Carlos Mellizo's "Faces from the Hispanic World" exhibit opens Oct. 5 at at UNC Michener Gallery

From a UW press release:

A selection of pencil sketches by Carlos Mellizo, University of Wyoming professor emeritus of philosophy, will be displayed this month in the University of Northern Colorado Mari Michener Gallery, at the north entrance of the James A. Michener Library.

His works, “Faces from the Hispanic World,” will be displayed as part of Hispanic Heritage Month. Photographs from the Gabe & Jody Lopez collection “Beets, Baseball and Beyond” also will be exhibited.

The opening reception for the event will be from 4-7 p.m. Friday, Oct. 5. UNC Professor Emeritus Alfonso Rodriguez will read from his poetry collections and refreshments will be served.

Born in Madrid, Spain, Mellizo has published widely in Spain and Latin America, and has received numerous academic awards for his teaching, research and creative work. Painting and drawing are two of his favorite hobbies.

Photo: This is among the Carlos Mellizo pencil sketches that can be seen this month at the University of Northern Colorado’s James A. Michener Library. (Carlos Mellizo)

"Bilingual Music & Stories: De Colores" Oct. 8 in Jackson with Jose Luis Orozco

"Bilingual Music & Stories: De Colores" with Jose Luis Orozco
Monday, Oct. 8, 6-7 p.m.
Jackson Elementary School Commons, 155 N. Jean St.
Free!

José-Luis Orozco, bilingual educator, children's author and recording artist, will give parents important demonstrations of how to use music, rhythm, games and songs to develop and nurture language and literacy skills, as well as promote cultural diversity and positive self-esteem. This highly interactive workshop brings the rich heritage of the Spanish-speaking world to children and parents. This program will feature stories and songs in Spanish and English.

Born in Mexico City, Orozco grew fond of music at a young age, learning many songs from his paternal grandmother. At age 8, he became a member of the Mexico City Boy's Choir, and traveled the world visiting 32 countries in Europe, the Caribbean, Central and South America. During his tour around the world, he gained the cultural knowledge he now shares with children through his books and recordings.

See more of Orozco and his music and stories at www.joseluisorozco.com or at www.facebook.com/MiJoseLuisOrozco. To learn more about Spanish and bilingual programs at the library, contact the library’s Latino Programs Coordinator, Pati Rocha, 733-2164 ext. 237, procha@tclib.org.

Cinco de Mayo will be first fund-raiser at new Sagebrush Community Art Center in Sheridan

New Sagebrush Community Art Center at Sheridan Historic Depot

The Sagebrush Community Art Center in Sheridan is planning a Cinco de Mayo Celebration on Thursday, May 5, 6-9pm. This will be the first fund-raising event in the new home at the Historic Train Depot, 201 E. 5th St.).

Tickets are on sale at the art center and are $40 per person or $75 for a couple which includes music, a Mexican inspired dinner and one free beverage. Activities include a silent and live auction of artwork from SAGE members and painted and signed ceramic trains from several local celebrities. The trains and ceramic paints were donated by Alex Boyle of “Something to Kiln”, a local paint your own pottery store. There will be piñatas and balloons filled with great prizes including one pass to attend the oil painting workshop by Phil Starke coming in June 2011 in conjunction with the SAGE Juried Art Show. Proceeds will help with art programming and operating expenses of the Sagebrush Community Art Center.

For more information or to purchase tickets please call Executive Director Karen Myers at 674-1970 or email her at artinsheridan@hotmail.com

Crochet across cultures Feb. 1 in Jackson

From the Teton County Library in Jackson:

The Crochet Circle meets at the Teton County Public Library on Tuesday, Feb. 1, 6:30-8 p.m.

Crochet across cultures and learn basic stitches, how to shape a project, and have fun making vests, hats, scarves or flowers with Chilean crocheter Carmen Gloria Rodríguez Sanzana. Bring your own yarn and hooks. Drop-ins welcome. Location: Conference Room. Free. Latino Programs Coordinator, Patty Rocha, 733-2164 ext. 237 or procha@tclib.org. In Spanish and English.

Little kids' art en Español at AVA Center

"Stories from Cuba and Other Places"

In celebration of Latino Heritage Month in October, Teton County Library in Jackson presents Lucía González, an award-winning author, storyteller and children’s librarian. Her presentation, "Stories from Cuba and Other Places"/Cuentos cubanos y de otres parajes, will take place from 6-7 p.m. on Wednesday, October 7, in the library's Ordway Auditorium. Free and open to the public. For ages 4-7. Presented in English and Spanish.

A library press release says: "González is a dynamic and versatile performer who enchants audiences with string stories, puppetry, and anecdotes about growing up in Cuba and coming to America."

