Traditional mariachi
As in past years, the 13th Encuentro Nacional del Mariachi Tradicional (Traditional Mariachi Festival) will precede the big annual mariachi bash, with performances scheduled at several city venues from August 18 to 24.
The difference this year is that, for the first time, the organization of the festival will have nothing to do with the Guadalajara Chamber of Commerce, which handles the city’s International Mariachi Festival – taking place this year from August 28 to September 7.
The festival is now completely in the hands of the Jalisco Culture Department, which has basically funded the event since its inception.
State authorities are keen to bring this underrepresented form of music to wider audiences and ensure the genre’s preservation.
Whereas the modern mariachi band with its mix of brass and strings, charro outfits and big, bold sound has come to represent Mexico and Jalisco in particular throughout the world, traditional mariachi musicians represent a style closer to son music, the form that gave birth to mariachi in the 19th century. They often wear much less ostentatious loose-fitting white peasant shirts, usually with black or white pants and huarache sandals. The big difference, though, is that they do not employ brass instruments, sticking with guitars and violins, guitars and harps, or some other mix of string instruments. The makeup of the groups varies by region much more than modern mariachi bands.
Next week’s festival features 100 activities with more than 500 participants from 15 states of Mexico. An international symposium titled “Coloquio Internacional “El mariachi: regiones e identidades” will feature 50 experts from Mexico and the United States and include talks, workshops and other academic activities.
\Among the festival’s highlights:
-- A reinterpretation of early “bar-room” mariachi in the Parián de Tlaquepaque.
- A homage to singer Lucha Reyes on the 70th anniversary of her death at the Teatro Degoalldo, Saturday, August 23, 8:30 p.m.
- An exhibit, “El camino a Olinka” – a homage to Francisco Sánchez Flores, at the Casa de la Cultura Jalisciense Agustín Yáñez.
- Daily free performances in the Plaza Fundadores, behind the Degollado Theater, as well as the Plaza de las Americas in Zapopan.
- A special mariachi velada in the Guadalajara Cathedral.
- A performance of the play “Soy Mariachi” (I am Mariachi) at the Teatro Degollado.
The festival will end with a grand mariachi gala on Sunday, August 24, noon at the Degollado Theater.
There is no charge for any of the events at the festival.
To see the festival’s full program go to www.cultura.jalisco.gob.mx.
Digital Art
Exploration, creativity, innovation, art, design, multimedia installations, concerts, workshops, talks and exhibits. That’s what organizers say you can find at the sixth MOD (Monitor Digital) Festival de Arte Digital (Festival of Digital Art), running at the LARVA (Laboratorio de Arte Variedades) in downtown Guadalajara from Tuesday, August 19 through Sunday, August 24.
Strangely, perhaps, this festival is not headed by an earnest young geek but Margarita Sierra, a 50-something former director of the International Book Fair (FIL) for 15 years. She talks about “demystifying” a rapidly evolving genre by allowing artists, aspiring artists and the simply serious to interact and learn more about the thought processes behind the technology.
In its early years, the festival moved around in search of an adequate location but at LARVA, a cultural center converted from an old-style majestic move theater, it has found its true home. Its large, dark hall is the ideal center point to demonstrate artists’ magical creations, especially those using 3D projection mapping techniques.
The festival will feature digital art professionals, artists and designers from all over the American continent, who will share their experiences and skills with the Guadalajara public.
This celebration of digital culture will not be for everyone but will certainly satisfy a growing community of digital art enthusiasts and enlighten art enthusiasts whose minds are open to the changing landscape of new media.
To see the full MOD Festival program visit http://monitordigital.com.mx.
LARVA is located at Ocampo 120, corner of Av. Juarez in the city center. The festival also spills over to the exhibit halls of the Ex Convento del Carmen (Juarez 638).