The New Urbanism: conference in Dallas and results in my 'hood

Just heard the early episode of "Think" (hosted by Krys Boyd, KERA 90.1 FM radio) today, which featured a guy by the name of Andrés Duany, who is active in the New Urbanist movement here in the States. He's here in the D/FW this week for several North Texas events sponsored by the Congress for the New Urbanism (CNU).

Here's the mission statement/blurb off the CNU website: "Congress for the New Urbanism is a nonprofit organization aimed at curbing sprawl and re-establishing compact, walkable, and sustainable neighborhoods and cities. The North Texas Chapter of the Congress for the New Urbanism (CNU-NTX) works to further this mission through education, networking, and outreach within the North Texas region."

AND--here's the lowdown on the event Duany (and others) will be featured speakers for:

REBUILDING OUR CITIES AND SUBURBS: A FRESH START FOR TIRED PLACES (i love that conference title.....!)

When: Tuesday, March 31, 2009 -- Registration 8:00 to 8:45 a.m. -- Seminar 8:45 a.m. to 5:30 p.m.

Where: The Belo Mansion Pavilion -- 2101 Ross Avenue, Dallas, TX 75201

For more event details, and to see other links on the Congress for the New Urbanism, click here.

As I heard Duany speak on the radio show, he seemed to confirm alot of my longtime ideas about the prerequisites for sustainable community. He spoke of suburban neighborhoods, with their wraparound driveaways and lack of front porches as antithetical to social interaction and "neighborliness." He also suggested that the welcome rise in front-yard vegetable gardening "supports urban pedestrianism." People basically enjoy walking on streets where there is something pleasant to look at and where people are out living in their yards (and on their porches). The more he spoke about these ideas, the bigger grew the smile on my face. I am living now in a thriving "neighborly" neighborhood, which appears to be a pretty good example of a new urbanism retrofit success. Two neighbors on my street have front-yard edible gardens; bicyclists and pedestrians are daily present on the sidewalks and streets; and the locally-owned businesses along Magnolia not only seem to be doing well but there are new places pegged to open very soon. Actually, yesterday, I noticed a new shingle sign had been put up within the past 24 hours. The sign announces a new clinic--located on the same block as King Tut, a florist, and the Hoagies sandwich shop. "Acupuncture Community Clinic" is the name of the clinic, and this week I hope to do what any friendly pedestrian in this, my favorite 'hood in Fort Worth, might do: stop in and welcome them to Fairmount.

Yes, this 'hood still needs a coffee shop, bakery, community garden, and bookstore. But at least we're getting a "grocer" of sorts--Ellerbe Fine Foods will be opening doors at 1505 W. Magnolia later this spring. According to a splash ad in a recent pull-out of the Weekly, Ellerbe will offer "Casual Fine Dining, Take-Away & Marketplace in Fort Worth's Southside".

"Everything You Always Wanted to Know About Nuclear Power" -- free screening today!

[Thanks to Lon Burnam's office folks for sending the following anuncio. Sorry for the last-minute post to share this with y'all...]

On the occasion of the 30th anniversary of the Three Mile Island disaster:

Everything you always wanted to know about Nuclear Power*

*But were afraid to ask

Join Ft. Worth Rep. Lon Burnam in previewing a new film:

Sunday, March 29th - TODAY!

2:30 PM Refreshments,
3:00 PM Film

FREE and open to all!

Location: Fort Worth Botanic Garden
3220 Botanic Garden Blvd.

Sponsored by: True Cost of Nukes & SEED Coalition

"Everything you always wanted to know about Nuclear Power* but were afraid to ask" is a lively new 42-minute video that mixes historic news clips and ironic, vintage propaganda films along with contemporary experts and analysis to remind us of nuclear power’s troubled history.

At a time when nuclear power is being touted as a cure for global warming—and is asking for billions in taxpayer subsidies—it’s time to explore cleaner, safer and cheaper solutions!

For more information – NukeFreeTexas.org and EverythingNuclear.org.

