Biblioteca announces new community project with UNAM
By Ali Zerriffi, President

The Biblioteca Pública de San Miguel has proven over the years its commitment to the education of the youth of the community through its various classes and the extent of its scholarship programs. 

Now our institution is about to engage in a project of great potential for the library itself and for the community in general by collaborating with the Universidad National Autonoma de Mexico and the Municipio de San Miguel de Allende in a plan to provide a program of education that would benefit students of high school and university levels as well as post-graduate research scholars.

Education has always been a very important component of social and economic development planning, but education and training have become acute necessities in a world where there is an ever-growing migration of population toward better economic opportunities, while at the same time more and more barriers are erected to stem the flow. The logical and more durable solution is to educate, train and employ the youth of our communities. It has become imperative to prepare youths of emigrant countries for jobs that are congruent with existing and/or planned local, regional and national economies and to help them integrate into their society as full economic and social participants. In the case of San Miguel and El Bajío region in general, there are needs in the fields of ecology, environment, conservation, business administration, water preservation, organic farming, education, social work, engineering, tourism and rural development.

As the government establishes economic priorities and defines strategies of economic and social development, the NGO can help by coordinating their activities to maximize results in a community. There is already a consensus among some of the local organizations in support of “The San Miguel Community Project,” a forum that would stimulate communication between the various nonprofit associations of the region.

The UNAM project started with the idea of a general convention of collaboration in the fields of education and culture between the Biblioteca and the university. UNAM, the largest university in Latin America and classified among the best 100 institutions in the world, will help set up the bases of an educational infrastructure that will serve the needs of the whole Bajío region. The concept has the full support of the municipality as part of a general plan of economic and social development that Mayor Jesus Correa is putting in place. It will start with a research center for national and international graduate students and academics who will be able to do their work from San Miguel, thanks to the technological software and hardware that the university will install at the library.

The project has now grown to envision a number of programs such as continued education, long distance education, seminars, workshops and conferences. The UNAM will provide all the necessary technology to offer education through the internet, video conferencing, workshops and seminars on demand on any subject, and cultural exchange programs with European countries with which the university has bilateral agreements. At the library and all around San Miguel, Casa Europa will organize national fairs where member countries of the European Union can have month-long events representing their cultures and economies.

The Biblioteca is engaged in a process to regain space that has been occupied by a third party and at the same time is evaluating the possibility of expanding its facilities in order to meet the challenge at hand. The municipality is indicating its willingness to help acquire the space needed, as well as logistical support for any activities that will coincide with the orientation of the local economy and the educational needs of the community. 

The benefits to the library and the community are enormous in that the educational avocation of the institution will reach a level that will have significant importance for generations of young secondary school graduates who now have to move to other cities to get an affordable university education. The research facilities will attract scholars from all over the country and the world and provide San Miguel with yet another source of intellectual life through conferences and seminars, foreign cultural and artistic exhibits, thus contributing to the general image of our community as a cultural tourist destination.

The Biblioteca will maintain its traditional activities like language and art classes, theater and cinema, concerts and lectures, but its members will now have the opportunity to  participate (as students and possibly as instructors) in seminars, training programs and conferences.

San Miguel is a historical site that needs to be preserved but also nurtured into a modernity that would serve the present and future needs of all its population while maintaining the charm that makes it so special. To achieve this, we need a cooperative commitment from all sectors of our society: a proactive stand from civil society, government and from nonprofit organizations and the private sector.

Hospice: The importance of notary powers
By Ana Lilia L. Buendia 

During a recent presentation by Hospice San Miguel entitled “Legalities and Realities of Living…and Dying in San Miguel,” board member and bilingual attorney Ana Lilia Buendia spoke about living wills, health care directives and other important legal considerations. Below is a summary of her remarks. 