Contact: Latino Programs Coordinator, Patty Rocha, 733-2164 ext. 237 or procha@tclib.org.

Cat Urbigkit: "Perros guardianes, perros valientes" due out in August

Pinedale writer and photographer Cat Urbigkit sends this news:

I wanted to share news about the bilingual (Spanish) edition release of my "Brave Dogs, Gentle Dogs" ("Perros guardianes, perros valientes") book. It's featured in the Boyds Mills Press fall 2009 catalog. The new edition was honored as a Junior Library Guild selection in Spring 2009 before its August release date, and will be featured in the September 2009 issue of Junior Library Guild Monthly.

Just in case you wanted to buy a copy at your favorite Wyoming independent bookstore, here are details about the book:

Reading level: Ages 9-12
Paperback: 32 pages
Publisher: Boyds Mills Press; Bilingual edition (August 2009)
ISBN-10: 1590786742
ISBN-13: 978-1590786741
Product Dimensions: 10.8 x 9.8 x 0.2 inches

Dia de los Muertos "sugar skull" workshop

In any language, improv is fun

New from the Teton County Public Library in Jackson:

4, 11, 18, 25 June and 2 July, Wednesdays -- Improv Workshop. 5-7 p.m. Do you like improv? Would you like to learn the art of improv or get a chance to practice it? Not sure what improv is? Theater Director Raúl Juárez offers an introduction to theatrical improvisation in this evening workshop series. Registration preferred. Cost: Free. Location: Ordway Auditorium. Contact: Patty Rocha, 733-2164 ext. 237. In Spanish.

4, 11, 18, 25 de Junio y 2 de Julio, miércoles -- Taller de improvisación teatral. 5-7 p.m. ¿Te gusta la improv? ¿Te gustaría aprender? ¿Te gustaría practicarla? ¿No sabes lo que es la improv? Si puedes contestar “sí” a alguna de estas preguntas, Raúl Juárez te ofrece un taller de introducción a la improvisación teatral. Es preferible que te registres. Costo: Gratis. Lugar: Auditorio Ordway. Contacto: Patty Rocha, 733-2164 ext. 237. En español.

Orozco conducts bilingual program at library

From a press release:

Families with children of all ages are invited to join "An Evening of Spanish Children’s Music" with José-Luis Orozco from 6-7 p.m., on Tuesday, May 20. The bilingual program, presented in the Teton County Public Library's Ordway Auditorium in Jackson, is free and open to the public.


An award-winning songwriter, recording artist and children’s book author, Orozco takes audiences on a musical tour of Latin America. He has recorded 13 volumes of "Lírica Infantil, Latin American Children’s Music," and enjoys introducing listeners to songs, rhymes, tongue twisters, lullabies, games and holiday celebrations from Spanish-speaking countries.

Orozco got an early introduction to music from his paternal grandmother, who taught him many songs during his childhood. At age 8, he joined the Mexico City Boy’s Choir, which allowed him to travel to 32 countries. Seeing such a variety of cultures from Europe to the Caribbean to Latin America shaped his life. Today, Orozco uses song and stories to share his cultural knowledge and experiences with children.

Orozco's latest book is "Rin, Rin, Rin…Do, Re, Mi." It shows how everyday family activities, such as cooking, singing, reading and storytelling foster essential early literacy skills. The book is the first in a series slated for publication by Scholastic’s Latino initiative Lee y Serás (Read and You Will Be), which was created to improve reading and literacy development among Latino children.

Orozco earned a bachelor’s degree from the University of California, Berkeley and a master’s in multicultural education from the University of San Francisco. Born in Mexico City, Orozco has dual U.S. and Mexican citizenship and today lives in Los Angeles.

FMI: Contact Latino Program Coordinator Patty Rocha at 307-733-2164 ext. 237.

Call for entries: poetry anthology

Montana writer Lowell Jaeger is editor of a new poetry anthology and is seeking submissions:

Many Voices Press is accepting submissions for an anthology of poets from Arizona, California, Colorado, Idaho, Montana, Nevada, New Mexico, Oregon, Utah, Washington, and Wyoming. We are selecting poems now. No deadline. We will continue to review submissions until we have selected a quantity sufficient to compile a 400-page manuscript. Poets of the American West will be published in 2009. A $200 Many Voices Prize will be awarded to the "editor's choice" poem from each state.

