City of Laredo, Texas Fine Arts and Culture Commission, 21 Dec 2020

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From YouTube: Fine Arts and Culture Commission 121720 (28 Minutes)

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Fine Arts and Culture Commission 121720 (28 Minutes)

A

Armando you don't have a flag there. Oh there's one right there. Oh here, okay,.

B

C

Okay, I pledge.

C

A

Rock hall, please.

D

Garcia absent armando lopez, president rodriguez president, julio mendes.

D

D

A

Okay, very good, welcome everybody, um I don't know. Are we doing the citizens comments uh with russell.

E

uh um No she's she's speaking on an item and we did not receive any citizens comments this time around. Okay, all right so.

E

A

All those in favor, okay, we are accepting the minutes of last month's meeting as presented and read. Okay, uh any communications and announcements.

E

Just to let you know, and I'm sure a lot of you saw the press conference that was held on wednesday, announcing the mural mirio grande by tony briones. That's going to be at the inner city park on 202 west plum, just as an information. The city council did vote to match a grant.

E

In the amount of ten thousand dollars- and this was in june of 2020.

A

Okay, so did he finish that email.

E

Is it fizzy? No, no, no he's just. uh It was just to announce it that they were. They are gonna. Do it it's supposed to be finished, maybe in the summer of 2021. it's uh one of the biggest murals that we're going to have. I think in the city.

A

Yeah, I think I read about that. um What was the address.

E

Again, 202 west plum and it's the inner city park.

A

What what district is is that in that is uh mr torres district district, 4.? Okay, that's my.

A

Desk need um any other communication and announcements, no okay. So this cards update on the public box, master club.

E

Well, we can, we can. Finally, let you know who got the contract, it was awarded december 7th by city council and it is up art studio from.

A

A

Yeah, I had a feeling forget it. Yes, yeah, just from the meeting that we had the interviews, the interviews.

E

But they had a lot.

A

A lot of artwork that they have been involved with and have done, and I mean one of them- is an artist himself. So he's done some hard work, but a lot of the things that they presented, projects that they have done for uh were very impressive.

A

So it's exciting that um do you know when they get started on that.

E

um They they have to get the contract, signed, um they're, gonna, work on that and- and of course, have our legal department also look at it um as soon as it's signed, they're gonna have 240 calendar days to complete the master plan. Okay,.

A

Great then, we'll be hearing about that. I guess because I understood there was going to be community involvement when they present the master plan. Then they're going to present they're going to have different facets of it, that the communication can be.

E

Involved and I'm sure they want to meet with the commission also okay, so we will have them probably on uh at one of our meetings. That's wonderful.

A

That's great okay, so then we go on to the update on the city of laredo, poet, laureate, okay and.

E

And, um of course, also on december 7th, the city council officially appointed ms rosa maria as the official city of laredo poet, laureate and she is joining us uh over the phone and I'm sure she wants to say a few words.

A

F

I can't see you yet yeah. That's.

A

Okay, we can hear you.

F

Okay, thank you so much. First of all, my gratitude to all of you, for uh you know for selecting me, I feel very honored, and what can I say I I'm very honored to to do this. I've been doing uh all my life. You know I've been promoting poetry.

F

Of my, my official poetry contest there at martin high school, and it seems every year after that I've been involved in some kind of poetry, and so I'm very very grateful to you all and I'm ready to start my whatever. I have to do that.

E

She has to participate in at least four events and I'm sure we can find them. We already have a list here at the library, but we're gonna get creative and she's gonna fulfill her role.

F

Of course yeah I I have tons of ideas. I belong to gemini inc from san antonio and I go to a lot of work with them, so I I would like to take this to the community sort of, like the slam, poetry, that mando does. I tend to.

F

Since we're a bilingual bicultural city promote poems in both english and spanish, I just received a book. My christmas present from one of my kids was a bilingual book. Poems of protest and revolution pablo.

F

Would be great to you know something like that and and then have the the audience the community participate. Writing something you know along the lines. I if I I just said pablo neruda and he could they could write something a la pablo, neruda or whatever. You know, I'm very excited.

