Baca Elementary's Mural
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COLORADO’S #1 HISPANIC-OWNED BILINGUAL PUBLICATION VOL. XLIII NO. 10 National Association of Hispanic Publications March 8, 2017 LA VIDA LATINA Denver Traffic Baca Elementary’s mural Traffic areas of concern increase. BY JAMES MEJÍA Page 7 When bold, new artwork is proposed, reactions can be strong; think of the outcry over the blue mustang outside Denver International Airport or Christo’s ESTA SEMANA proposed draping of 6 miles of Colorado’s Arkansas River. THIS WEEK Conspiracy theories still abound around the mustang’s placement which killed artist, Luis Jiménez, CommUniTY during construction and Christo’s COMUniDAD river masterpiece never got off the ground. Women’s Ten years after the installation of an art piece, the protests are International Day much less frequent. That’s why the Honoring all women recent controversy over a mural by who have helped shape Leo Tanguma, a decade after its Colorado. dedication took many by surprise. 2 Adding color and history to the Baca Elementary lunchroom, CommENTARY “Encuentro” tells a story of choices ComENTARIO the way only Leo Tanguma can. When the mural was first unveiled at the school in 2007, Tanguma Latinos y la expan- explained the meaning of the sión de la libertad piece – a historical jaunt through La historia del crecimiento de estos dos conceptos CONTINUED ON PAGE 8 >> ha llevado a nuestro país en el camino de conver- tirse en una superpotencia El mural global. 6 de Baca SPORTS Elementary DEPORTES Cuando se propone un trabajo de arte atrevido, nuevo, las reac- ciones pueden ser fuertes; piense de la controversia por el caballo Denver Broncos azul en las afueras del Denver Is Dallas Cowboy Tony International Airport o la propuesta Romo headed to Denver? de Christo de envolver 6 millas del 13 Rio Arkansas de Colorado. Teorías de conspiración todavía abun- dan acerca de la colocación del mustang que mató al artista, Luis Photo courtesy: Leo Tanguma Facebook Jiménez, durante su construcción Shown above is part of a Leo Tanguma mural. Many Arriba se muestra parte de un mural de Leo Tanguma. y la obra maestra de Christo que ¿QUE PASA? of Tanguma’s work creates controversy such as the Muchas de las obras de Tanguma crean controversia nunca sucedió. WHAt’s HAPPENING Encuentro mural at Baca Elementary in Pueblo. como el mural del Encuentro en la Escuela Primaria Diez años después de la insta- EVENTS CALENDAR, PAGE 10 Baca en Pueblo. lación de una pieza de arte, las propuestas no son tan frecuentes. Es por eso que la reciente contro- versia acerca de un mural por Leo Tanguma, una década después de su dedicación tomó a muchos por sorpresa. NAHP LATINA Agregar color e historia al comedor de Baca Elementary, PUBLISHER OF THE YEAR “Encuentro” cuenta la historia de opciones en la forma que solo Leo Tanguma puede hacerlo. Cuando se mostró el mural por primera vez CONTINUA EN PÁGINA 15 >> 2 NUESTRA GENTE LA VOZ Bilingüe March 8, 2017 Galiz-Rowe, ‘Your Personal Borderlands’ One day, a friend calls you racist for saying it, says that tell. EDITOR’S NOTE you claim Spain because Mexico is shameful. You’re more On the long drive back from Castle Rock, she vows that resentful of that than you’ve probably ever been of anything. she’ll never tell them, any of them. She can’t bear to hear In 2009 Caitlin Galiz-Rowe was featured as a You tell her that you wouldn’t be ashamed to be Mexican if her sisters mock her or say that her exit from Catholicism is La Voz Student of the Week. Galiz-Rowe was both an you were, but you’re not. You tell her it’s racist to hear that what made you gay. That her “non-traditional” parenting is impressive student who achieved a high standing in someone is Hispanic and instantly call them Mexican. The what made you this way. You sit in silence, juggling heart- academics and community involvement. She graduated Spanish speaking world spreads over two continents, not break and relief. You don’t want your mother to see you as from the University of Colorado in Boulder last May. Her just one country. Being right has always been your favorite some shameful reflection of her choices, but you don’t want exceptional literary work "My Personal Borderlands" was thing, and an argument like this is no different. You believe to tell them either. selected and published by the CU Boulder's Art and all of this because for you it’s true. No one had ever said They say college is one of the best times of