OREGON S LESBtAN/GAY/BI/TRANS/QUEER NEWSMAGAZINE
MAY 21. 2010
|9
Senses of Pride
Jooquin Lopez serves up food, theater, music and more
This year’s production o f American Sue­ where he works in addition to running his pride in everything he does.”
ño at the Miracle Theatre, part o f January’s own catering business, Mayahuel C ater­
López began catering for Portland’s La­
Fertile G round Festival, was a piecemeal ing. His days are also busy giving private
tino Gay Pride in its inaugural outing (2006)
trium ph. Interweaving four individual voice and songwriting lessons, teaching but joined the planning committee last year,
tales o f family, coming out and the Latino-
guitar and songwriting for grades 3-12
sowing the seeds for the very first Voz Alta
American experience, the performances
throughout the Portland area and with the
at Miracle Theatre. This year’s performance
were laced with powerful, affecting emo­
afterschool Sun Program and the I H ad a will incorporate the event’s La Lucha
tion. The effort that went into these moving
Dream Foundation, rehearsing for the June
theme, alongside Mexican folkloric and
portrayals was nothing if not painstaking, 4 rem ount o f American Sueño, and putting popular music, and original music featuring
requiring workshop interviews with real together this year’s Voz Alta for Portland
Los Palmeros Mariachi band vocalist Edna
people in Portland over
Latino Gay Pride. In
Vazquez in accompaniment with López.
a period o f months. The
short, López’s time
“Many things in Voz Alta are wanting
soundtrack
nurtured
is stretched to the
to step outside your present self for a better
a truly organic atm o­
seams.
life,” explained López o f the show’s mes­
sphere, and few walked
López told Just sage. “So we have poems that are rooted in
away w ithout being
Out he views the bal­
someone trying to look outside their rela­
touched by the charac­
ancing act o f respon­
tionship to find happiness. We have some
ter o f Augustin Obrero
sibilities like “a candle
people coming from [one] country into
de la Torre—played
burning at both ends,” another country like this one trying to find
by Joaquin López— a
and that his art is life outside themselves. We have people
gay,
undocumented
conceptual in turn.
who have been oppressed wanting to find
imm igrant working as
“[My projects] all life and be living.”
a musician to support
kind o f bleed into each
López is also finding time to organize
his elderly parents,
other,” said López. the Sabor a Mexico, or “Taste of Mexico,” on
who are unaware o f his
“M y artwork, my m u­ June 24 at the Jupiter Hotel. He revealed
homosexuality. Lopez’s
sicianship, my writing, that the event would not only include heap­
T
h
e
ev
ent
s
I'm
contributions outside
some o f it was used ing helpings o f Mexican food, but a large
i
n
v
o
l
v
e
d
with
feed
o f this one produc­
for American Sueño. I exhibition o f Mexican art— once again per­
tion have been equally
me cu ltu ra lly , a n d
pulled from my own fecting an amalgam o f the senses. According
infused with careful
library to use for Voz to Martinez, this is nothing new.
in a w a y spiritually
thought, passion and a
Alta, and so I’m just
“For us, he’s been a constant worker,
so in d o i n g them I
profound capacity for
sourcing things. I ’m
and then he also has that artistic, theatrical
g
e
t
to
know
myself
art and family.
not creating anything bent,” said Martinez. “He gives this perspec­
a
little
more,
a
n
d
López was born in
new. I just take from
tive that we really need in terms o f what our
g e t in t o u c h with
Los Angeles. His fam­
what I know and put messages mean."
ily moved to Beaverton
it together and focus
“The events I’m involved with feed me
p e o p l e . It's just
when he was just five
it on the evening or culturally, and in a way spiritually,” ex­
w h a t I do."
years old. After gradu­
focus it on the show.”
plained López. “So in doing them I get to
ating from Southern
López’s love o f know myself a little more, and get in touch
Oregon State University, where he studied
Mexican folkloric music and storytelling with people. I t’s just what I do.” J S
theater, López briefly revisited his South­
is largely evident within his projects— even
ern California roots, studying vocal perfor­
within the scope o f his food.
Voz Alta descends upon the Miracle Theatre
mance at the Los Angeles M usic Academy.
Wednesday, June 2 to kick o ff La Lucha 2010.
“Food for him is really a metaphor, it’s
H e returned to the Portland metro area in
not just ‘we need to feed,m said David M ar­ From 6 to 7:30p.m., there w ill be food, tequila
2000 and has been here ever since.
tinez, co-founder o f Portland Latino Gay and beer tastings. Doors to the theater open at
7:30p.m., and the show begins at 8. There is a
López’s family owns the popular A l­
Pride. “It represents our culture, so he’s all
$5 suggested donation. A ll ages.
berta Arts District taqueria La Bonita, about the display. He really takes so much
Wed.. June 2. 6 -9 pm
Voz Alto
A “loud voice” evening o f music, drama and
song. Miracle Theatre, 525 SE Stark; $5 sug­
gested donation, all ages.
Thurs.. June 3. 6 :30-9 pm
Escribir. Leer. Luchar
Literary event featuring Charlie Vázquez and
Charles Rice-González. Aura Restaurant
+ Lounge, 1022 W. Burnside; $5 suggested
donation, 21 and over.
Fri.. June 4. 3 pm
Book reading and signing featuring
Vazquez ond Rice-Gonzolez.
Portland State University, Room TBA; free,
all ages.
Fri.. June 4. 7 pm VIP Reception. 9 pm doors
La Lucho Dance Party
Red carpet, guest DJ and more. Boxxes, 1035
SW Stark; $5 as of 9 p.m., 21 and over.
Fri.. June 4. 8 pm
American Sueño
Miracle Theatre; $20 general admission tickets,
$15 students, all ages.
Sot.. June 5. II am -2 pm
Chicos Who Brunch
Networking and social event with a focus
on LGTBQ_Latinas, their experiences and
contributions. Jupiter Hotel Courtyard, 800 E.
Burnside; $25,21 and over.
Sot.. June 5. 3 -5 pm
Voces de Jovenes (Youth Voices)
Spoken word, original poetry and storytelling
for youth with guest authors Vázquez and
Rice-González. PSU’s Smith Memorial Union
Building, room 327; free, teens and up.
Sun.. June 6. 4 -8 pm
Portland Latino Gay Pride Festival
The closing event, featuring local and national
entertainers and artists and the announcement
o f the 2010 Mariposa Award recipients. Jupiter
Hotel, 800 E. Burnside; $5 suggested donation,
21 and over.
Visit latinogaypridepdx.com fo r more information.