FESTIBA Schedule
FESTIBA Spring 2024 Schedule
Coming Soon!
FESTIBA Spring 2023 Schedule
OVERVIEW
The Festival of International Books and Arts (FESTIBA) was established in 2006 to promote the importance of literacy, culture and the arts to students, parents, educators and community members throughout the Rio Grande Valley. FESTIBA 2023 features presentations and events from February 25th – March 5th and also includes some special events before and post FESTIBA week. The mission this year is to explore the theme of Transforming Our World through Arts and Literacy.
A work of art has the power to move, whether it is a song, a play, a poem, a novel, or a painting. When we are touched, we are moved; we are transported to a new place as we become aware of a feeling that may not be unfamiliar to us but which we did not actively focus on before. This transformative experience is what art is constantly seeking. The creative and cultural arts represent one of the few areas in our society where people can come together to share an experience, even if they see the world in radically different ways. The important thing is not that we agree about the experience that we share, but that we consider it worthwhile sharing an experience at all. In art and other forms of cultural expression, disagreement is accepted and embraced as an essential ingredient. In this sense, the emotions and experiences created by the creative and cultural arts is potentially a great source of inspiration for bringing people together and transforming communities.
The imagery of FESTIBA 2023 includes the Monarch Butterfly, considered to be the most beautiful of all butterflies in the world. It has been said that they represent strength, endurance, spirituality, trust, sustaining what they believe, transformation and evolution.
PRE-FESTIBA EVENTS
A LA MÚSICA 2023
The Center for Latin American Arts presents A la Música 2023 Featuring Flamenco Dance Artist Daniel Caballero direct from Madrid, Spain in his latest work with live musicians and performances by Flamenco dancers from Spain and our UTRGV Ballet Español Students.
Dates/Time:
Monday, February 13 at 10 a.m.
Tuesday, February 14 at 10 a.m., 3 p.m., and 7:30 p.m.
Location: UTRGV Performing Arts Center, Edinburg
Thursday, February 23
FESTIBA EXHIBITS
PERFORMING ARTS COMPLEX EXHIBIT HALL
EARTHCLOUDS
Nancy Moyer, Professor Emerita of Art
Artist’s Statement
Art has always been a phenomenon of allusion through illusion. The Earthcloud series talks about that. I have built a visual dialogue with illusion alluding to the projected endgame of mass production. It is ironic that it has resulted in actual objects.
Earthclouds are rags that because of excessive mass production and waste have attained quantum consciousness. Everything is energy, and with enough complex mass, can have a quantum consciousness. I saw the enormous piles of fabrics at the Ropas as potentially having this quality, which allowed my rags to rise from the piles of discard into a separate dimension. My photographs show them seeking primordial organization where only newly conscious, man-made, entities exist.
Are Earthclouds the destiny for the wasted excess created by our material-obsessed culture? In this era of unbridled excess, Earthclouds are frontier replacements of the natural world, which may be gradually disappearing.
Earthclouds Infected:
As the Earthclouds evolved, they became more complex. Inspired by COVID19, I have portrayed the societal chaos that can be brought about by natural infections, but societal infections from radically minded groups could cause comparable havoc. Earthclouds have become an analogy of human life, where order is broken down by conflicts, distractions, and fear. There is a temporal overlap in the imagery. Obsolete images from my earlier drawings return to disrupt the present society as the infection begins to dominate.
Opening Reception: Tuesday, February 28th, 6 p.m.
UTRGV Performing Arts Complex
1201 W. University Drive
Edinburg | (956) 665-3480
ART EXHIBITS BY FACULTY, STUDENTS, AND GUESTS
MARGEN DE LA FRONTERA
Juan de Dios Mora, Guest Artist
Artist Statement:
Juan de Dios Mora has lived in border towns where different cultures clash and yet expressions and emotions coalesce. However here in the US, it’s traditions, racism, and stereotypes have introduced him to the reality of being an immigrant in a different country.
Mora blends his hybrid Mexican culture and American experiences into a single entity and focuses on the economic, social, and cultural issues of life on the border. Mora portrays characters interacting with customized devices and vehicles that are created to facilitate the daily life, duties, responsibilities, obligations, and entertaining events of the operators.
Working representationally and sometimes with the surreal, he portray images of the typical Mexican/American’s life, iconography, and beliefs. His objective is to bring people together, with sentimental, satirical, sarcastic, and comical themes. He hopes to evoke self-awareness and then to superimpose that awareness on the experiences of life. To learn about Juan’s artwork and upcoming exhibitions, you can access the following:
Website: http://juandediosmora.com
Instagram: @diosprints
Dates: February 5-24
Closing Reception & Artist Talk: Friday, February 24th 6-9 p.m.
