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Weaving Worlds on PBS

Weaving Worlds, a film by director Bennie Klain will be shown on PBS Austin Channel 18 on November 23, 2008 at 3:30pm. "[Weaving Worlds is] an exploration of the intricate relationships between Navajo rug weavers and reservation traders, this insightful documentary reveals the delicate balance between maintaining cultural traditions, economic survival, and the artistic validation sought by many weavers." -Native Networks

El Parche (The Patch): Steve Jordan

By Hector Silva Chacon
September 2008

I had not seen or talked with Steve Jordan in over twelve years. I arrived in Austin in July of 2007. I decided to wait a while before I contacted Steve and get to see him, talk with him, and listen to some of his new recordings.

It felt like now would be the right time to finally contact Steve: my mentor, music/life teacher and friend. On July 25, 2008 I was in San Antonio attending a work-related conference and found out Steve might be playing with his two sons at Saluté that Friday night. I called my brother Manny and found out that, sure enough, Steve and his sons were scheduled to play that night. I arrived and Steve and the boys are playing a Bolero. Its romantic-aggressive rhythm embraced and filled the atmosphere. Steve took the lead vocals, and his two sons joined in on the chorus: “Porque faltando me tu…” “Da, da da, da…” answered the accordion. Steve attacks the next riff, the lyrics continue, then suddenly all the music stops. And silence. Then back to a smooth romantic song. I sighed to myself and smiled at Manny. After another two songs comes the “break song.” “Con permiso…vamos a descansar” (with your permission, we are going to take a break and rest), said the song, which was Steve’s signature song from the ‘60’s. Break time

Chuy Benitez Exhibit Held Over

"Chico's" 2003

The popular photo exhibit, Pasatiempos de la Frontera: Images from the El Paso/Juarez Borderlands, has been held over at the Texas Folklife Gallery through the Fall. The exhibit, a series of images conveying the vitality of life in this Texas border town, has attracted viewers from Europe as well as Texas and several other states. Benitez, an El Paso native, has just earned his graduate degree from the University of Houston. The series was inspired by his experiences attending undergraduate school at Notre Dame, in South Bend, Ind., where he often found himself trying to describe life in the desert town.

The exhibit may be viewed weekdays from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. or by appointment at the Texas Folklife Gallery, 1317 S. Congress Ave., Austin. Call 512-441-9255 for more details.

Davis Family Project Mart Tx

by Paula Gerstenblatt-Davis
June 2008

I married into the Davis family in 1980. My husband Tom has spun countless tales of his childhood in Mart, Texas. Born in 1938, he grew up in segregation, and although the injustice of racism was palpable, his stories descibed strength, pride and a love of family and community. Over the years I could picture the dust rise from the dirt roads as he and his buddies wandered across the countryside, hear their squeals of delight as they swam in creeks to escape the oppressive summer heat, the excitement of high school football games at home and the bus trips to neighboring schools, the taste of the food grown in their garden and even found myself believing the tall tales of elders, colorful characters in their own right. When the family began family reunions, I visited Mart for the first time. Read more...

Accordion Kings, Big Squeeze Draws Giant Houston Crowd

Texas Folklife's 19th annual Accordion Kings concert, held June 7 at Miller Outdoor Theatre in Houston, was a smashing success, with 6,000 accordion fans in attendance to cheer on our Big Squeeze contest finalists and the featured bands: La Tropa F, Step Rideau & the Zydeco Outlaws and the Knights of Dixie Orchestra. They were particularly thrilled that a hometown boy, Houston's John Ramirez, 16, won the Big Squeeze Grand Prize of $500 and a day of recording time at Houston's historic SugarHill Studios. Runners-up were Heriberto Rodriguez, 15, of Edcouch, and Brian Gallegos, 22, of Devine. They each won $250; Texas Folklife also paid expenses for them to attend the finals. Read more...