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

Last night of Feb. 2009 - how to enjoy it in Fort Worth.

go ahead, get going.

or stay in like me (cuz i'm sick, coughing. no worries, i have tons of soup, thanks to Mom, and juices, thanks to friends. AND, i already had a cool moment outside in the sunshine, flying my homemade (plastic grocery sack) kite. i even stopped traffic, for a minute...and the high winds this afternoon blew a one-dollar bill to my front porch. what does this portend for March?

love,
Tammy


HIGHLY RECOMMENDED:

1. SPECIAL EVENT - "eVeryDay a WOMYN"

Special Performances Feb. 28, 2009, 6-10pm. Poets, storytellers, performers, musicians, artists, will perform.
All are invited to be a part of the showcase.  Let's give the Firehouse a great send-off. It's an Open Mic.

This is the gallery that was voted the "Best Art Gallery" in Fort Worth (Fort Worth Star Telegram's Reader's Choice) a few years ago.

And now we're losing this diamond in the rough--another liberated space for creative minds and progressive action.

If you never got a chance to experience the Firehouse, it's not too late.

THE BIG PARTY happens TONIGHT, the final day of this month--February 28th. Invite any and every one to join us in toasting Lori Thomson, the brilliant and brazen woman who created a wonderful space for artists in the 817.

For more info: http://www. firehouseart. net/

FREE and open to all. BYOB, please.


2. Saturday night show @ 1919 Hemphill

PRIZZY PRIZZY PLEASE at 1919 Hemphill OR in Denton--i’d consult the prizzy’s myspace for updated info


PRIZZY PRIZZY PLEASE: Probably one of the most amazing bands ever. It's fast dancable songs with a keyboard and a funky funky saxophone. from Bloomington IN.
http://www. myspace. com/prizzyprizzyplease
BOOGDISH: One man dude town.
http://hairychestedrecords. com/boogdish

Saturday Feb 28th
@ 1919 Hemphill St.

Fort Worth 76110
Doors at 6:PM show at 8:pm
$6 please
http://1919hemphill. org 817-920-9665

(I'm trying to get prizzy Prizzy on a show in Denton. if it doesn't happen it will definately be at 1919.
)


3. STOOGES tribute band plays The Ridglea.

STOOGEAPHILIA TONIGHT @ THE RIDGLEA!



Also on the card: MERKIN (before), PROPHETS OF RAGE, RIVERCREST YACHT CLUB, and ADDNERIM (after).


See you there.


Love,

THE STOOGEAPHILES


4. LITERARY INDIE SINGER CLINT NIOSI AT THE FAIRMOUNT WITH THE TOMORROWPEOPLE!

Starts 9ish




5. MORE LOCAL ART UP ON THE WALLS AT THE F6 FOR THEIR 2nd ANNIVERSARY EXHIBIT!

GO AHEAD AND GET YOUR F6 ON! SECOND ANNIVERSARY SHOW PROMISES TO HIT AT THE SPOT - I LOVE THIS SCENE!

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!!!

V-DAY Fort Worth approaches - save the date: March 21, 2009

It's amazing how fulfilling all these hours of volunteer organizing can be for me. I sit and incubate ideas, reveling in the possibility of bringing mujeres, girls, grrls, b-girls, songstresses, and others together for a full-on 100% grade-A womanist event in the 817.

The likes of which i have never experienced nor organized in kowtow(n) ever before. And i am truly psyched up.

Every day i meet a new woman, a new comadre (learn that word, dear gents), another member of the sistren of this city with whom i can collaborate, celebrate, divinate a more positive future for we of the xx chromosomal tendency.

I was several weeks ago languishing in an activist paralysis, wanting to make the right decision about whom should help kick-off the MAINSTAGE presentations at Casa Man~ana, where i'll be emcee-ing for 5+ hours. Then, as if a wind could bring a 21st century mary poppins to my doorstoop, a special woman showed up online, with a "friend request" on myspace. Asani Charles arrived, singing "Amazing Grace" in Choctaw, and doing spoken word like the best of the national-scene slam poets. I accepted her as "friend" and she accepted my invitation to be onstage for the WELCOME.

And Brazen Bellies, a multi-generational bellydance/tribal dance group, also greeted me with interest to grace our stage. And
Marcy Paul, who just happened to be in her office at the YWCA on a Saturday, has answered the call to join us. And others
have been summoned, women I emailed or phoned on a hunch: Kimberly of SOA (Starting Over Again), Sarah McClellan (fortworthfeminism blogger), Lindsey of Tolstoy House, and doctoral student Laura Seay who has observed the devastation of femicide in Congo--she's driving up from Austin to share her stories of the women in that African locale of horror and survivor courage.

