Changing Lenses

I met a travelling nurse this weekend. She moved from Orlando to Nashville a week ago and will be here 3 months. I identified with her on many levels. Her family is from Latin America, I think she said Honduras. She grew up bi-culturally and hasn’t spent much time in her family’s homeland. I could also relate to her view of her time in Nashville. She knew she would be here for a finite time and wanted to see as much of the city as she could before moving on to the next assignment. Nashville has been home for 20 years. I graduated high school and college here, I got my first job at Guinn’s Shoes in neighboring Hendersonville. Today I see my beloved city the way the travelling nurse does. I have to see and experience everything I have not taken advantage of. All the parks I need to hike, the events I need to attend, the people I need to spend a little extra time with. I’m not saying goodbye to Nashville yet, but I know that day is coming.

I have also changed lenses on the way I see my neighborhood. My amazing realtor has been sending me listings of comparable homes in my area and I am in shock and disbelief at the asking prices. Yes my neighborhood is awesome, the yards are big the homes are sturdy and the location is close to everything. It’s not East Nashville, but for new Nashville, it’s close enough.

Clueless Latina in Nashville: Mas Música

I was finally heading home after a very busy day of running around at work when my buddy invites me to see Gilberto Gil at the Schermerhorn Symphony Center. I knew he was playing here because I read about it on Hispanic Nashville. ;) But here’s the part where I admit I’d never heard of him. Yes, I often reside under a rock. It turns out he’s a Grammy winning legend. Where better to be introduced to such a man than Music City? And more specifically, the amazing Schermerhorn. Cindy McCain says that for almost half a century he has “wowed crowds worldwide mixing samba, bossa nova, rock, reggae, and funk.” All I know is that while listening to him and his band do their magic I closed my eyes and imagined myself on a gorgeous beach in Brazil. Ahhhh. As the evening progressed I told myself I was far too tired to get up and dance despite the temptation to do so. But the music and energy were too good to just sit there. By the end of the night Gilberto had everyone in that beautiful building on their feet. I danced, I clapped, I sang along, I laughed, I forgot my troubles. More musically inclined folks can tell you what kind of music he played and the history, significance, etc. What I can tell you is that it was good. He’s a legend, people! Viva Brasil

Latina in Nashville: ARTEmio

It's another chilly Thursday evening and my buddy and I head over to Watkins College of Art, Design & Film for a lecture by self-taught, Mexican printmaker, Artemio Rodriguez. This guy tells the Watkins Art students the story of his life. The more he talks the more enchanting he becomes. He's sweet, honest, and totally open. He isn't afraid to talk about his fears, his mistakes or his passion for his art. It was refreshing to hear an artist speak so humbly about his incredible work and journey. The students laughed when he used the *f* word and I laughed when he cursed under his breath in Spanish. I was pleased that the students got to hear about his experience crossing the border and what life is really like in Mexico beyond what you hear in the news.

Rodriguez learned the art from a friend and mastered it. He specializes in Linocut which is carved linoleum that is then fed through a printer press. He has a few young students in his shop back in Mexico. I'm so happy to know that there are little Artemios out there soaking in all of his knowledge and talent.

The patience, skill, and creativity Rodriguez employs is evident in each one of his pieces. His humor, frankness, and humility are just icing on the cake.

YouTube video below:

Latina in Nashville: Art

About the blog created in 2011:
I have been known to complain about the lack of activities in Hispanic Nashville. That doesn’t mean that as Hispanics we don’t participate in non-Hispanic events, we most certainly do. But the events I enjoy most are the ones that somehow relate to my people or the experiences we share. The good news is that the variety of Latino-related events are increasing day by day. This is a review of the events I am able to attend.

1st Post - Latina in Nashville: Art

On a cool and quiet Thursday evening my buddy and I went on a mini Hispanic Nashville arts tour. Our first stop was the second floor of Vanderbilt’s beautiful Cohen Hall. There we saw “MAMA/RECIPROCAL ENERGY” a small sampling of Cuban-born Maria Magdalena Campos Pons' multi-media artwork. The colors, composition, and creativity are a treat to the eyes and mind. The subjects and themes of the work are a treat for the soul.

We quickly made way to our next stop, the Sarratt Student Center’s gallery in the lobby. There we enjoyed a sampling of José Galvez’s black and white photos of Hispanics in the South. I am thrilled to know that there is someone out there dedicating his life (over 40 years) to visually documenting the life of Hispanics all over the United States through photography. The people in the photographs are as diverse as their surroundings. There’s a young quinceañera practicing her moves with a dance team for her big day, a marcher holding a US flag to his face, and a blue collar worker in full work gear. I was excited to see a photograph of a couple and a little girl at the Nashville International Airport waiting for mother to arrive. I couldn’t help think of the DREAM ACT when I saw a photograph of two young boys on bikes on College St. The artist is aware his photographs are of regular, mundane life. The beauty is witnessing “how people naturally arrange themselves against their environment” as the artist’s statement explains. Galvez hopes to do justice to who we as Latinos really are, have been, and are becoming. To that I say, thank you.

Both of these exhibits are free and a short distance from each other. It’s worth the gas or bus money to get your self there. Campos Pons' work will be on display through December 8 while Galvez's photographs will be available through October 29th. I’ll wait for a free day at the Frist Center for the Visual Arts to see the rest of Campos Pons work.