As mentioned earlier, the Los Angeles County Museum of Art's Phantom Sightings exhibit opens next week. This latest "state of things" in contemporary post-Chicano art will be a snapshot of the ideas, obsessions, curiosities, and creative expressions by a new generation of Brown artists. And, of course, a chance to drink lots of free beer at the opening. And, as I also mentioned earlier, me and Ruben Ortiz wrote an official "Chicano Timeline 0f Significant Cultura Events" for the show's catalog. Why official? Because we said so. Y Que. Here's three of the entries...
March 1836
San Antonio de Bexar, Republic of Mexico
Among the fallen defenders at the Battle of the Alamo is Major James Butler Bonham, of South Carolina, who historians believe died manning a cannon in the chapel's interior during the bloody final assault. 150 years later, a building named in his honor, the Bohnam Exchange, becomes the largest and best-known gay dance club in South Texas.1858
New York City, New York
The Firth, Pond and Company of New York publish the popular Texican folk song The Yellow Rose of Texas. The tune's lyrics detail the story of the beautiful and winsome mulatto slave Emily Morgan who helped win the decisive Battle of San Jacinto by having sex with General Santa Ana by distracting the self-described "Napoleon of the West" as the army of Sam Houston made their victorious attack. For the record: Emily Morgan never met Santa Ana and never was at San Jacinto -- but it is a true that Mexico lost Texas, the new Republic instituted slavery, and a monument to Emily was once proposed that would feature Santa Ana in his underwear and military jacket as the General picked petals off a rose discretely covering her genitals.January 5, 1914
El Paso, Texas
Two years before his infamous invasion of the United States at Columbus, N.M., Mexican General Pancho Villa signs a movie contract with the Mutual Film Corporation to film Villa in battle "during daylight if possible" in exchange for $25,000. With this contract, Villa -- "the Centaur of the North," leader of the elite cavalry known as los dorados, and political muse of writer John Reed -- becomes the first reality media star.
We wrote about 70 of these true facts from history, from Juan Diego to Selena to Piolin. I'll post a few more entries in the days leading up to the opening.
And finally, here's a Youtube clip for your enjoyment: Visiting me in LA for the Phantom Sightings opening next week will be my old San Anto buddy artist Cruz Ortiz -- who never met a piece of cardboard he couldn't make into a large gallery piece. And then exhibit at the Dallas Contemporary. Cruz's new work for the show has something to do with giant wings constructed of ten foot sticks of bamboo and used H-E-B grocery bags (plastic). He then uses the functional sculpture in a subsequent performance piece in which Cruz will attempt to fly. And then, of course, take the opportunity to drink lots of free beer. A symposium for Phantom Sightings takes place at LACMA from 10:00 am to 5:30 pm. Cruz and his rasquache bamboo wings go airborne in the afternoon. Till then, here's video from his Test Flight #2:
Where can I get a copy of the timeline?
Posted by: Gustavo Arellano | 25 March 2008 at 08:57 PM