Join the Grand Avenue Get Down to see Phoenix Custom slammers, Lowriders, Rat Rods and Choppers. There will be live art demonstrations as artists from California, New Mexico, and all your favorite local artists participate in the Grand Avenue Get Down on First Friday and/or Cinco de Mayo weekend!

BRING YOUR RIDE!

California Artists:  D.A. Garcia, El Chikle, Jowee Mr. Rhythm Ramirez, Lucky Hellcat
Johnathan Mercado, Ricardo Islas

New Mexico Artists: Nani Chacon, Toby Morfin

Arizona Artists: Sam Gomez, Jason Rudolph Pena, El Moises, John Garza, Angelica Johnson, El Podrido, Moe Madrid, El Whyner, Pablo Luna, Albert Rodriguez, Buggs, Leland Chapin, Mike Royal Sage Rock, Ron Hernandez, Luis Miranda and many many more!

LOCATION: 1205 W. Pierce Street, Phoenix, Arizona 85007

DATE/TIME:   May 3rd, 2013, 6 p.m. – 10 p.m. & May 4th, 2013, 11 a.m. – 6 p.m.

I learned some more Academy Award knowledge today from Jim Estrada.

I had no idea that little statuette had serious Mexican-American history.  Did you?

Estrada writes:

QUIÉN SE PARECE A SU PADRE, HONRA SU MADRE: One more little tidbit before I stop kicking this dead horse. Mexican filmmaker and actor Emilio Fernández (El Indio) posed for the initial design of the statuette given to all the winners since 1929. While working in Hollywood, Fernández befriended Mexican actress Dolores del Rio—wife of MGM art director and AMPAS member Cedric Gibbons. Del Río introduced El Indio to Gibbons, who was then responsible for the statuette’s design. Despite the oversights and being the objects of their humor the “golden god” has a lot of Mexican influence in the annual awards show, but alas, it goes unknown and unnoticed. Ahora ya saben porque se parece el Oscar tanto a algunos parientes, eh?

The1956 film “Giant’, which won Best Director at Oscars, was 1st film to deal with the sacrifices of Mexican American WWII soldiers. This scene was based on the “The Longoria Affair” and was influenced by Hector P. Garcia of the GI Forum.

Russell Contreras from our neighboring state of New Mexico pointed out some interesting Mexican-American trivia last night as it relates to the Oscars — and I want to pass that information on to my readers, too.  The movie near and dear to my heart (last youtube movie clip below) has to do with a story with regard to Mexican-American War Hero Hector P. Garcia and what he did for the cause.

Hector P. Garcia was the founder of the American GI Forum. In 1948, Dr. Hector P. Garcia was quarreling with the Naval Air Station in Corpus Christi, Texas which refused to accept sick World War II veterans who were Latino. After this effort, Garcia founded the American G.I. Forum. The 500,000 Latinos who honorably served in World War II now had a leader in Garcia, and within months of inception, the American G.I. Forum was opening branches across the nation.

Garcia today remains a central figure of the Latino civil rights movement, due to his refusal to stand idle while Mexican Americans were being dehumanized in the post-World War II society. With Garcia at the helm, the American G.I. Forum called for the removal of poll taxes while simultaneously holding fund-raisers to help pay poll taxes to register more Mexican Americans to vote. García organized back-to-school drives for Mexican American children. He launched case after case against Texas school systems for being illegal, and won many of his efforts. He and others instigated court cases to sue for the right of Mexican Americans to serve on juries (winning one such case in the Supreme Court). While making him heroically revered among the Latino culture, these actions also made him the most hated man in Texas by discriminating parts of society. (The Border 1948 (2004) 1948 American GI Forum. Retrieved June 13, 2010, from PBS History Timeline).

