KCET Celebrates Hispanic Heritage Month 2012
From September 15 to October 15, cultural organizations across the nation, from Library of Congress to the Smithsonian Institution, join together to celebrate the history and contributions of Hispanic people with Hispanic Heritage Month. KCET will celebrate the month with the following programs:
"Danza Folklorica Escencia: El Sello Artistico de Rafael Zamarripa"
Wednesday, Sept. 26, @ 2:30PM
Featuring the internationally acclaimed choreographer, Rafael Zamarripa, this documentary traces the development of Mexican folklorico dance, a stylized, choreographed art form designed to vibrantly display the cultural diversity of Mexico. Showcasing Zamarripa's experiences and his remarkable artistic productions, this original program offers an intimate understanding of this dynamic, and widely practiced cultural expression.
"Cruz Reynoso: Sowing The Seeds of Justice"
Wednesday, Sept. 26 @ 10PM
"Cruz Reynoso: Sowing The Seeds of Justice" paints a portrait of a man touched by injustice as a child who dedicated his life to fighting discrimination and inequality as a lawyer, judge and teacher. The compelling biography, told through a combination of archival footage and interviews, charts Cruz Reynoso's humble origins, his appointment to the California Supreme Court (the first Latino justice to serve in the state's highest court) and more recently, his leadership on the U. S. Commission on Civil Rights.
Tuesday, Oct. 2 @ 5AM and Monday, Oct. 8 @ 2:30PM
What price would you pay for paradise? And who would you be willing to take it from? Panama is one of the most sought after real estate destinations in the world. The archipelago of Bocas del Toro, a gem hidden away in the Caribbean side of Panama, attracts retirees and developers from the US with its crystal clear waters and luscious trees.
Watch a preview here:
"Immigration Nation! -- The Battle for the Dream"
Wednesday, Oct. 3 @ 2:30PM and Tuesday, Oct. 9 @ 5AM
"Immigrant Nation!" is a feature documentary film about the modern immigrant rights movement. In particular, it is the story of the struggle of Elvira Arellano, a single mother from Chicago, who fought her deportation. The film also interweaves the stories of individuals, organizations, activists and community leaders united by passion and a concern for justice. This film illustrates the opposition to the controversial HR4437 immigration bill as well as the ongoing struggle and demand for comprehensive immigration reform.
Watch a preview here:
"As Long as I Remember: American Veteranos"
Thursday, Oct. 4 @ 10PM
This documentary examines the steep personal toll and enduring legacy of the Vietnam War on three artists from south Texas: visual artist Juan Farias, author Michael Rodriguez and actor/poet Eduardo Garza. Through the personal histories and experiences of these Chicano veterans, the film examines the role art plays in the sorting of memories, post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), activism and the current conflict in Iraq. "As Long as I Remember" chronicles their upbringing in the Mexican-American community, their military service in Vietnam, and their lives after the war. Farias, Rodriguez and Garza's poignant and powerful recollections illuminate the minority experience in the U.S. Army and U.S. Marine Corps at a time when Mexican Americans accounted for approximately 20 percent of U.S. casualties in Vietnam, despite comprising only 10 percent of the country's population.
"The Renaissance of Mata Ortiz"
Saturday, Oct. 6 @ 4PM and Tuesday, Oc.t 9 @ 2:30PM
The amazing story of how an intrepid American adventurer and a brilliant self-taught Mexican artist transformed a dying desert village into a home for world-class ceramics is told in this heart-warming and beautiful documentary. When Spencer MacCallum walked into a second-hand store in Deming, New Mexico, in 1976 and bought three pieces of pottery, he had no idea that he was about to embark on a journey that would lead to the revival of an ancient art form. Finding his way to Mata Ortiz, Mexico, MacCallum partnered with self-taught artist Juan Quezada and slowly they created an industry that today is known world-wide not only for its interpretations of a centuries-old style of ceramics, but for stunning post-modern works as well. The Renaissance of Mata Ortiz tells the improbable story of how Quezada (without a kiln or a potter's wheel and using only found materials) and MacCallum both experienced creative and personal breakthroughs which led to dazzling, innovating works by Quezada and a passing of the torch to younger, award-winning artists such as Diego Valles.