Location: Edinburg Campus, Charles & Dorothy Clark Gallery, Liberal Arts Building South (ELABS)
SINCE I WAS A GIRL
By Kaylee Hernandez
An MFA graduate exhibition by Kaylee Hernandez.
Dates: March 1-10
Opening Reception: Friday, March 3rd, 6-8 p.m.
Location: Edinburg Campus, Visual Arts Building Gallery (EVABL)
THE CENTER FOR LATIN AMERICAN ARTS
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EXHIBITIONS
Circa: Conjeturas en Papel
By Angela V. Scardigno
"Circa is a project that aims to keep memories alive through collage. A photo, a scene expresses an endless number of possibilities, a continuous presentation of stories, which can be reassembled, re-narrated, and consequently can remain current. Circa is a word that comes up recurrently in any archival search, demonstrating that our findings, although imprecise but true, are only the surface of a reality, a reality so complex that we can generally only reach it superficially through conjecture. In this project/experiment the old scenarios are mutilated, distorted, and intervened to open a dialectic between the figurative and the abstract, the narrative and the formal."
Date: February 15 – March 5th
Location: Edinburg Campus, Library First Floor, behind the elevators
Link: https://www.utrgv.edu/claa/index.htm
INTANGIBLE
By Carlos Limas
“INTANGIBLE is a photography exhibition by artist Carlos Limas, who has been documenting the backroads of the Rio Grande Valley since 2017. These explorations have led him to rethink the rural and urban landscapes, envisioning the possibilities of the imaginary.”
Date: February 20 – March 8th
Opening Reception: February 23rd at 6 p.m.
Location: Rusteberg Art Gallery, Brownsville Campus, 65 Gorgas Drive
Link: https://www.utrgv.edu/claa/index.htm
Friday, February 24
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FESTIBA 2023 COMMUNITY FESTIVALJoin us for this fun community event, which will feature an amazing list of family-friendly events including a variety of author presentations, book signings, musical performances, children’s activity tents, book and art displays, book distributions, local and artists,. Free books will be distributed by the South Texas Literacy Association! Location: Dustin M. Sekula Memorial Library
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Saturday, February 25
SOUTH TEXAS LITERACY SYMPOSIUM at FESTIBA 2023
FESTIBA’s Librarians and Educators Day collaborates with Texas Literacy, and the South Texas Literacy Coalition to present the South Texas Literacy Symposium, a professional development conference for local literacy providers. This free conference is sponsored by Literacy Texas and will include information on various topics including workforce readiness, financial literacy, volunteer management, family literacy, health literacy, grant writing tips and more!
Location: Edinburg Campus, Ballroom
Times: 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. For more information, special accommodations and registration visit:
2023 South Texas Literacy Symposium - Literacy Texas
FACULTY AND STUDENT PRESENTATIONS
February 27-March 5
Monday, February 27
THE FREDDY GONZALEZ' LETTERS PROJECT: BUILDING MIDDLE SCHOOL WRITING SKILLS WITH AN EDUCATIONAL PARTNERSHIP
In 2020, Ms. Dolia González, the mother of Sgt. Freddy González, a Congressional Medal of Honor recipient, donated over 150 letters to the Museum of South Texas History. These letters allow the reader a personal look into the life of this young Edinburg service member serving his country during the Vietnam Conflict. The Museum of South Texas History, in partnership with the Edinburg CISD Social Studies Department, will integrate these personal letters in a writing curriculum framework for middle school students. The motion of putting pen on paper provides clarity of language especially when sharing sentiments to family and friends. Using letter writing to explore this time-period serves as an opportunity for students to gain an historical perspective through Sgt. González’s personal viewpoint while serving as an ideal resource for language development. Killed in action in Hue City, Vietnam, on February 4, 1968, Sgt. González was, posthumously, awarded the Purple Heart Medal of Honor for military valor in Vietnam. He graduated from Edinburg High School in 1965. The Museum of South Texas History keeps a public exhibit of Gonzalez’ uniform, weaponry, and meritorious honor medals on display.
Presenters: ECISD teachers: Social Studies Director Azael Arredondo; Social Studies teacher Esmeralda García; Social Studies teacher Kim Lara; Assistant Superintendent Eva Torres; and Museum CEO Francisco Guajardo, who will lead the discussion.
Location: MOSTHistory’s Facebook @mosthistory
Time: 10 a.m.