This first-ever Whole Woman Festival promises to be an event of epic proportions. "Never doubt a woman, at least not to her face." I quote myself when no other words will do.

Okay, here's the scoop, my friends:

If you want to be in on this spectacle of March 21, go to our website: www.vdayfortworth.com and check out the links.

Please help us with outreach and promotion by telling all the women (and girls) you love about this Festival.

We have a "general" downloadable flyer on the website, which you may print off and distribute at will.

The dozen or so of us coordinating this confab are all madly scrambling to finalize the schedule of all our participants and contributing artists--it's a massive list of about 100 women.

The complete schedule will most likely be available on the website very soon. I do think, though, that the programme we distribute on the day of the event will contain all the info an attendee would need.

In brief, let me tell you what we will be presenting at this FIRST TIME IN FORT WORTH festival:

an art exhibit of work that is pro-woman (created by men and women);

vendor tables (of woman-owned businesses);

daytime musicians (who will perform in the outer or main lobby);

a "wellness" area which will consist of scheduled mini-sessions of tai chi and yoga, and a few other interactive practices;

a "red tent" area which will focus on spiritual meditation, open circle sharing and revealing, testifying and healing;

the mainstage presentations (the area i'm overseeing and emcee-ing) of women speaking, ranting, chanting, dancing, showing video, and singing. a variety show by women for women (and girls);

the evening presentation of "The Vagina Monologues" at 7:30pm;

followed by the Afterglow reception (which usually consists of soft music, chocolate, wine/champagne, and very happy women who have just finished a long day of activating one another).

As you can imagine, this will be hard to describe fully in one flyer...so, if you can, spread the word to your family and kindred spirits. the more, the merrier.

The only section of the festival that is NOT free is the "Vagina Monologues" show, which will be the only ticketed event. Tickets are $15 each.

Of course, other things will be for sale or donations will be sought (for SafeHaven, Battered Women's Foundation, and the women/girls of Congo, Africa)...so it will be good for attendees to bring extra $$.

Join the excitement and please SAVE THE DATE:

Saturday, first day of Spring 2009 - March 21st !!

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!!!

Oscar-nominated screenwriter Guillermo Arriaga to visit UNT-Denton

In this order do I love and appreciate Arriaga's filmscripts as interpreted by Tommy Lee Jones and Alejandro González Iñárritu: "The Three Burials of Melquiades Estrada" (2005), "Babel" (2006), and "Amores Perros" (2000). ("Amores Perros" reminded me of "Short Cuts" (dir., Robert Altman) and a couple of other multi-plot intertwining films, and "Babel" seemed like an internationalized version of "Amores Perros".) This opportunity to hear a living legend of contemporary screenwriting is a gift to the community that anyone who appreciates world cinema should not miss. Folks, these events are FREE! Thanks are due to the UNT administration for their effort in bringing Arriaga to little ole North Texas.


Oscar-nominated screenwriter Guillermo Arriaga to lecture at UNT

What: Writer and director Guillermo Arriaga visits the University of North Texas to give three lectures on filmmaking

When/Where: 6:30 p.m. Feb. 12 (Thursday) in Room 184 of UNT's Radio, Television, Film and Performing Arts Building, located on the corner of Welch and Chestnut Street

7:30 p.m. Feb. 13 (Friday) in the Lyceum of UNT's University Union, located one block west of Welch and West Prairie streets

9 a.m. to noon Feb. 14 (Saturday) in the ballroom (Room 34) of UNT's Gateway Center, located on North Texas Boulevard between Eagle Drive and Highland Street

Cost: Free

Contact: UNT-International at 940-565-2197

DENTON (UNT), Texas -- At a series of University of North Texas events Academy Award-nominated screenwriter Guillermo Arriaga will discuss the filmmaking process and how films can build broader international understanding. The series includes three lectures from Feb. 12 (Thursday) to Feb. 14 (Saturday). All three events are free and open to the public; registration is required for the Saturday event.

The first event, a guest lecture designed for UNT film students and faculty members, will take place at 6:30 p.m. Feb. 12 (Thursday) in Room 184 of the Radio, Television, Film and Performing Arts Building, located on the corner of Welch and Chestnut streets. Arriaga will discuss the process of developing the written word of a screenplay and transforming it into a film.

