this year.

seis-
Yo, I still blog at xxcommunicator.blogspot.com. For the latest information about my projects and other things related to cultura and community activism, please check it out.

F6 Gallery-"The Girls Show" tonight, Saturday, March 28th, 7pm-midnight

Greetings on a chilly spring afternoon in North Texas.

I just want to invite you to the GIRLS SHOW, which happens tonight at the F6 Gallery in Arlington, Texas.

(The F6 Gallery is located in the warehouse space at 2800 W. Division, Suite F-6 -- look for the Hilton Flooring sign, and pull in behind that business, where all the warehouse parking lots are. Suite F-6 is the last warehouse on the right. Just look for the crowd of artsy kids.)

This is the first time that the F6 Gallery has created a group show that is an exhibit of works created exclusively by women.

Women, as you may know, are statistically under-represented in the gallery world--as curators, directors, and of course, as exhibiting artists.

Here's a chance to see a LOT of original work created by women in the area (817/Tarrant County), so I would encourage you to spend an hour (or more) at the F6 tomorrow evening, which is Spring Gallery Night 2009.

I'll be performing poetry sometime after 9:00pm, so come give support and attention. I'd love to see you!

Tell the F6 guys, also, that you appreciate their having created a GIRLS SHOW.

Here's to parity in the "ART WORLD"!!

Hope to see you tonight. Bundle up, as it'll probably be chilly in the space. Word to the wise...

WHOLE WOMAN FESTIVAL - mainstage schedule for Saturday, March 21st in FW, TX

hey, girlfriends (and other loveables), i've been working on this line-up of rad musicians, songwriters, poets, speakers, dancers, etc., for the past THREE MONTHS. this event is about to explode on the 817 in a big and beautiful way. check out this schedule of presenting women.

i'll be emcee-ing this entire day 12:30pm to 6pm, so i'ma be loopy by 10pm (after the Vagina Monologues) when the AFTERGLOW happens with more live music, chocolate, champagne, and dancing music!

bring provisions for the day (extra clothes, dancing shoes, energy bars, etc.) so you can stay at Casa Man~ana the entire
time of the Festival. this will be THE place to be on Saturday, March 21st. if you're in FW.

*****
MAIN STAGE SCHEDULE

12:30 - WELCOMING
Lori Thomson, Layne Calabro, Margie Gomez, Tammy Gomez, Rae Denton, Asani Charles, Dr. Kari Rollins

1:00 - Dating & Intimacy: Your Rights with Toria Villarreal and "Love is Respect" video

1:15 - The Bella Cullen Project “Twilight” teen tribute musical trio (from Arlington, but are nationally-hot)

1:30 - Battered Women's Foundation: with Brenda Jackson

1:50 - “Peace on Earth Begins w/ Birth" - video

2:00 - Singer/songwriter: Crystal Casey

2:15 - "Nursing is Normal" - video

2:20 - Power of Choice: Community Panel with BC Cornish, Kathy O'Brien, Sarah McClellan, Marcy Paul, Janean Livingston, Kimberly Harrison, Lindsey Denison, KC Jones, Diane Wood, Noor Elashi, and Yvette Richardson

3:20 - Brazen Bellies - tribal dancing troupe

3:30 - V-DAY Spotlight video and monologues

3:35 - The Democratic Republic of Congo – with Laura Seay / UT Austin

4:00 – Singer/songwriter: La Morra Maliya

4:10 - Safe Haven: Rebecca Farrow

4:30 - Poets of Embargo: Rose Ann Meredith, Natasha Carrizosa, Devorah Titunik

4:50 - Male Allies Speak-Out with Cri Rivera, Men Against Violence (MAV) NTX’s Patrick Partida

5:15 - FINALE with Singer/songwriter Emily Stoker, Girl's, Inc. - Bill of Rights, Patsy Hernandez, CodePink Fort Worth,
DJ Cyberina Flux, Brazen Bellies and YOU!



**** of course, there will ALSO be vendors (woman-owned businesses, mostly), art exhibits, a WELLNESS area (take a yoga
or tai chi session), and the RED TENT of spiritual healing. alot to see and hear, for sure ******

FREE AND OPEN TO THE PUBLIC: PLEASE HELP SPREAD THE WORD! We want to pack the house. Thanks, Tammy

Free screening of "817 Flavors", new local show at Embargo tonight! Followed by live music by touring band FUGA.

Come celebrate the launch of a rad new 1/2 hour monthly
show for TV (and soon, on the interweb) about folks,
subcultures, art, grassroots organizing and other things
important to you in the 817!