TERRA PRETA: A PORCIÓN OF EDINBURG
This is the first component of an annual lecture series to showcase UTRGV's CHAPS Program’s ongoing research. For the eleventh year, the CHAPS Program class "Discovering the Rio Grande Valley" has recorded the history of a family and its land in Edinburg through archaeological, biological, and geological survey, and in oral and documentary history. This presentation details the findings of this project in anticipation of the publication of the final report later this year and will cover a new direction for this course as we studied the Raygoza family of Edinburg that engages in organic, urban, and sustainable farming.
Student presenters: Jackie Moran – UTRGV Graduate Student Art & Design/3D Studio Design, Diego Rivera - UTRGV Graduate Student of Mexican American Studies, Leonardo Rodriguez – UTRGV Graduate Student of Mexican American Studies, Stephanie De La Rosa - UTRGV Graduate Student of Anthropology
Faculty Advisor: Roseann Bacha-Garza – UTRGV CHAPS Program Director/Lecturer Anthropology
Location: Edinburg Campus: ESTAC 1.112
Time: 12:30 - 1:30 pm
NUCLEAR COLONIALISM AND THE IMPORTANCE OF LITERACY
Description: Dr. Myrriah Gómez will focus on how illiteracy plays a role in the displacement of ethnic minorities per her research and book Nuclear Nuevo México: Colonialism and the Effects of the Nuclear Industrial Complex on Nuevomexicanos.
Presenter: Dr. Myrriah Gómez, University of New Mexico Honors College, author of Nuclear Nuevo México: Colonialism and the Effects of the Nuclear Industrial Complex on Nuevomexicanos
Presider/Organizer: Dr. Noreen Rivera, Associate Professor, Dept. of Literatures and Cultural Studies, UTRGV
Location: Zoom, Link: https://utrgv.zoom.us/j/8289511284
Time: 1 p.m. - 2:15 p.m. CST
A TALE OF A COMMUNITY'S TRANSFORMATION THROUGH STAINED GLASS WINDOWS: THE GILDED AGE IN ALBANY, NEW YORK.
Featuring Luz Rodriguez, Historian/Archivist Intern of The Gelman Stained Glass Museum
Presenters: The Gelman Stained Glass Museum in collaboration with UTRGV History Internship Program, Dr. David Fisher
Location: Edinburg Campus/Liberal Arts Building South Room 255
Class Discussion: 5 p.m. – 5:45 p.m. (US History II Class)
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WRITING WORKSHOP WITH ANDREA "VOCAB" SANDERSON, SAN ANTONIO POET LAUREATE 2020-2023Description: A generative writing & performance workshop facilitated by Andrea “Vocab” Sanderson, followed by a reading of the generated work for those interested in sharing. Bio: As San Antonio Poet Laureate, Vocab leads poetry workshops, mentors, builds up and encourages artists to pursue their art, and gives them platforms to showcase their talent. Her debut book entitled: She Lives In Music, published with FlowerSong Press, was released on Valentine’s Day 2020. Her album She Tastes Like Music, is available on all music streaming platforms. |
Presenters: Emmy Pérez, jo reyes-boitel, and Gallery Magazine staff
Location: Edinburg Campus, Borderlands Room, EDUC
Time: 6 p.m.
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UTRGV WIND ORCHESTRA AND UTRGV SYMPHONIC WINDSPresenters: UTRGV School of Music with Conductor Dr. Saul Torres |
Tuesday, February 28
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GEAR UPS DAYS at FESTIBA 2023FESTIBA partners with the Region One GEAR UP program to host hundreds of public school Gear Up students at the UTRGV Edinburg campus. The students attend inspirational presentations and sessions on the power of creativity, development of literacy skills and self-expression for life success, and tips on college-readiness. Location: Edinburg Campus, UTRGV Performing Arts Complex |
Voice Actress Jalitza Chantel Delgado was born April 14th, 1996 in Colorado Springs, Colorado. She grew up in a military lifestyle, where a majority of her youth was being raised overseas in Mons, Belgium & Heidelberg, Germany. From there, her family returned to the United States, where she graduated high school in San Antonio, TX, and attended college at the Art Institute of San Antonio, and received her Bachelor's of Fine Arts in Digital Film/Video Production.
Notable Roles: Remi Ayasaki in "Horimiya" anime, Kanade in "Beast Tamer" anime, Saria in "Fruit of Evolution: Before I Knew It, My Life Had it Made," anime, Mara in "Megalobox 2: Nomad," anime, and more.