Here is the Academy Award Trivia I learned below from Mr. Contreras:

In 1947, Frank Sinatra declined to perform at the Oscars. That opened the door for Andy Russell to sing in his place, becoming the first Mexican American to perform at the Academy Awards. Andy Russell was the son of Mexican immigrants and was born in East Los Angeles. He was a hero to returning Mexican American veterans of WWII. They were proud that he was able to cross over (and sing in Spanish and English).

In 1956 film “Giant’ won Best Director at Oscars. It was the 1st film to deal with the discrimination of Mexican Americans. In this scene, Latino soldier Angel Obregón prepares to go serve in WWII, and the Dennis Hopper falls in love with nurse, Juana.

CAPTION: Christmas with Rock Hudson and Elizabeth Taylor

Also, the1956 film “Giant’, which won Best Director at Oscars, was 1st film to deal with the sacrifices of Mexican American WWII soldiers. This scene was based on the “The Longoria Affair” and was influenced by Hector P. Garcia of the GI Forum.

CREDIT: Giant

 

 

Eddie Martinez Paints Disneyland Mural

Meet Eddie Martinez — a fine Mexican-American artist who has a passion for history.  He now spends his time doing his favorite work, researching and illustrating historical figures and events such as the Indigenous Puebloan People of the Greater Southwest and Spanish expeditions in California, Arizona and Colorado.

Martinez painted many portraits, including the portrait of famed western model Timothy Padilla, Ricardo Montalban, John F. Kennedy, Walt Disney and Anthony Quinn.

Eddie Martinez’s vast entertainment design experience defies traditional categories and labels. His 40-year career has spanned the many disciplines that today account for his unique prestige and acclaim.

From Martinez’s beginning in Los Angeles, his artistic prowess soon would land him an entree in the motion picture arena, working with such motion picture luminaries as 5-time Academy Award winner for Production Design, John DeCuir, and 3-time Academy Award winner for Costume Design, Vittorio (Nino) Novaresse on many films, such as Doctor Doolittle, Planet of the Apes, Hello Dolly, On a Clear Day and The Great White Hope. Martinez’s gift of design would soon land him in television, where he worked on such series as The Dean Martin Show, Batman, The Ghost and Mrs. Muir, Laugh-In, the Tonight Show and the Flip Wilson Show, and Peyton Place.

Eddie Martinez retired from the entertainment industry in 2002.

I want to feature a fine piece of his where he is developing an Illustrated Story of Search for Aztlán that is an adventurous journey back in time to Ancient North America as it was in the time of the Ancient Puebloans & the Toltecs.

My son and I initially had plans to go watch the new Batman movie, but in light of the Colorado shooting … he did not want to go with me.  I decided to go without him to prove to him that I would return safely home after explaining to him that  the occurrence in Colorado was a one-time strange thing that more than likely would not happen here.  [I hate seeing kids get tempted into living in fear.]

Prior to going to the movies, I was able to listen to the Aurora Police Chief make a live statement on the horrible shooting.  I paid attention to what the Chief said about the gunman’s attire.   Two things struck out at me of the gunman’s description:  a helmet and a gas mask.  I found it odd that the gunmen would wear a helmet and a gas mask  –  until I saw the new Batman movie.

The villain in the new Batman movie  also wore some sort of an oxygen mask.  In addition to that, the villain wore a

Photo by Ron Phillips

helmet prior to entering a stock exchange building and firing rounds into the crowd.  Other similarities between the real gunmen in Colorado and the villain in the movie was a trench coat, a vest and of course weapons.

There was a scene in the new movie that really amplified itself — and it was the scene where Batman felt it unnecessary to use guns to kill people.  The irony in that scene in and of itself is profound due to the tragic incident in Colorado.

All in all, The Dark Knight Rises (2012) was an excellent show.  I recommend it and it has a good message.  The Harkins101 Theater seemed to have had a vigilant staff and ordinary security there.

When I returned home, I reassured my 12 year old son that all was clear and it is safe to go to the movie theater.  [Of course, I noticed myself choosing a seat towards the back of the theater in a spot where I can see who was entering the areas.  I'm just a little more vigilant is all.  ]