FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact:
Alberto Cuessy, Interim Public Information Officer
National Hispanic Cultural Center
Phone: 505-246-2261
Email:
YO SOY JOAQUÍN:
Rodolfo “Corky” Gonzales’ Epic Poem Performed atthe NHCC
ALBUQUERQUE, NM. 3/17/2016. The National Hispanic Cultural Center presents performance artist Patricio Tlacaelel Trujillo y Fuentes in a theatrical revival of Rodolfo “Corky” Gonzales’ epic poem Yo Soy Joaquín!as the eighth production in the Center’s 2015-2016 Siembra: Latino Theatre Season. The show opens on Thursday, March 31, running for two weekends in the Wells Fargo Auditorium with performances on Thursday, Friday, and Saturday at 7:30 pm and Sunday at 2 pm. Tickets are $18 with a $3 discount for seniors and students Friday through Saturday, and $10 for the Thursday shows only, and are available from the NHCC Box Office, at (505) 724-4771, or at
First published in 1967, Yo Soy Joaquín!represents a pinnacle in the evolution of Chicano culture, literature, and identity. Described as “the forerunner of the Chicano cultural renaissance,” it is still used in the classroom in teaching Chicano history. For Trujillo y Fuentes, who grew up in the 1960s in Pueblo, Colorado, and has known the poem since he was nine years old, it reflects his upbringing. He still cherishes its words, and feels that this is an opportune time to resurrect it, given the current political climate. When asked why he has chosen to perform it, he responds, “The arts are a fantastic medium for talking about political issues pertaining to social programs, education, poverty, racism and civil rights, and other issues that we face as a nation. I’m glad to be able to present this work in a public setting like the National Hispanic Cultural Center.”
In addition to previous performances at the NHCC, Trujillo y Fuentes has performed at the Museum of Modern Art and the Nuyorican Poets’ Café in NYC, as well as with El TeatroCampesino in San Juan Bautista, CA. Film and television appearances include Bordertown, Maniacs, and Breaking Bad. He is also a visual artist whose work has been featured on magazine and catalogue covers in New York and Albuquerque.
The National Hispanic Cultural Center is dedicated to the preservation, promotion, and advancement of Hispanic culture, arts, and humanities, and is a division of the New Mexico Department of Cultural Affairs.
If you would like more information about this show or otherevents at the NHCC, please call Alberto Cuessy at 505-246-2261 or e-mail .
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