MeanLittleBumbleBee

Singer "Gitana" with PL curator Sandra Trevino

Over the last few months several phrases have popped into regular conversation with friends. One such phrase for me: Proyecto Latina.  I heard about it through my lovely friend Sandra Trevino and started digging around their site for info.  In short: it is a “multi-media project that amplifies the success and impact of Latinas” in the community. There’s a monthly reading series, a website that profiles Latinas in the arts, highlights cultural events and is a resource to share stories and be a part of a community.  My curiosity was piqued and I planned to attend a reading series and check it out for myself.

For the August monthly reading series, Proyecto Latina tapped my friend Sandra to be its first ever guest ‘curator’ giving her free rein to choose who and what was presented.  It was the perfect opportunity to check out Proyecto Latina for myself and support a friend.  Sandra has been involved in the Latin alternative community in Chicago for over 10 years. She does it all. No, really. She manages a band ([.DESCARGA.]), she has interviewed dozens of major label international touring acts (Los Fabulosos, Camilo Lara, Nortec), she is one of the founders of Enchufate.com (click on it and check it out for yourself), she has worked as a television producer, camerachick, video editor, and is featured on Vocalo Radio (89.5FM) for a Sandra’s Seven in Seven segment.  As if that’s not enough, she is also a musician in her own right (violin) and a writer of poetry and music.

I arrived at Café Catedral and headed to the back room which was humming with activity. There were still a few empty seats and they wouldn’t stay empty for long as the room eventually filled to capacity with women of all ages and color.  After a brief welcome and introduction Irasema Gonzalez took the stage and read a piece she wrote about a childhood memory of her brother taking her to see a fight.  A couple of poets took the stage to read, few chismes (juicy gossipy bits submitted anonymously before the start of the reading) were read and then Sandra took over.

First up was Elizabeth Colin of Grupo Atroz who discussed a surrealist play (“Fando y Lis”) she was hoping to get on stage in Chicago.  She recounted some of the negative experiences she has had in trying to do so. Next up was Mariel “La Gitana” Zavala who performed three original pieces a capella.  Gitana is one of those souls who just radiates love and appreciation for all that she has in life. Her energy is contagious and inspiring.  Rounding out the night was the bomba group Buya or rather, the women of the group, Las Reinas de Buya.  For those not familiar with the genre, bomba is a type of music from Puerto Rico that is comprised of drums, dancing and singing.  The focus of each performance is on a dancer’s conversation with the primo (drum). There can only be one primo otherwise the conversations are lost and competing for your ear.  Three pieces were performed including an original written by Gitana (who is a part of Buya).  There was a demonstration afterward of the different styles of dance, drums and rhythms. This is my third time seeing Buya live; no two shows are the same, each song becomes an extended jam session. It was heartening to see two young girls, daughters of a singer for Buya, join their mother on stage to participate in drumming and singing.  It was a great night showcasing up and coming talent and Sandra, as curator, brought an eclectic mix of people together.

Buya