The second lecture, designed for the general public, will occur at 7:30 p.m. Feb. 13 (Friday) in the Lyceum of UNT's University Union, located one block west of Welch and West Prairie streets. Arriaga will discuss cross-cultural communication and the role of film in developing global interaction.

The second event is part of UNT-International's EncoUNTers speaker series, an international lecture series designed to bring speakers from around the world to UNT to promote cross-cultural understanding through an open exchange of ideas.

For the final lecture, Arriaga will host a master's class to discuss screenwriting and his experiences in cinema. The workshop, designed primarily for film industry professionals and aspiring writers, will take place from 9 a.m. to noon Feb. 14 (Saturday) in the ballroom (Room 34) of UNT's Gateway Center, located on North Texas Boulevard between Eagle Drive and Highland Street. Attendees must register for the workshop by calling 940-565-2197. There are a limited number of seats available and it is recommended that participants register before 5 p.m. Feb. 12.

A native of Mexico, Arriaga explores in his screenplays:

the challenges of communication
the importance of love
the consequences of our actions
contradictions within human nature
clashes among cultures

His films include "Babel", "Amores Perros" and "The Three Burials of Melquiades Estrada". He has received Oscar, Golden Globe and Writers Guild of America award nominations and received awards from the Cannes Film Festival and the British Academy of Film and Television Arts.

Through his latest film, "The Burning Plain", Arriaga makes his feature directorial debut. The film stars Oscar winner Charlize Theron, Kim Basinger and newcomer Jennifer Lawrence in a romantic mystery about a woman on the edge who takes an emotional journey to uncover the secret of a past love and meets other characters along the way who are grappling with their own romantic destinies.

Prior to his work in the film industry, Arriaga was a renowned novelist in Mexico for works such as A Sweet Smell of Death and The Night Buffalo. His books have been translated into 18 languages including English, German, Greek, French, Hebrew and Romanian.

For more than 25 years, he has worked as a college professor and directed, produced and written short films, documentaries, television series, and radio and television commercials.

The lectures are sponsored by the UNT's Office of the President, Office of the Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs and UNT-International.

For more information, contact UNT-International at 940-565-2197.

UNT News Service Phone Number: (940) 565-2108
Contact: Ellen Rossetti (940) 369-7912
Email: erossetti@unt.edu

This is how i often experience life...

...on the multiple tracks/monitors (spirit, emotion, rhythm, memory, sensation) of my being.



Andrew Baron, you are onto something.

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.

Maira Kalman - "And the Pursuit of Happiness"

From what I've gathered, this is Kalman's first post to her new blog project which will focus on American democracy.

I've loved Maira's work since I first happened upon her illustrated children's book "Stay Up Late", which is based on a David Byrne/Talking Heads song off of the LITTLE CREATURES album (1985). Right away, I imagined that she and I had the same quirky sense of humor and an appreciation of the absurd. (If you ever catch me in the children's section of bookstores or libraries, it's probably because I'm scouting for additional interesting illustrative/graphic design work being done for kids' books.)

Last year, one of the things that could reliably perk me up or send me to numbered clouds (9, for instance) was Maira's blog "The Principles of Uncertainty." It was zen meets jon stewart meets dali meets dalai. I loved it. These blogposts have been compiled for her new book "The Principles of Uncertainty", about which an Amazon.com reviewer says: "[It]...defies easy classification. Is it philosophy? Art? Memoir? Travel? Sociology? The answer is All of the Above (and more). This charming collection of text, paintings, and photography presents a "profusely illustrated" year in a life, with illustrated musings that range from a young Nabokov "sitting innocently and elegantly in a red chair" to two stuffed rabbits in the window at Paris's Deyrolles taxidermy to Kitty Carlisle Hart at home in her "pearly pink palace." Delightful, inspiring, and often very moving, this little charmer is a book you might find nestled on Wes Anderson's coffee table."

I bet that top-tier sculptor Richard Serra would probably love to be appointed as the first U.S. Minister of Culture, but personally I'd like to see Maira Kalman's name on the short list of considered appointees for this dream job. Like in my dreams...

Kendall, my friend, went to DC and all he sent me was a youtube link!

[Seriously, my good longtime poet-friend Kendall McCook traveled to Pennsylvania to meet his two sons and, together with them, road the rails down to DC for the inauguration. He lives a mere two blocks from me, and I'm vicariously thrilling about what he experienced on the Mall on January 20th. Join me in some good feelings...watch this slideshow of his trip. He's the fella in the cowboy hat and beard. Kendall is good people, por siempre...]