The difference between “notary powers” and a “simple power” lies in the fact that the notary power always must be professionally notarized, whereas the simple power is a form that can be purchased at any stationery store and does not require payment of a professional fee. However, the judicial power of the “simple form,” as its name implies, is more suited to uncomplicated issues and is not as extensive or formal if applied in certain legal cases which may be of a more delicate or complicated nature.

Notary powers can be either general or specific. They can be granted to either a single individual or to two or more people who can use the power either jointly or separately. The “general power” category is usually assigned to a single person who becomes the legal representative authorized to handle official processes, payments, financial matters, administrative matters, lawsuits and generally act in the best interests of the person who has bestowed the power upon him/her.

It is extremely important that a terminally ill person assign this power of attorney to avoid any difficulty in case he/she loses the ability to govern personal affairs regarding expenses, payments or treatments due to mental or physical impairment caused by the disease itself or the medications. Obviously the person receiving this power must be completely trustworthy since he/she will have total access to all personal information. Certain restrictions or passwords can be applied in the case of financial information or accounts that one prefers to keep private.

The “power of ownership” is normally included within the general power, unless the notary receives orders to the contrary. The individual who receives this power must be carefully selected, since he or she will have the power to sell any property owned by the patient.

”Specific powers” assign an individual the power to carry out a particular task which must be clearly articulated. Neither this specific power nor the powers mentioned above should be confused with a “directive proxy,” which only authorizes the selected individual to deal with health and medical issues in the event the patient is unable to make decisions on his/her own. For any matter other than medical decisions, we can refer to the individual simply as a “proxy.”

The directive proxy should not be confused with a living will. In the case of the directive proxy, the assigned power only applies when the patient is unable to make a decision. In the case of a living will, the document has been written by the patient personally, and his or her wishes and decisions delineated in the document should be respected.

In Mexico, in spite of the above, the “power of medical care” as such does not exist, just as the living will is not recognized. This subject is treated as taboo, for both cultural and religious reasons, and many times notaries who should be responsible for formalizing the documents may refuse to do so. Mexican legislators have recently undertaken the legalization process to regulate these powers; however, the process is only now “being reviewed and studied.” In spite of this situation, there are mechanisms and practices that can be applied to carry out the instructions contained in these types of documents, perhaps by using different terminology or processes.

The Hospice San Miguel office is located in Colonia Lejona at Manuel Rocha 35. For more information or to become a volunteer, call 154-4287 or visit www.hospicesma.org. Hospice welcomes volunteers in all areas. Some particular needs are grant writing, fundraising, events, public relations, graphic design, web design and internet services.

Gravityworks featured at Feed the Hungry benefit
By Carol Ross

Drivers’ Dinner Feed the Hungry benefit Sat, Oct 20, 7pm Casa de Sierra Nevada de el Parque, Santa Elena 2 Tickets US$150

Feed the Hungry is sponsoring the second annual Pan American Race Week, October 13–21. New this year is the luxurious Drivers’ Dinner, where you can meet the daring drivers who will race in the 20th anniversary of Mexico’s internationally renowned La Carrera Panamericana. Guests will enjoy a delicious dinner while entertained by Gravityworks, an aerial dance troupe based here in San Miguel.

Nisha, an accomplished acrobat and skilled choreographer, originally founded Gravityworks in Toronto where she and her husband Dan lived and worked together in their business, DaNisha Sculpture. Influenced by her love of dance, her fascination with circus and their work with Cirque de Soleil, she taught herself aerial dance and then trained all the members of the troupe.

In 2001, she and Dan decided to leave Toronto and move to San Miguel, attracted by the weather and the community’s appreciation of art. She left Gravityworks in the hands of her sister, which continues now as Gravityworks North, and once she and her family were settled, she set about training another group known as Gravityworks South.

Five people will perform at Casa de Sierra Nevada using trapeze, hoops, fabric, fire and some ground acrobatics. Four women and one man train four times a week for three hours each session. They consider Gravityworks their hobby, since they all have other jobs and interests, but their performances are as professional as any you would see on any stage or under any tent.