your life, Literary Magazine. This is another Student of the Week “Mexican”. the time when you really get to find yourself. Normally, you success story. La Voz is proud to publish her work in its Your mother’s story influences yours more than you prefer to disregard what “they” say. Most of the time, you entirety. ever could have realized. Born and raised in small town feel like “they” should keep their damn mouths shut every Pueblo, Colorado to a first generation ex-marine from Spain once in a while. Going to school has been one of the most BY CAITLIN GALIZ-ROWE and a former nun with a family history in New Mexico going stressful, terrifying, challenging experiences of your life. You never knew back over 12 generations, she didn’t exactly have it easy. But when it comes to the “finding yourself”, “they” seem to you were different Aside from the strict Catholic upbringing, she also dealt with have struck the nail right on the head. Being in college felt until you said palita the small town racism that only the 1960’s could embody so like waking up from a dream and finally getting to see the because you didn’t well. Despite living in a town whose name literally means world for what it is. know the word “town” in Spanish, her language was frowned upon. Spanish “Gay” felt right. It was easy. Seeking out queer groups “dustpan” and the The Honorable was the first language of her two eldest sisters, but the trend on campus just made sense, and Gay Straight Alliance was Christine Arguello other kids made fun ended with them once her parents realized the stigma that the obvious choice. The anxiety you felt walking into that of you. How could came with it. Your mother and your other aunt both learned room the first time was in response to meeting all those you have known? Spanish second, and had to pursue it in school to really people. Feeling like you weren’t enough or that you were You looked just like learn it since their parents did their best to make English a an imposter never factored into the equation. Finding queer everyone else, acted priority for them. community was like being wrapped in a warm blanket by just like everyone Your household is a strange hybrid. Spanglish is the someone who loves you. Trying to find latinx community else, and talked like everyone else. Except for this little slip norm, and was your first language, but English is still what hardly ever crossed your mind. When it did, it felt like trying up. Now all the other kids had found out something you you speak the most. When you get older, you wish your to scale Everest with a step ladder. never even realized was a secret. For the first time, you mother had taught you as a child so you wouldn’t have to “You’re such a gringa!” is a phrase you’ve heard all your understand that there’s a part of you that’s always been take so many classes. life. It’s featured with other greatest hits like, “You only there, but has always been in the back seat, hidden from “¿Quién es ella?” she asks you gesturing towards the TV think this is spicy because you’re so white!” and “You have view, both by your appearance and your upbringing. screen. no rhythm!” and your all time favorite “You’re not in touch “I’m not Mexican, I’m Spanish!” It’s a phrase you’ve said “I don’t know, Mom. Some celebrity I guess.” with your culture!”. Phrases like these grate on you, make for most of your 15-year old life. After all, that’s what your “¡Responde en español! Necesitas practicar!” you frustrated, and when you were little, they used to make family has always told you. “Spanish” as our ethnicity has “I wouldn’t have to if you had just taught me when I was you cry. Apparently your family has never realized that, since always been the status quo when discussing who we are little.” they still use them every now and then. You can shrug and and where we come from. No one has ever said “Mexican”. “I’m teaching you now!” laugh it off now, but that feeling of absence always remains. Looking back, it’s clear that insecurity influenced that word Your mother has cried telling you about being called a Your only encounter with your paternal grandfather choice. No one wants to be Mexican in a world that hates “dirty Mexican” at school, or on the street, or by the parents happened when you were an infant. You have no memory of Mexicans. But back then, you had no way of knowing things of her high school boyfriend. That’s why she left him. She him and your only context is that your father hated him.