F

Events, you mean like um what kind of events do you do you mean I? I have no idea what you mean by that. Well,.

E

um We do have an annual poetry festival. This year we posted it. We hosted it online because uh we were supposed to have the.

F

Actual okay and april I've been doing online with gemini inc. You know it seems a lot with our own chibi or dunya. Well, he's he's.

F

Been edward from the valley with our own poet, laureate for the state of texas, emmy perez she's, my friend and I've taken classes with her and so.

F

It's not only shakespeare birthday, but it's also.

F

F

You know, since I was a spanish teacher but and we are bilingual by cultural and it's so.

F

F

Where the the community can participate in both, you know.

F

Yeah, yeah and- and we have the the the theater- that's uh the laredo theater guild international that have produced both in english.

F

You can understand, or at least get the taste of it. You know and then have it in both. That's that's one of my goals.

F

I wish I could show you the book that I have right.

A

Here you can come back and join us for some meetings.

F

Yes, yes, and I'm sorry, I think I'm gonna have somebody come and show me how to do, because it's telling me all these things, but I can't I can't.

F

Yeah, I have everything except I can.

G

See and- and I love the article in the newspaper was beautiful- I love that you talk about your family and for your interest in poetry came from, uh it was beautiful and uh I, for one am certainly I'm eager to see you create something and do something.

G

To see something in the area of being multicultural, we have not only our two cultures but there's a lot of other cultures. Here, uh of course, yeah. We would love to give everybody an opportunity to you know to show us their culture, yeah.

G

You know you're you're, a natural teacher and, and the idea is that you would want to do something for you get the community involved, especially the students.

G

Looking forward to seeing more from you.

F

Thank you so much mata, and and now that you mentioned um the melinda chadwi article, my my two nominators, you know money, that's a work. uh Sylvia bruni and also gabby have asked me. If there's going to be something in english. For my my because there was no news in the english.

E

E

And I just sent her the information on it.

F

F

You know I mean I'm very grateful to malena she's, my personal friend from where colleagues at the tamiu we used to teach together and we're colleagues for the hispanic doctoral. Of course, I I I stepped down and I stayed abd.

F

And I did not continue because I'm already 74 so.

A

Another harriet for the city of laredo, it's very exciting and we look forward to all the wonderful things that we can bring about and I guess you know what you you're right.

A

F

Absolutely right- and I know I know that's my friend gail- I can recognize.

G

F

Yeah my marilyn diana's good friend, she.

C

F

You you know that, yes,.

E

F

F

And I wish I could show you the book.

F

My kids sent me: I want you to know dr villarreal, it's in portuguese, one of my favorite, poems poet in the world is for happens to be brazilian carlos and I know portuguese.

F

You know not enough to write it, but it has portuguese. It has the indian languages it has mayan my roots. I always I always I'm so proud of my mayan roots because of maya, the mayas had poetry and song and dance and and art they're, very artistic. The the people from yucatan.

F

So I always you know, I'm very proud of my family, my family's background and heritage, because I think that's where I got it from and that's.

A

F

Always you know mentioned them.

A

I'm sure you did, I know the talent runs through families. It definitely does.

F

Can I say I I wish I could see you but.

G

Yeah, hopefully, if you have before the computer I mean next year, uh they will be able to take a picture with our first poet. Laurie I'd, love a condition and have a picture yeah.

E

Definitely yeah.

F

You could use also, of course one with you would be ideal, but uh santos was here at my house and took a lot of other pictures that could be used for you know for that, for the story, if need be, you know yeah. Thank you.

F

Thank god for the vaccine and maybe bye.

A

F

Holidays happy.

B

F

F

I'm very very proud of you got.

F

And I want you to know already one of my neighbors brought me poems, so I can review them and tell them what I think.

F

Already brought me a poem, what do you think he just left them in my mailbox? How cute.

A

That's wonderful.

F

That was yeah, that was nice, that was nice, that they were doing that and I yeah I encourage people. I mean I've done that all my life, so yes,.