The evening starts with cocktails at 7pm at Casa de Sierra Nevada en Parque. Dinner, prepared by executive chef Gonzalo Martinez Cardenas, will be served at 8pm. Short performances by Gravityworks will take place during the evening, as well as introductions of drivers and their teams.

A limited number of tickets for this very special evening event are available by calling Feed the Hungry’s office at 152-2402, or by visiting the website feedthehungrysma.org and using PayPal. Tickets are US$150.

Feed the Hungry is a charity whose mission is to provide hungry, young children a hot, nutritious meal every school day and to facilitate the delivery of other high quality services and resources to the children in the communities where they operate kitchens.

Behind the scenes at Feed the Hungry

On your next trip outside San Miguel, look for dirt roads branching off the pavement and narrow trails through the grass and cactus. When you see a small group of women and children get off a bus and start their long walk home, remember they could be from a rancho where a Feed the Hungry kitchen supplies nutritious food each school day.

Feed the Hungry is an independent nonprofit corporation in the US and Mexico providing hot, nutritious meals to children who do not have enough to eat. Many boys and girls come to school without having had dinner the night before or breakfast in the morning. Our 29 kitchens provide food to over 3,500 children a day. The high-protein vegetarian diet designed by a nutritionist includes fresh vegetables, legumes, soy, rice, fortified tortillas and fruit.

Children attend school more regularly because they have a hot meal each day and they can eat as much as they want. Attention spans improve because the children are not hungry all day. Medical evaluations of children before we open a kitchen show many of suffer from some degree of malnutrition. After a Feed the Hungry kitchen has been in operation for a year, pediatricians find overall health and physical development greatly improved. 

We build our kitchens attached to elementary schools in the San Miguel rural area and hire women from the community to cook the food. We now employ 45 women trained in food preparation. They receive year round pay, medical benefits and a pension. 

Every week volunteers at a central San Miguel warehouse pack dry food for each kitchen. Volunteer drivers use their own cars and gas for deliveries. Bulk purchasing, inventory control and dedicated volunteers allow us to feed a child for an entire year for $65. A donor also can feed a village’s children for a year by sponsoring a Feed the Hungry kitchen for US$7,500. 

We will feed 1000 more children by the end of 2007. Sponsors for these kitchens make a commitment to fund food for the children and salaries for the cooks. Contributions are tax deductible. For more information please visit our website at www.feedthehungrysma.org  or contact us by email at contact@feedthehungrysma.org .

Important Audubon talk on San Miguel water supply
By Linda Whynman

Audubon Society is presenting an informative talk by Don Patterson, Director of Ecology & the Environment for San Miguel. He will share his long term water strategy with us.

To learn more, including how you can help, come to the Audubon presentation on Tuesday October 16, 4pm at the Villa Jacaranda. Don will present an overview of the city’s water problems and what is being done to solve them.

Some complex issues “require immediate action,” he says. Close to 6,000 citizens are currently drinking contaminated water in this municipality. “Our aquifer is predicted to have trouble supplying water to the community within twenty years.” When the aquifer is no longer viable, then San Miguel will have to rely on surface water. And “if we’re going to be drinking lake water, we need to clean it up.”

San Miguel signed an agreement with the United Nations, to become one of 100 green cities. “We’re starting from scratch here,” he said. “San Miguel is only one percent green—the international norm is nine percent.”

Patterson, who recognizes Audubon as one of the larger NGOs in town, says, “If you have the good name of Audubon on a document, it helps.”

He himself says of Audubon, “I look at you and I see an army.”

To hear and see a man who’s making a difference in San Miguel, come to the Villa Jacaranda on Tuesday, October 16, 4pm. Audubon members enjoy free admission. Guests pay 50 pesos each. Membership will be available at the door for 300 pesos.

Help your casa and San Miguel’s CASA, A.C.!