The first episode of EIGHT HUNDRED SEVENTEEN FLAVORS
features:

Don Young - of FWCANDO and the annual PrairieFest;

Tony Ferraro - of Eaton Lake Tonics;

Crystal Casey - in a videotaped performance of her song
"Flame Out";

Mark Lowry - theater critic (formerly with FW Star-Telegram);

and co-anchors

Tony Diaz - of "The Good Show" (KTCU-FM) and singer
for Goodwin

and

Tammy Gomez - of Sound Culture and Palabrazos and...

AND much much more.
We pack alot into a fascinating
30 minutes, y'all!
__________________________________________



See you Sunday, vatos y chulas! Embargo Bar downtown!

love,
Tammy

_____________________________

From: dEsErTeD pOeTiC

The flyer pretty much says it all so come on out...

Meet & greet the producers,cast, & crew of the community created TV show being called the best thing to hit cable access in days...or decades...or all time. We should be out there @ 8:30 & will air the show @ 9 PM followed by the badass fuguistas desde El Chuco...bring your revolutionary dancing shoes...el fandango se hace este domingo...no dejen de faltar!!!

817 FLAVORS hits the local airwaves via FW Cable Television this week!

Our new community-created half-hour show,
EIGHT HUNDRED SEVENTEEN FLAVORS,
will be airing on the
FW Community Television "Open Channel"
(specific channel number depends on your
on-ramp to cable--but for Charter Cable
subscribers, it's 28)

starting yesterday, Monday, February 16th.


The show will be airing repeatedly,
three days a week--at various times of the day--
until we have the subsequent episode prepared
and edited for broadcast.


*****************

EIGHT HUNDRED SEVENTEEN FLAVORS BROADCAST TIMES:

Mondays at 10am
Tuesdays 6:30pm
Saturdays at 3:00pm

******************

Check it out, and feel free to offer your feedback, comments, suggestions.


Yay--it's a launch!!


***********
EXTRA EXTRA!

We have scheduled a FREE screening of our
first episode, to happen at the Embargo Bar
(downtown FW) on Sunday, February 22nd, at 8:30pm,

followed by a live performance
by the amazing El Paso (now based in Oakland, CA)
band known as FUGA!!
(more info at: http://www. myspace. com/fuguista)

Yes, I know it's Oscar night, but please come out and
celebrate with us if you can...

Thanks for your interest and support.


big hug,


Tammy Gomez, Co-producer,
EIGHT HUNDRED SEVENTEEN FLAVORS

______________

FOR YOUR INFO:

Where To Watch Community Cable Television

Charter Cable
Open Channel-28

One Source
Open Channel-32

Verizon
Open Channel-37

AT&T Uverse
All three municipal channels and one FWISD
channel are available on Uverse channel 99.

Tune to channel 99 and click on the Fort Worth
Municipal-Educational tab.







Come celebrate the launch of a rad new 1/2 hour monthly
show for TV (and soon, on the interweb) about folks,
subcultures, art, grassroots organizing and other things
important to you in the 817!

See you Sunday, vatos y chulas! Embargo Bar downtown!

love,
Tammy

_____________________________

From: dEsErTeD pOeTiC

The flyer pretty much says it all so come on out...

Meet & greet the producers,cast, & crew of the community created TV show being called the best thing to hit cable access in days...or decades...or all time. We should be out there @ 8:30 & will air the show @ 9 PM followed by the badass fuguistas desde El Chuco...bring your revolutionary dancing shoes...el fandango se hace este domingo...no dejen de faltar!!!

I'm performing "stand-up poetic commentary" on Saturday, Feb. 7 - Paperbacks Plus in Dallas

This time Cesar Hernandez is stepping in to provide the improv digital projections, since Ramsey's in Guatemala. Hello Cesar! Can't wait to try out my new performance experiment in Dallas. Crazy, crude, crunk. And it doesn't rhyme. Show up early for vino, cheese, and USUALLY there's cake.
____________________________________________________

2009 WordSpace and Paperbacks Plus are proud to present

Dr. Hedwig Gorski and Tammy Gomez
Saturday, February 7
8 pm
Paperbacks Plus
6115 La Vista (in the cool Lakewood 'hood, baby!)
Dallas, Texas 75214
214-827-4860
FREE

For More Info: http://www.wordspacetexas.org

Contact: Karen X at kxatlarge@aol.com

WordSpace is Supported in part by The City of Dallas Office of Cultural Affairs.

◊

Dr. Hedwig Gorski is a Polish American gypsy-artist-poet. She coined the term "Performance Poetry" while living in Austin. She is the recipient of many awards including a Fulbright, works with the East of Eden band and teaches creative writing and theater at LSU. Her live radio broadcasts with her band have been re-issued on CD.

Tammy Gomez is a poet, playwright, author, recipient of many prestigious awards, grants and the creator of numerous performance and poetry events. She was voted by the Austin Chronicle as the "Poet Most Likely To Incite A Riot." Tammy is an original and powerful artistic presence, always evolving and reinventing her performance formats.