On the road to Rocky Point, many travelers go through the town of Ajo, AZ, skirting by the picturesque plaza and hints of the mining history of the small town just under 2 hours from the US/Mexico border. Those who have driven through Ajo in recent years have surely noticed revitalized shops around the plaza, announcements for 2nd Saturday Arts, Farmer’s Market, and most recently promotion for the Community Arts Gathering to be held March 14 – 18, 2015. It is worth noting that some local artists from Puerto Peñasco will be taking part in this upcoming gathering as well! – RockyPoint360
Community Arts Gathering
The Community Arts Gathering is a coming together of artists diverse in culture, discipline, and practice, held at the intersection of three nations – the U.S., the Tohono O’odham Nation, and Mexico. Artists will occupy this unique place in the Sonoran Desert as a framework for a larger national and international dialogue on socially engaged practice and community based arts. This is an opportunity for renewal, connection, sharing, and inspiration between artists working within community.
The Community Arts Gathering will offer five days of exciting performances, presentations, workshops and exhibitions of work by community artists from around the country and Mexico. Some of the participants in this year’s gathering are:
José Torres-Tama – Performance Voices Across Borders Project – Performance of “Aliens, Immigrants, & Other Evildoers” www.torrestama.com
Los Cenzontles Performing Ensemble – Lecture and demonstration on Mexican music and dance, plus short film screenings about the vital role that traditional and vernacular cultural arts play in issues around the evolution of identity, acculturation and engagement. www.loscenzontles.com
Marc David Pinate – Ajo Memory Project Phase 2: Redemptive Remembering – Will conduct interdisciplinary, site specific performance based on oral histories of Ajo residents. www.marcdavidpinate.com
Tay and Val – Dreams Unlimited @SONORAN – Interactive multimedia presentation
Street Art Happening – Grab a piece of the wall- we plan to enliven an alley between two historic warehouse buildings in the center of town. With over 300 feet of wall space we will divvy it out as designs come in. Painting to take place any time of day or night, with programs and audience interaction happening throughout.
Alma Angelina Yanes Leyva – Recycled Tires [Puerto Peñasco artist!] A workshop learning how to use recycled materials to make useful things – turn old tires into pots, swings, figures for gardens, parks or home. Yanes Leyva encourages the artistic education and culture of recycling so that people in the community may have the opportunity to learn and teach others this type of work.
Joan Baron – PLACE Participants will set out with interdisciplinary practitioner & environmental artist Joan Baron to uncover and recognize the unique history within the physical terrain of Ajo, Arizona. www.joanbaron.com
Carina A. del Rosario – Passport Office and Series (interactive art installation)
Visit ISDA International Sonoran Desert Alliance on Facebook to connect for ride sharing, accommodation sharing, etc. Full program schedule online at International Sonoran Desert Alliance – Community Arts Gathering