Garage Sale
CASA, A.C.
Sat, Oct 20, 9am–3pm
Santa Julia 15

CASA is a nonprofit organization that has been serving the poor, particularly adolescents, rural women and their families, through health, social service, education, and environmental outreach programs since 1981. It has created Mexico’s first government approved Midwifery School, which has been cited as meeting international criteria for effective replication in countries worldwide. It teaches others to teach, a pedagogy that has enabled hundreds who, in turn, have affected the lives of thousands. Its focus on advocacy, from community initiatives for health and environmental issues to sounding the clarion call against family violence, has inspired, empowered and benefited thousands.

The great CASA garage sale of autumn has arrived! So clean out those bulging closets and garages and your house will feel so much the better for it!

To donate your used items (in good condition, please), call us at 154-6060, Monday through Friday from 9am to 4pm. Ask for Ana Pena or Juan Jose or in English call Elsbeth at 152-2813. We will gladly pick up from your home!

Mujeres en Cambio lunch at Patsy’s Place a huge success
By Roger Hind

After the huge success of the lunch at Patsy’s Place last year, famous chef Patsy Dubois offered to make lunch at her sanctuary near Atotonilco an annual event. On September 27, Patsy provided a superb lunch in her new Party Pavilion. The place looked fabulous with the tables decked out in Mexican Independence Day colors and beautiful floral centerpieces. Patsy very generously donated 100 percent of the ticket sales to the scholarship fund, which totaled 19,300 pesos.

After paying for their tickets and buying drinks and raffle tickets, I was a little reluctant to ask our guests for more, but this is such a great cause I forged ahead anyway. When asked to dig deep one more time, the guests generously donated another 14,602 pesos. It was so exciting to find in the hat a check for US$1,275, a donation that will allow us to support both one high school student and one university student for a year!

Total contributions for the day were 39,127 pesos—almost double the amount Patsy helped us raise last year—a fabulous achievement! We are deeply indebted to Patsy and in awe of her generosity, which apparently knows no bounds. To find out more about Patsy’s Place, go to www.patsydubois.com.

I would also like to give a special mention to Jorge Chávez of Transportes y Tours San Miguel Mágico. He very kindly brought a 10-seater van to St. Paul’s in case we didn’t have enough rides through the car pool and refused to take any payment when it turned out we didn’t need his services. Highly recommended by our members, Jorge can be contacted at 152-4501 or 152-0380.

The objective of Mujeres en Cambio is to foster self-sufficiency, self-esteem and self-respect in Mexican women in the rural villages around San Miguel. For older women, we provide seed money to develop self-supporting enterprises. For younger women, we operate a scholarship program that provides access to education. 

The all-volunteer group raises nearly US$75,000 annually through donations, mail-outs and monthly fundraising events.

Next week I’ll give you information about our upcoming event, Day of the Dead afternoon tea at Casa de la Cuesta on November 1.

Please check our website, www.mujeresencambio.com, for details of events as they become available. You will also find more information about our organization on the website. We welcome new members to our all-volunteer group. For more details, call Roger Hind at 154-6552. Please note that Roger cannot take reservations.






SPECIAL CERVANTINO

Teatro/Theater

Oct 14, Noon, Sombras chinescas, Teatro de Arte Folclórico de Shaanxi, The Children’s Tent

Oct 14, 5pm, Sombras chinescas, Teatro de Arte Folclórico de Shaanxi, The Children’s Tent

Oct 14, 8pm, Festejos de Xi’an, Teatro de Arte Folclórico de Shaanxi, Explanada de la Alhóndiga

Oct 16, 11am, ¡Ay!...Pueblo, no te rajes, Grupo Teatral Yácata, The Children’s Tent

Oct 16, 5pm, ¡Ay!... Pueblo, no te rajes, Grupo Teatral Yácata, The Children’s Tent

Oct 17, 11am, ¡Ay!...Pueblo, no te rajes, Grupo Teatral Yácata, The Children’s Tent

Oct 17, 5pm, ¡Ay!...Pueblo, no te rajes, Grupo Teatral Yácata, The Children’s Tent