F

So um have a wonderful temporada and we'll see you soon: okay,.

C

We'll see you.

C

Soon you thank you. Thank.

F

You for inviting me bye, bye, bye,.

A

Bye: okay, merry christmas!

A

uh Next on the agenda is the city of laredo art and uh next on. The agenda is the city of laredo art.

E

Also on december 7th, the city council approved this uh art and public places policy, and it's just guidelines and requirements for encouraging art in public.

E

Places point out is that um murals shall not be allowed on city buildings. If you recall at the last meeting, I was telling you about councilman velma wanting to put some murals on the library tower.

E

Not allowing that it can be anywhere on city property,.

A

A

Okay, so this is interesting, I'm glad we have it in place. You don't have money to give out for new work or any kind of projects. Unfortunately, I don't know.

C

E

No, um the the funds were divided equally among the the city council and, of course,.

C

Those three who did not take the funds.

E

It was two that uh wanted to use it for for the master art plan and it's uh councilman altke went ahead and contributed to that.

E

The funds for the uh master plan are coming.

A

Three people but okay. Well, that's good! That's really! Good news! um Okay! I don't know. If there's any more information, we need to schedule. The next meeting.

A

B

Can I ask you just a question on this policy.

B

Yeah on the section.

B

But it doesn't say, use it.

B

No, can you manage your nerve counsel.

E

They might choose to to bring it before the the commission if they, if they wish um and that's up to the the city council member and whose district it's going to be.

B

Okay, well, I think it's gonna be because if you're not listening, you say well.

B

The policy doesn't.

B

A

It will be considered.

A

B

You know something has to happen to to to to get the discussion about making more specific or making more.

A

B

More helpful to the people like of your republican.

A

A

Then he's no longer that he's the one nominated in his addiction and I believe that's the better in that place.

A

Ali is no longer either melissa straw and I don't remember who else.

A

Is? Oh, that's right, yeah! That's right! There's three.

E

And I'd I'd like to write, uh uh so the commission can the members that are on the uh the commission can stay until uh the new city council member appoints somebody new.

A

Yes, I understand.

B

A

I'm not sure how how that happens, or.

B

Well, no, I mean if the person decides to treat somebody else, that's.

A

Right yeah, that's.

B

Their prerogative with the pleasure of them.

E

It's not unheard of. If you would like to stay to let the new council member know that you would like to stay.

G

G

About replacing angie I I need a name.

G

To the area of the arts, uh so that you know we can strengthen our commission, we with people that you know are artistic in any area, and so that was the reason I thought a great young man that can do this, but I haven't heard back, but if you know anybody that you would be interested, I.

G

If you're willing to stay, I can also approach them and and ask if they would be willing, unless you want to do it. Maria.

E

um No, it's it's not. uh I mean I can. Let them know that somebody's interested, but it would probably be be better. Coming from the commission.

A

All right: okay, okay, I have a question so there's been quite a few absences from some of our members. uh What is going on with that? um We.

E

We are going to.

E

The attendance for the last six months, um it is up to angie's who's, the official liaison to let the city uh secretary know about the the absences.

E

Okay and hopefully uh they let the city council member, know, and it's up to them to see if they want to appoint somebody else. Okay,.

A

A

I would love to stay if vanessa perez would would be agreeable to that. I would just stay all right. I don't know.

A

I can contact her okay, sure, okay, great, of course it's up to her, but and I don't know uh who's who's. The representative for bali's district.

G

A

More than happy to have julio.

D

A

Yes, and who else the other ones.

B

Yes, that's my my best.

E

Okay, yeah: it's not gutierrez.

B

It's a lot less stressful than everything I do today. So it's fun. I mean too.

G

We will miss you greatly. Let me tell you, let me tell you it's um you contacted couples, members and believe it or not. It takes you two to three points: to get him to respond to this.

G

A

Okay, is there any other new business, any other things that we need to discuss.

C

E

Next meeting next year january, 21st also probably by via webex at 5 30., that's my birthday.

C

A

That's okay: we can have a celebration together.

E

We will have quarantine cake.