ANA SISNETT memorial celebration today in Austin @ 1pm

allgo celebrates the life of Ana Sisnett; artist, writer, activist, beloved community member and friend

Celebrating Ana. Join us Saturday, January 24, at 1:00 PM as we honor Ana Sisnett’s life and spirit.


Trinity United Methodist Church
600 E 50th St, Austin, TX

Ana transitioned gracefully on Tuesday, January 13, 2009 at her home in Austin, Texas, surrounded by her family and loved ones. Ana was a long-time ALLGO supporter and community member. Her visual art and spoken word performances inspired and moved many at ALLGO events. No one who ever heard her read her poem about how to eat mango was ever the same. She could often be seen at ALLGO events dancing salsa with her signature smile. She was a published poet and writer whose writings are included in several anthologies. She was also the author of Grannie Jus’ Come! a children’s book inspired by her childhood memories of Panama.


Her local, national and international activism included community media, anti-oppression workshops, HIV/AIDS awareness, and community technology training and access. As a "Technomama" during the '90s, Ana provided Internet trainings in English, Spanish and Portuguese throughout the world for organizations including the UN. As the Executive Director of Austin Freenet, Ana sought to ensure technology access for everyone. Her focus was on empowering women and communities of color around the world.


Ana will live on in our hearts and be a spirit of ALLGO for generations to come.


Ana Sisnett’s family requests that, in lieu of flowers, contributions be made to one of the following causes in Ana’s honor:

The Care Communities
7215 Cameron Road
Austin, Texas 78752
Web: http://www. interfaithcarealliance. org

Austin Free-Net
2209 Rosewood Ave.

Austin, TX 78702
Web: http://www. austinfree. net/

Contributions to cover Ana’s medical expenses and final arrangements may be made to:
Priscilla Hale
P.O.
Box 6149
Austin, TX 78762



What I earlier posted on Myspace about Ana:

A beautiful person has passed to the other side: Ana Sisnett ! Presente !
Category: Friends

I had the honor and privilege to work alongside Ana--as poet, media activist, and feminist--and her voice always rung true and loud for me, even as she spoke with a quiet, unhurried tone resounding with empathy and wisdom. Her tremendous grey dreadlocks were easy to spot among crowds of gente--at benefits, protests, cultural celebrations--letting me know that my amazing comadre was in our midst. Ana presented herself with dignity and calm assuredness that could never be mistaken for arrogance. The tremendous work she did as a cultural worker and feminist internet pioneer (she was proficient on the web long before I even knew what a MUD or homepage was) helps to etch her name into the history of Austin, Texas. Ana was from Panama, but grew up in the States. As author of the children's picture book, GRANNIE JUS' COME! and performer of her infamous "mango" poems, she had quite a following from Austin to San Antonio. I'll never forget that New Year's Eve, long ago, when I went to her home to do a special on-request poetry reading for her and a special German friend. It was the highlight of my evening, sharing love poetry for Ana in love. Go gently, as I'll always remember you, TechnoMama! qepd. (For more info, read the Austin American-Statesman obituary.)

Stay well and cherish each day, folks. Live lively, carrying on the work that Ana's legacy inspires us to continue. In her name, and keeping in mind all her gentle reminders, I find renewed strength to do what I am supposed to do: for comunidad, my gente, our planet, our own lives.

Dawning Poem - Inauguration Day, Jan. 20, 2009

6:57 a.m.

there are some mornings, in the course of human life,
when the body will not sleep. will no longer lie prone.
as if by invisible fishing line, i too have been pulled from rest.
when my body knows, it is time, why do you lie there,
there is a new day to be dawned, a new day to be alive,
a new day to get started the work of a new day.

today is such a day.

my body has stirred, perhaps from the bark of a yard dog,
perhaps from the sound of cars moving in unison.
just like everyday, those sounds have sounded in my midst.
but today, my body yearns for a beacon, a bugle call,
to remind me that this is a day to not linger with sleep.

i have had such mornings before.

when i was in nepal, high up in the mountains of Himalaya,
my body would be roused by 5am, my mind briskly churning
with anticipation for the views i could see as soon as
the morning sun would deign to start warming, start shining.
to be in bed was impossible, as my spirit rushed ahead of me,
pulling on clothes, lighting a morning candle,
drawing open the curtains, peeling open a fresh day.