Guidelines for Submissions:
- Send up to twelve poems of any length, any style, any subject matter
- Include contact information on each poem: name, address, phone, email
- Include a SASE for response. No manuscripts will be returned
- Include a $12 entry fee. All entrants will receive a copy of the anthology (a $20 value). Many Voices Press is a non-profit public service organization
- Poems in Native American languages or in Spanish must also include English translations. (We will publish both versions side-by-side.)
- Include a brief bio (yes, we want to know about your awards and previous publications, but please also tell us something more creative, original, and interesting about your life in the American West).
- Poems previously published must include name of magazine, issue, and date. If the poem was previously published in a book, include title of book, publisher, and date. Important: Authors must obtain reprint rights. MVP cannot pay reprint fees.
- After publication of Poets of the American West, all publication rights revert to the author
- Include a completed Submission Data Form (obtainable by writing to the address below, or printable from our website http://www.fvcc.edu/news-events/academic-news/many-voices-press/)
- Send all the above materials to: Many Voices Press, Flathead Valley Community College, 777 Grandview Drive, Kalispell, Montana 59901. Call 406-756-3907.

Many Voices Press aims to publish the best poems available. Recently we published Poems Across the Big Sky (an anthology of Montana poets), which sold more than 2000 copies in less than six months. We are especially interested in new or established voices of the American West. In addition to poems in English, we are seeking poems in Native American languages or in Spanish.

What Are We Looking For? We are most interested in poems that offer original insights into historical or contemporary life in the American West. We are open to all poems of merit, regardless of style, though narrative poems accessible to a broad readership are most likely to catch our attention.

Author & artist Teresa Jordan visits CWC

Teresa Jordan, who was raised on a cattle ranch near Chugwater and has written or edited many books about rural life in the West, will be speaking at the Central Wyoming College Library in Riverton on Thursday, April 10.

Here's info on the visit from the CWC web site:

Jordan, the author of the acclaimed memoir "Riding the White Horse Home" and the classic study of women on ranches and in the rodeo, "Cowgirls: Women of the American West," gives a free public presentation in the Little Theatre, located in the Student Center, at 6:30 p.m. Following the address, there will be a reception and the author will sign copies of her book.

When Jordan turned 50 she realized that if she were ever to learn a second language, she needed to start. She enrolled in an immersion program in Argentina and threw herself into the culture, where she often found herself center stage in a comedy of errors born of mangled words and missed connections.

Her upcoming book: "Learning the Language: My Extraterrestrial Taxista and Other Mid-life Adventures in Spanish" is the subject of her presentation.

"Learning the Language" is a cultural memoir in the tradition of Peter Mayle's "A Year in Provence," where Jordan weaves personal stories around meditations on broader topics such as language acquisition, the aging brain, and the intense desire of humankind to communicate across barriers of language and culture.

The author, raised in the Iron Mountain country of southeast Wyoming, is the recipient of the Western Heritage Award from the Cowboy Hall of Fame for scriptwriting. She also won a literary fellowship from the National Endowment of the Arts as well as many other literary awards. Her most recent book is "Fieldnotes from Yosemite," the second volume in her series of "Sketchbook Expeditions."

After 20 years as an author, Teresa Jordan turned to visual art as part of a "mid-life expansion." She has had one- and two-woman shows in Salt Lake City at both the Phillips Gallery and Finch Lane Gallery, at the University of Denver, and at the Lewis and Clark Center for the Arts and History in Lewistown, Idaho, and has exhibited in group shows in several Western states.

A frequent public speaker, Teresa has presented keynote addresses to such various organizations and conferences as the Oregon School of Arts and Crafts, the Fife Folklore Conference, the Center of the American West, and the Rocky Mountain Book Publisher's Association. She has served as writer in residence at the University of Nebraska and the University of Utah, and has taught writing at colleges, universities, and workshops throughout the West.

Teresa and her husband, folklorist and public radio producer Hal Cannon, live in Salt Lake City.

FMI: Call the library at 307-855-2141.

Book discussion explores "Enrique's Journey"

You can sign up now for a Spanish Book Discussion featuring "Enrique's Journey" at the Teton County Public Library in Jackson. This book group will follow in the footsteps of a teen undertaking a hazardous journey to find his mother, who left him in Honduras to work in the United States.

Journalist Sonia Nazario's "Enrique's Journey: The Story of a Boy's Dangerous Odyssey to Reunite with His Mother," first appeared as a Pulitzer Prize-winning series in the Los Angeles Times. Nazario expanded the story, with additional research, to create a book, now being made into a dramatic series for television. Patricia Rocha, the library's Latino Services Assistant, selected the book because it highlights challenges faced by some Latino families in Jackson.

Book group participants will meet in the library's Ordway Auditorium from 7-8:30 p.m. on Thursday, April 26 to discuss the book. The program is free and open to adults and teens, ages 15 and up, with books provided. Space is limited to 15 people; registration is required. To sign-up, stop by the library's Information Desk or call Rocha at 733-2164 ext. 237.

En espanol at http://www.tclib.org/espanol/index.php