Understanding of Latin art, politics
key to social justice, council says
Some people see art and politics as being con
tradictory by nature. They see art as a sublime
transcendence of human !>oundarios and politics as a
mundane definition of them. But to the people who
work at the Council for Human Rights in laitin
America, art can be a window to other cultures — a
means of raising awareness about political and social
issues.
' By understanding the culture and the roots of
latln America ti»day. we can understand the difficulties
these people now face, whether they’re social-justice
issues or human-rights issues or political Issues." says
Chris Oisinger, CHRLA office manager.
CI1K1.A is located just off campus at 1236 Kincaid
St. Founded as the Eugene Committee for a Free Chile
In 1975. the council has evolved Into a i^ttin American
cultural center as well as a human-rights organization.
In the past 11 years, the council has brought numerous
latln American artists to Eugene, including poets from
Chile, writers from Cuba, filmmakers from Argentina
and musicians from Nicaragua.
In December. CHRLA sponsored a concert by
Nicaraguan singer/composar l.uis Codoy and his
group. Mancotal. Codoy. considered one of
Nicaragua's foremost songwriters, sings about the
everyday concerns of Nicaragua's common people.
"It’s music that tries to address the people of
Nicaragua who had bean neglected for years.” Orsinger
says. "They had a very high illiteracy rate (before the
1979 revolution), as well as a lot of hunger and
malnutrition. Codoy plays a song called Bread With
Dignity.' What does a song like that mean to someone
who’s been hungry most of their life, someone who’s
seen their children starving because of the economic
relationship they had as a tenant farmer working for a
very rich landowner? So the music reflects these
changes."
Robert Guttteau. project coordinator, points out
that in pre-revolutionary Nicaragua art was almost ex
clusively for the benefit of the elite. "Before the revolu
tion. the people who had money bought, at will, all the
pre-Columbian art and all the art by well-known ar
tists." he explains. "All the national treasures were in
people’s homes. There weren’t any museums. There
was no effort to protect art. as is still the case in many
Latin American countries.” Guitteau says that since the
revolution, Nicaragua has experienced an explosion of
creativity at all levels of society.
The council has brought several Nicaraguan artists
and speakers to Eugene in recent years. Qrsinger says
that despite living under the threat of a US military in
vasion, these Nicaraguans bear no animosity toward
people in this country.
”1 think the Nicaraguans separate the American
government from the American people,” Orsinger says.
“And I think they all come here with a desire to com
municate something: that they are under seige by the
contra forces organized by the United States.
"I think they want to convey a message of peace
and show something about who they are, so that people
here can understand that they're not something evil
that should be wiped out. This kind of thing helps peo
ple in Oregon understand who the Nicaraguans are.
This is an important part of what we do.” Orsinger says
it’s a lot easier to listen to someone singing a song about
his country than to listen to someone giving a speech.
Besides hosting l,atin American artists and musi
cians. CHRLA puts on film festivals and exhibits of folk
art. Another important aspect of the council, according
to Orsinger. is its collection of I.atin American books
and periodicals.
”No discussion of the council’s cultural program
would be complete without mentioning our library, our
resource center.” he says. "It includes not only non
fiction books, but also books on poetry, books on
theater, literature from Cuba. Argentina and so forth.
We also have I.atin American periodicals that probably
aren't in the main library.”
Orsinger says the council also has a videotape, film
and slide library. One of the most interesting videos, he
says, is about mural painting in Chile. Chilean
muralists. living under a Fascist dictatorship, paint
their subversive images in the middle of the night, with
the certain knowledge that their mural will be painted
over by the police within a day or two. The video, call
ed "Blackboards of the People.” follows this prolific
process.
CHR1-A plans on bringing the Chilean group Inti
Iliiinani (whose members live in exile in Rome) back to
Photo by Maria Corvallis
CHRLA Office Manager Chris Orsinger (left) and Pro
ject Coordinator Robert Guitteau help the council
provide Latin American perspectives such as the
Peace Mural outside the council office which was
painted by Chilean artist Francisco etilier with the
assistance of Nicaraguan Alejandro Caneles.
Eugene this fall. An exhibit of Mexican folk art is also
scheduled. The annual Latin American Peace Festival
will be held in Skinner's Butte Park in July. Many other
cultural events are in the planning stage.
Orsinger says the council will continue its cultural
programs as long as there’s a need to increase American
awareness of the Latin perspective. “We will continue
as a cultural center, and also as an educational center
that attempts to educate through culture.”
By Kevin Harrington
Four bands part of benefit
for radio station KRVM
Four o! Eugene's top bands will be
featured at the WOW Hall tonight as part of a
fundraiser for non-commercial, listener
supported PM radio station KRVM,
Stogie Mery. The Surf Trio, The Leal
Falcone A-Go-Go with The Left Side Dancers,
and The imposters are donating their talents
toward a concert-dance to help raise money for
KRVM, which is licensed to the Eugene School
District.
At-the-door admission is $4. Doors open
at 0:00 and the show begins at 9:30. Beer and
wine are available to those over 21 with
identfication.
'
The WOW Hall is wheelchair-accessible,
and is located at West Eighth Avenue and Lin
coln Street
For more information, call the WOW Hall
at 687-2746 or KRVM at 687-3370,
OFF
On any
1/3 pound
Jamie's Burger
Coupon expires 5/15/86
2445 Ntlyard 5t 542-2206
1810 Chambers 5t 545-0485
Eugene. Oregon 97405
r
! 50*
Shumba to play
benefit dance
Tim sounds of Zimbabwe will
fill the Wlllard-Eastside
Elementary School gym Satur
day night, when the marimba
ensemble Shumba gives a
benefit concert-dance to raise
money for Bright Wings Cancer
Support (-enter.
The event will also mark the
first Bright Wings Reunion
Dance for clients, workshop
participants, class members or
book borrowers.
Drinks and baked goods will
be sold. All funds raised at the
event will help underwrite
Bright Wings services for
families in l-ane County.
Tickets cost $4 per person, $7
per couple and $10 per family.
The dance will run from 8 p.m.
to midnight.
.*
l
Read the Emerald
★ COPIES ★
Krazy Kata
Try Urn!
8*4 East 13th at.
—CLIP COUPON——f
1 FREE Soda
plus
OFF
any slice
1 11:30 Midnight. Mon. • Fri.
I 3:30 ■ Midnight, Weekends
1211 Alder on Campus
686-9598
Sy's
New
York
Pizza
coupon •xpiros 5/11/86
•CLIP COUPON i
EMU Food Service and the Cultural Forum Present The
Beer Garden
□TODAY□
Good Music & Cold Beer
4 - 7 pm
in the EMU fountain Court
Pood & Mon-Alcoholic Beverages Available
I D Required