so, too, when i was trapped in my own bedroom closet last year.
at the first sign of dawn, the possibility of renewed light
through the opening beneath the door that miserably confined me,
this light had surely been worth waiting for, but in due time,
the waiting is over. the light starts beaming through,
the body surges with energy, and reserves of ambition you never
thought you could have now push you to get up,
wipe the sleep from your eyes, and get to work chiseling,
get back with increased fervor to the work of carving
one's way out of darkness.

i am excited. heart beating fast, i am thrilled.
it is 7:01 a.m.

and i am not a morning person.

though i am a quick-thinking, hard-working woman,
i have a penchant for deep-sleeping well past sunrise.

but here, in my 4th decade, i am awake
like the most exhuberant child:

hours before the holiday parade,
the first one awake on christmas day,
blinking in bed on birthday morning, wondering
whether the cake will be chocolate or not,
the first day of school with the smell of my new shoes
and freshly sharpened #2 pencils ready for use.

it is dark yet in this room, i could lay back down,
it is not too late to get some more sleep,
i could sneak in a cat nap and be up again later.
i could shut down this awakened state,
and resume dormancy in bed.

but it is now 7:05, and there are people on a lawn,
the hugest green belt in d.c. they have been there for hours,
standing and singing. i think i can hear their song.
their heartbeats have wakened me, and my own pulse is
now racing in unison with theirs.

as well, there are whispers of greeting in family hallways,
footsteps to the the kitchen, as households pull them selves
together for not just an ordinary day.
somehow, the coffee is perkier, more aromatic,
almost jumping out of the pot into our cups,
and we will drink of the morning like we haven't
in so many many a year.

a baby is being born.
a birthday is to be celebrated.
a party is happening soon.
friends just called from the airport.
grandmas coming for the weekend.
you're starting a new job.
today you close on the house.
your son is coming back from iraq.
you fly out in an hour to pick up your adopted daughter.

this is the day that
the hisbiscus blooms,
new software gets released,
a desired email arrives from your lover,
you will be handed a diploma,
you are honored with a medal of service,
you are toasted at a banquet

it is all happening at once,
the anticipation and the rush
towards that sunlight of the day,

and you are there with it, basking in its brilliance,
dispelling all shadows and feeling the promise
and beauty of today.

sleep is for the weary, and weariness is in that bed
and not your body. you feel like jumping on your bike
and breathing in a fresh air, you want to grab the chalk
and draw a huge 'good morning' in the middle of the road
or string balloons from your tree to your neighbor's tree
across the street, you want to wear something special
or you want to hold up a sign--standing in the median
of a busy boulevard--that says something bold,
or grab pots and pans and bang them in a parade or
ask the funny man down the street to please play his bugle
or invite all the children to join you for ice cream,
or sing a loud song and share the words with your friends
or honk your car horn like you're leaving a wedding,
or running running fast
like there's someone waiting with their arms to receive you--
or releasing hundreds of doves in a peace ceremony.

that is our work for this day.
get up and join the others.
feel your excitement, enjoy the surge.
hold hands with everybody, even if just in your mind,
and smile a radiant smile that adds to the light.

we have our hearts on the same page, so let's begin
to cajole a fresh change.
we will work together, alongside like family.

i cannot wait to join you and that is why, dear people,
i am now fully awake.





by Tammy Melody Gomez

scene from "Good Morning, U.S.A." (a dream and call to action)

Latina in black braids to her waist, stands amidst daytime traffic,
holding a sign which reads on one side:
"will NOT work for petty change"
and on the other:
"WILL work for RADICAL change!"