Oct 18, 6pm, Flor en espejo, luna en agua, Teatro Nacional de China, Teatro Principal

Oct 19, 11am, Pancho Villa y los niños de la bola, Alborde Teatro, The Children’s Tent

Oct 19, 5pm, Pancho Villa y los niños de la bola, Alborde Teatro, The Children’s Tent

Oct 19, 6pm, Flor en espejo, luna en agua, Teatro Nacional de China, Teatro Principal

Oct 19, 6pm, Entremeses cervantinos, Teatro Universitario de Guanajuato, Plaza San Roque

Oct 20, Noon, Pancho Villa y los niños de la bola, Alborde Teatro, The Children’s Tent

Oct 20, 6pm, Flor en espejo, luna en agua, Teatro Nacional de China, Teatro Principal

Oct 20, 9pm, Teatro Universitario de Guanajuato, Plaza San Roque

Oct 21, Noon, Pancho Villa y los niños de la bola, Alborde Teatro, The Children’s Tent

Oct 21, 5pm, Pancho Villa y los niños de la bola, Alborde Teatro, The Children’s Tent




Musica/Music

Oct 14, Noon, Tembembe Ensamble Continuo, Ex Hacienda San Gabriel de Barrera

Oct 14, Noon, Mi corazón: música para acordeón de compositoras, Eva Zöllner, Salón del Consejo Universitario

Oct 14, Noon, Petite messe solennelle, Cuarteto Vocal Arveiros, Templo de la Valenciana

Oct 14, 6pm, El blues y otras adicciones, treinta años con Betsy Pecanins, Teatro Principal

Oct 14, 6pm, El blues y otras adicciones, treinta años con Betsy Pecanins, Teatro Principal

Oct 15, 9pm, Fados, Mafalda Arnauth, Teatro Juárez 

Oct 16, Noon, Nueva Música Dúo, Salón del Consejo Universitario

Oct 16, 9pm, Orquesta Filarmónica de la Ciudad de México, Teatro Juárez

Oct 17, Noon, Ensamble Cello Alterno, Salón del Consejo Universitario

Oct 18, Noon, Cantos y danzas de la alta Edad Media, el Renacimiento y el virreinato, Los Tiempos Pasados/Terra Nova Consort, Templo de la Valenciana

Oct 18, 2pm, Vivificum instrumentum, Concierto de Campanas, Templos de Guanajuato

Oct 18, 8pm, Austin TV/Porter, Explanada de la Alhóndiga

Oct 19, Noon, Sequenza Sur, Salón del Consejo Universitario

Oct 19, 2pm, Vivificum instrumentum, Concierto de Campanas, Templos de Guanajuato

Oct 19, 5pm, Bach: Misa en Si menor, OSUG y Coro de la OSEM, Templo de la Compañía

Oct 20, Noon, Meridian Arts Ensemble, Ex Hacienda San Gabriel de Barrera

Oct 20, Noon, Christophe Desjardins, Templo de la Valenciana

Oct 20, 5pm, Pancho Villa y los niños de la bola, Alborde Teatro, The Children’s Tent

Oct 20, 8pm, Angelique Kidjo, Explanada de la Alhóndiga

Oct 21, Noon, Bach: Cuatro suites orquestales BWV 1066-1069, Freiburger Barockorchester, Templo de la Valenciana

Oct 21, Noon, Mike Murley Trio, Ex Hacienda San Gabriel de Barrera

Oct 21, 8pm, CLAUSURA: Pasional Eugenia León, Explanada de la Alhóndiga



Danza/Dance

Oct 14, 9pm, Conjunto di NERO, Emio Greco | PC, Teatro Juárez

Oct 15, 8pm, Acuarela Potosina Ballet Folclórico Potosino Explanada de la Alhóndiga

Oct 16, 6pm, Danza Contemporánea de León–Otelo, Teatro Principal

Oct 16, 8pm, El color en movimiento, Ballet Folklórico de la Universidad de Guanajuato, Explanada de la Alhóndiga