[slow pan across the horizon of the planet, as it breathes a huge sigh of relief]

817 FLAVORS -- it's a wrap, folks_success in the city

[the crew of EIGHT HUNDRED SEVENTEEN FLAVORS, relieved and happy, after our first live taping on Sunday, Jan. 18th in FW]

says co-producer Cesar Hernandez: GRACIAS...to all the cats who worked with us...independently as strict profecionales...couldn't/wouldn't have been as smooth as it was...all the audience members that came out were graciously patient...intrigued i hope...see you on TV.

says camera operator John P: The show went great and it couldn't have happened without everyone working as a team. Until next time....

says co-producer Tammy Gomez: oh, wow, how to begin. house was packed. folks in the good vibe, and all the cameras set to roll, with content that pushes people beyond any self-created boundaries so we push to a new re-created boundless concept of comunidad. theater meets music meets grassroots activism meets visual arts meets talk in the street. a very good time was had. we gave away an Eaton Lake Tonics cd, a Crystal Casey cd, and 7 tickets to the next Q Cinema film screening.
talk about promoting local arts and artists. we doin' this 360 degree-style. puttin' you on top...just wait 'til this joint is thrown up on the 31. canal treinte y uno, amigas y amigos!

MANY THANKS TO THE FOLLOWING PERSONAJE:

natalia "nati" dominguez
mark "theater jones. com" lowry
rodrigo "on the street" pessoa
suzette "go green! green go!" rangel
carlos "dj sol*los" juarez
tony "goodwin" diaz
tay, syntax strange, cristina, crystal casey, tony ferraro, john p,, todd and Kyle, kelsie torres-pelham, FW Cable Television's Rick Leal, doro garcia, ramiro, and Arts Fifth Avenue!

TOGETHER, we makin' the fort aka cowtown aka 817 show the flavor of its true selveseseseseseseses.

love ya truly!

Join our studio audience: live taping Sunday, Jan. 18th for 817 FLAVORS

We will be filming in front of a live audience (that would be YOU and your friends) this Sunday at Arts Fifth Avenue in Fort Worth. Seating is limited...get at us if you want to be part of the experience. Of the community, for the community. RSVP for a spot...

From soundculture project images

JOIN OUR STUDIO AUDIENCE:

SUNDAY, JANUARY 18th - 6:15 doors open (taping @ 7pm, don't be late)

ARTS FIFTH AVENUE
http://www. artsfifthavenue. com
1628 5th Ave, Fort Worth, TX 76104.
(northwest corner of Fith Avenue and Allen Street in the heart of the Fairmount Neighborhood--minutes off of I-35 and I-30)

EIGHT HUNDRED SEVENTEEN FLAVOR - "new project for tv uplifts local talent, voices"
Original rhyme: Syntax Strange
Original audio mix: Spewcataclism
Original video: Cesar Hernandez aka DesertedPoetic

"Vagina Monologues" in FW - AUDITION NOTICE

[Calling all women (teens and older) to participate as performers in the audacious play "Vagina Monologues". I performed the "Bosnian rape victim" monologue in 2005, when we produced the show at Texas Wesleyan University. My co-performers were women from various backgrounds who shared in the empowering spirit of the play. I highly recommend this experience to any woman who wants to work and play alongside some of the most amazing gyno-mite in Fort Worth!]

V-Day Ft. Worth is holding auditions for its 7th annual production of Eve Ensler's legendary "Vagina Monologues", which will be performed at Casa Manana on Saturday,
March 21st, 2009, in Fort Worth.

The performance will be the culminating event of the Whole Woman Festival, which will take place in the morning and afternoon of March 21st--also at Casa Manana.

AUDITION INFO:
Where: Westside Unitarian Universalist Church, 901 Page St., Ft. Worth
(For detailed directions: http://www.westsideuu.org/Locations.htm)
When: January 18th, Sunday, 1:00 - 4:30 PM
What: You may bring in a one minute excerpt from any monologue. Or you may do a cold reading from provided selections. Walk-ins will be welcomed, or you may prefer to schedule an audition time (see contact info below).

For more info, and to access the "Vagina Monologues" script, go here.

Rehearsals: Minimal rehearsals will take place on Sundays starting Feb. 8th.

Please contact Beth Bontley, director, at:
Bethbontley@aol.com or by phone at 817-923-2366.

Manuel Diosdado Castillo, Jr. - passes to the other side at the age of 40

This morning I opened some email to find that MANUEL DIOSDADO CASTILLO, JR., the founder and director of San Anto Cultural Arts--which helps underserved youth through mural-building, a teen-produced newspaper, and media education projects--has died after a brief struggle with cancer.

Manuel or "Manny" as we all called him, was only 40 years old.

I met Manny when he was drumming in a garage punk band at a tiny club off Sixth Street in Austin back in the 1990s. He was friendly and laidback cool, though he was ferocious on drums.

His band, Cleofus Trujillo Trio, played at one of the best parties I've yet to throw, when I lived on rural land on the periphery of Austin's city limits. Again, Manuel was alot of fun, and very kind to me.

Over the years, whenever I chanced to run into him in San Antonio, he was always eager to share stories about his projects at San Anto Arts. He kept inviting me to do a poetry workshop or performance for the youths, but my schedule was not on the same page as his, unfortunately.

His death is a great loss to the music and nonprofit and Westside working-class communities of San Antonio and beyond. A few years back, when Ram Ayala, the owner of Tacoland (legendary club where the Sex Pistols and other infamous bands played), was murdered, Manuel bolted into action by organizing a huge memorial show at Tacoland the very next day.

Manny usually had more than one musical project going at any given moment.

In 2007, I stopped in at Ruta Maya Coffeehouse to rendezvous with compas Karimi, Laura Varela, and la Vicki, when I got to catch the end of his set with the go-go-booted soul singer Suzy Bravo. Wow.

I had been hoping for his band, Snowbyrd, to play in Fort Worth sometime, and he'd almost made it happen last summer on their way south from a gig in Kansas, but alas...

The last time I saw him was in late July of 08, when Ramsey and I rolled through San Anto (NOBODY in San Antonio says "San Antone" by the way) on our way home from Mexico. Manuel was leaning on the bar at an old school conjunto joint where a live band was plunking out the Mexican polkas as couples scooted across the smoke-filled dance hall. He embraced me warmly and offered to buy me a longneck, but alas Ramsey was impatient and smoke-intolerant out in the parking lot.

Some opportunities just never make...

Rest in peace, Manuel. I'll bet there are dozens of San Anto graf writers incanting your name with aerosol colors upon the broken plaster and concrete walls of the barrios tonight...

http://www. mysanantonio. com/entertainment/San_Anto_Cultural_Arts_founder_dies. html

Web Posted: 01/06/2009 9:26 CST

Arts leader Manuel Castillo dies at 40


By Elda Silva - Express-News Staff Writer

Though not a visual artist himself, Manuel Castillo changed the face of San Antonio.


The executive director of San Anto Cultural Arts, an organization responsible for more than three dozen murals on the West Side, Castillo died Tuesday evening after a short battle with cancer. He was 40.


The graduate of Holy Cross High School was a founder of San Anto Cultural Arts, which grew out of Inner City Development, a nonprofit group run by former City Councilwoman Patti Radle and her husband, Rod.


“He seemed happiest when he brought the community together to do good things — to share food together, to share art together, to share music together, and he did so much of that through San Anto,” Patti Radle said.


After news of Castillo’s death, Radle was among his friends who gathered outside the squat, neon-green house that is home to San Anto Cultural Arts. At the vigil, some mourners tucked bouquets into the chain-link fence. Others simply stood in the yard illuminated by streetlights and shared memories.


“He’s always been a guy who took good risks and had an amazing love for what it meant to be community,” said artist Cruz Ortiz, a close friend.


Castillo knew the importance of being grass-roots, Ortiz said, although he never used that word. He kept his programs quiet and low-key, much like himself.


“But you walk around these streets, they all know what the impact was,” he said.


Castillo enlisted friends including Ortiz and artist Juan Miguel Ramos to get San Anto Cultural Arts off the ground. The organization’s first mural was celebrated with a blessing in 1994. In 1997, San Anto Cultural Arts was established as a nonprofit organization, and Castillo was hired as executive director.


“I had some idea of doing public art murals because there wasn’t anything like that going on in the city,” Castillo said in an interview in 2007.


In addition to the mural program, San Anto has a media arts program and publishes El Placazo, a community newspaper featuring articles, poetry and art.


Castillo also was a mainstay on the San Antonio music scene, most recently as the drummer in the experimental rock band Snowbyrd.


“I’m dealing with it,” said a somber Chris Lutz, who sings and plays guitar in Snowbyrd. “The greatest and loudest lead drummer in San Antonio underground rock has left the planet.
”

The band recently recorded a seven-song album. A tribute show is planned for Friday at Limelight.


Radle said she used to tease Castillo by referring to his band as his wife.


“He just loved his band so much, loved music so much, loved drumming and loved what music did for people,” she said.


Arrangements are pending with Castillo Mission Funeral Home.


Express-News staff writers Elaine Ayo and Hector Saldaña contributed to this report.