Oct 17, 7pm, Victoria Dulcinea Langfelder, Teatro María Grever

Oct 17, 8pm, El color en movimiento, Ballet Folklórico de la Universidad de Guanajuato, Explanada de la Alhóndiga

Oct 18, 8pm, Rota Deborah Colker Auditorio del Estado

Oct 18, 9pm, Compañía de Danza Moderna de Beijing, Teatro Juárez

Oct 19, 6pm, Victoria Dulcinea Langfelder, Teatro Cervantes 

Oct 19, 8pm, Ballet Folklórico de México de Amalia Hernández, Explanada de la Alhóndiga

Oct 19, 8pm, Rota, Deborah Colker, Auditorio del Estado

Oct 19, 9pm, Compañía de Danza de Beijing Teatro Juárez 

Oct 20, 6pm, Victoria Dulcinea Langfelder, Teatro Cervantes

Oct 20, 8pm, Rota Deborah Colker, Auditorio del Estado

Oct 20, 9pm, Compañía de Danza Moderna de Beijing, Teatro Juárez

The Mike Murley Trio formed in 1998, and the original trio recorded Live at the Senator, winning the 2002 Juno Award for best mainstream jazz album. Murley’s current trio, which features Reg Schwager on guitar and Steve Wallace on bass, continues this tradition of intimate, lyrical explorations of jazz standards and Murley originals. They meet the great challenge of all jazz players, to take tunes which have been played many times and to play them honestly, freshly, in one’s own voice. 

Freiburger Barockorchester musicians originally wanted to enliven the world of Baroque music with new sounds. This they have succeeded in doing. They also perform works by Beethoven, Schubert or Weber, and enjoy playing contemporary music. They play small-group chamber music as well as symphonies for large orchestras. They want the liveliest possible interpretation of the music, to which end they employ their temperament and virtuosity. In their view they can best achieve this with historical instruments, though they certainly do not want is to make a museum of music. They avoid false conservation in concerts where, as one critic put it, “everything skips, dances and swings.” The “FBO” has become an internationally sought-after chamber orchestra with engagements at the world’s large concert halls.

Angélique Kidjo is a four-time Grammy nominated Beninese singer-songwriter, noted for her diverse musical influences and creative music videos. Her musical influences include Afropop, Caribbean zouk, Congolese rumba, jazz, gospel and Latin styles, as well as her childhood idols Bella Bellow, James Brown, Aretha Franklin, Jimi Hendrix, Miriam Makeba and Carlos Santana. Kidjo sings in Fon, French, Yoruba and English. Djin Djin, her latest recording, alludes to the sound of the bell that, in several African regions, announces the beginning of a new day. Music greats Peter Gabriel, Alicia Keys and Carlos Santana joined Kidjo on the album. She has been a UN Goodwill ambassador since 2002

Meridian Arts Ensemble, founded in 1987, is a New York chamber music ensemble which specializes in performing new works for brass and percussion. The original members of the group wanted to play challenging works, to experience control of their ensemble, and to find creative outlets for their musicianship. Meridian received its early education in the American Brass Quintet’s brass class at the Juilliard School, and then launched its professional career. The ensemble performs regularly as part of the Festival of New Trumpet Music, held annually in New York City. In the late 1980s, the group won a string of four competitions: Artists International, Chamber Music Chicago, New York Brass Conference, and finally, in 1990, Concert Artists Guild. In 1990, Meridian travelled to Holland to record its first compact disc. The group’s second CD, Smart Went Crazy, was released in 1992 and established Meridian’s reputation as an innovator in the field of brass chamber music and new music in general. Six more discs have been released to critical acclaim, the most recent, Brink, in 2006.

Christophe Desjardins has premiered works by Berio, Boulez, Boesmans, Jarrell, Fedele, Nunes, Levinas, Harvey, Stroppa and Rihm. He has played viola as a soloist with such orchestras as the Royal Concertgebouw; the NDR, WDR and SWR symphony orchestras; the Orchestra of the Toscanini Foundation; the National Orchestra of Lyon; and the Portuguese Symphonic Orchestra. After his solo appearance with the Théâtre de la Monnaie of Brussels, he became a member of the Ensemble InterContemporain.

Eva Zöllner, one of the most active contemporary music accordionists of her generation, presents a program of repertoire pieces as well as classics like the well-known piano duo “Piano Phase” by Steve Reich in a new and extraordinary version. In addition, she is working with young composers both in Germany and England to introduce her instrument to the local music life and to create new works for the accordion.

Betsy Pecanins was raised amid a wide range of musical influences, from blues to contemporary and experimental music, including rock, arranged poetry and fusion. The blues come so naturally to her that this sound is the primal source of her singing and composing style. Her professional singing career began in 1973, in Barcelona, and since then she has recorded 11 eleven discs in English, Catalan and Spanish. Betsy's presence is essential at blues festivals in Mexico. She has been a constant musical force on Mexican radio, and on both the cultural and commercial channels of national TV. The emotional and expressive power of her musical artistry, and the originality of a multicultural and multidisciplinary project have won her a special place in the music of our times. 

Mafalda Arnauth was born in Lisbon in 1974, and music has been a passion for her since she was a young girl. She began her career at 24 with an album produced by João Gil, which won the Blitz publication’s Revelation Award. The following year she was nominated for the “Golden Globes” as best singer. In response to the almost unexpected success of the first album, in September 2000 she sang at a sell-out concert in Lisbon’s Belén Culture Centre, then embarked on a long tour of stages in Portugal and overseas. In March 2001 she brought out her second record and shortly afterwards, Mafalda became the first Portuguese artist with international representation through Virgin Records. Diário is the fourth album by the fado singer, released in 2005 on Universal Music Portugal.

Tembembe Ensamble Continuo blends Hispanic baroque guitar music with contemporary jarana music from Veracruz. The group plays baroque guitar music pieces gathered from Spanish and Mexican tablatures, and links them with traditional sones jarochos. This musical overlapping demonstrates how and why the “Baroque” and the “Jarocho” expressions are two faces of the same coin, distant in time and close in spirit. The group is dedicated to explore historical and cultural connections among diverse instruments. Its performances revive the festive spirit of the seventeenth-century New Spain Fandango and the contemporary Jarocho Fandango through music, songs and dance.

Shaanxi Folk Art Theater, China’s only professional province-based shadow puppet performance group, is based in Xian—the “cradle of Chinese culture,” start of the Silk Road, and origin of shadow puppetry. Since 1953, the company has used ancient shadow puppetry techniques to bring classic Chinese tales to life. Set to lively music, its vast repertoire has earned the group numerous awards and worldwide acclaim. The production features a collection of signature vignettes based on Chinese folklore, including The Crane and the Turtle, The Bear and the Flowers and The Red Coxcomb. 

Como México sí hay dos, Óscar Chávez-Los Morales with Guillermo Velázquez and los Leones de la Sierra de Xichú

For three generations Óscar Chávez has carried the traditions of Mexican folklore in songs and compositions. He is recognized as one of the most important voices in traditional Mexican music with a repertoire that encompasses rancheras, boleros, sones, tangos, even songs of protest. When asked why protect folk music, he replied “it is not because it is dying, but because it is a treasure that interests so few.”

The Camerata of the Desert is a contemporary group which promotes the music and musicians of San Luis Potosí, with special emphasis on creations and creators of today. Formed musicians of solid standing in potosino culture, the Camerata of the Desert adapts variety to the musical necessities of each program. A series of guest directors add their musical contributions to the group’s style. Camerata offers a program of music by potosinos composers, works of creators who until now have not extended beyond the local level



El príncipe feliz (The Happy Prince) Fondazione Aida
Sat & Sun, Oct 6 & 7, noon & 5pm, Pastitos, La Carpa de los Niños

The prince was happy while he lived within his impenetrable castle, protected by his subjects. Now the prince is a statue worked with gold and jewels, and placed in a park high in the city, where he is able to see the misery of poor men. A wanderer, in spite of having arrived in winter, remains with the prince to become his faithful messenger. The prince gives beautiful jewels to the most needy. Fondazione Aida transmits the stirring poetics and sweet sense of this masterpiece by Oscar Wilde, brilliant novelist and poet. The putting-in scene, skillfully directed by Lorenzo Bassotto, is magic because it summons up life before the eyes of the spectator. From paper and cartoncillo, capably manipulated clouds, wanderers, angels and flowers arise. Children enjoy this ingenious story, and learn the importance of human values, especially generosity. Fondazione Aida was founded in 1983 in Verona, Italy. From the beginning its theater philosophy looked for open space and innovations, and has grown into a complete cult
ural center.



Marionetas Legendarias de Sichuan
Thurs, Fri & Sat, Oct 11, 12 & 13, 6pm, Teatro Principal

This company of southwest China continues giving life to giant puppets up to two meters in height. From their origins in the Ching dynasty (AD 368-1911), the last imperial dynasty, the Legendary Marionettes of Sichuan have been applauded for their realistic design, vividness and meticulous execution. The Marionettes are inspired by works of the opera of Sichuán, as well as by popular art, and they are not restricted to interpretations of dramatic, musical sorts, fairy tales, or acrobatics. They are bound particularly to mythical and legendary histories. Although the marionettes weigh up to five kilograms, their movements are not clumsy or slow and at moments mimic human beings. Thanks to master manufacturers, including dramatists, actors, teachers and craftsmen, the movements of marionettes are highly complicated—they can express fear or fury with a tremor of the body, walk as if they were wounded, blow smoke or fire, or drink a cup of tea.



Eva
Fri & Sat, Oct 12 & 13, 9pm, Plaza San Roque

Kalipatos is a Mexican theater group formed in 2001 by the actress Eugenia Cano, who handles a multidisciplinary format combining theater, plastic music, dance and arts. The group lives in Guanajuato aims at the diffusion of theater to any space and for all the public. Kalipatos has mounted the spectacles Dream of Juanita, Arjuna in Montreal, Zoom Lens, Laurencia and Mother Anger. 

Eva retakes classic texts and the contemporary to reflect on the role of woman throughout history. Eva was directed and written by Eugenia Cano and Eduardo Ruiz Saviñón.





FOOD FOR THOUGHT

News

San miguelenses at Cervantino Festival

For the duration of the Cervantino Festival in Guanajuato, artist Gerardo Ruiz and chef Alicia Rivero are opening a coffee shop and gallery at Positos 93, between the Alhondiga and the Museo Diego Rivera. The gallery is exhibiting works by Gerardo Ruiz and Ismael Guardado, in addition to serving delicious coffee from Viejo Topo and cakes from Comida D’Alicia. If you plan on attending any Cervantino events, make sure and stop by to see this unique space. The shop is open from 11am to 5pm, until October 21.



Uncertain future for San Miguel landmark

One of Atención’s volunteer proofreaders, Anita, has reported back to Food for Thought that long-time establishment, San Agustin has been closed by Hacienda. The signs on the door indicate an uncertain future for our beloved chocolate con churros and chilaquiles. For anyone that knows any additional information, please send it to us.



Call for information!

Those of us here at Food for Thought are tired of cancelled lunch meetings at the once often-visited Media Naranja. Does anyone know when it should re-open? We’re craving a queso de cabra sandwich or falafel. Any news can be published in next week’s column.



Thai treats at Mega

The buzz in the Atención office this week, for those of us that love to cook, concerns the recently featured Thai treats at Mega. October is “Thailand Month,” so inside the far entrance, near the electronics, you can shop to your heart’s content for Thai curry, sauces, noodles, etc. Most items are non-perishable, so stock up while you can.