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Joana Carvalhas is a multi-style improviser violinist actively performing and teaching in Germany, Portugal and United Kingdom, recently graduated by the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland (UK). She constantly explores new musical styles and new concepts in order to approach innovative sounds and textures on the violin. More than a violinist, she describes herself as a whole musician using the violin to express and enjoy her music. Despite her classical music education, Joana also started to develop her improvisation and jazz skills and even a solo unique project where she plays with loop and effect pedals. During her musical career she already performed in jazz concerts (combo, big band), classical style concerts (solo, chamber music, recitals, orchestra), metal festivals, circus shows, fashion events, ...During her performances the audience never knows what to expect due to her creativity on stage and new ways of experiencing and expressing the Music. |
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Ballet Español was established at UTRGV to provide our students the opportunity to study the art of Spanish Dance. This dance genre encompasses a great range of styles of bailes folkloricos representing different regions in Spain, including Flamenco, the art of the gypsies of Spain, Alegrias, Tangos, Solea, Bulerías, and Siguiriyas. Other dances include the Escuela Bolera, a style of classical dance and music from the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries where ballet principles of turnout combine typical Spanish arm movements, with castanets and flamenco footwork and folkloric steps. The Ballet Español consists of dance majors fulfilling their BFA in Dance Performance credits while acquiring the knowledge of producing a full length concert, stage presence and performance experience. Artistic Director of Ballet Español is Sonia Chapa Gómez MA, MFA, Lecturer II. |
JORNADAS LITERARIAS LIBRO ABIERTO: MUJERES Y ESCRITURA
A CONVERSATION WITH CARMEN POSADAS
Featuring award-winning Uruguayan-Spanish writer Carmen Posadas
Presenters: Dr. Elvia Ardalani-University of Texas-Rio Grande Valley; Dr. Rodrigo Pereyra-Southeastern Louisiana University
Time: 10 a.m. (CT)
Contact elvia.ardalani@utrgv.edu in the Department of Spanish to request Zoom link.
STORYTELLING WITH ARTIFACTS
Behind every museum exhibition is hours-long research into an artifact and its provenance. Crafting the major theme of exhibit requires storytelling techniques and choosing other artifacts to supplement. MOSTHistory’s Exhibits & Collections Coordinator Melissa Peña will share details on building spotlight exhibits.
Presenter: Melissa Peña, Exhibits & Collections Coordinator at MOSTHistory
Location: MOSTHistory’s Facebook @mosthistory
Time: 11 a.m
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CRIS MUÑOZ, FRONTERA STORYTELLER, POET, & BIOGRAPHERPlática on writing and performance with Gris Muñoz of El Paso, author of Coatlicue Girl, a bilingual poetry & short story collection. She is a co-founder of the digital map and storytelling project, GeoTestimonios Transfronterizxs. Poetry performance to follow at 12:30pm Host: Emmy Pérez |
ANDREA "VOCAB" SANDERSON & GRIS MUÑOZ, POETS
Poetry performance and Q&A featuring two visiting dynamic poets. Vocab is San Antonio’s Poet Laureate & author of She Lives in Music. “Rock-n-roll curandera” Gris Muñoz of El Paso is the author of Coatlicue Girl.
Host: Emmy Pérez
Location: Edinburg Campus, Borderlands Room, EEDUC 3.204
Time: 12:30 p.m.
JORNADAS LITERARIAS LIBRO ABIERTO: MUJERES Y ESCRITURA
A CONVERSATION WITH MARÍA JOSÉ MIELGO BUSTURIA
Featuring award-winning Spanish writer and editor María José Mielgo Busturia
Presenters: Dr. Elvia Ardalani-University of Texas-Rio Grande Valley; Dr. Rodrigo Pereyra-Southeastern Louisiana University
Time: 1 p.m. (CT)
Contact elvia.ardalani@utrgv.edu in the Department of Spanish to request Zoom link.
EARTHCLOUDS
Artist: Nancy Moyer, Professor Emerita of Art
Opening Reception
Location: Edinburg Campus, UTRGV Performing Arts Complex Lobby
Time: 6 p.m.
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ROBERT SATTERLEE, PIANOPianist Robert Satterlee has developed a reputation as an accomplished and versatile solo recitalist and chamber musician, playing regularly throughout the United States, Europe and Asia. He teaches a studio of students from all over the United States and abroad in his position as Professor of Piano at Bowling Green State University. A recent CD of his was selected by the New York Times as one of the outstanding classical recordings of 2014. Presenter: Dr. Brendan Kinsella, University of Texas-Rio Grande Valley |
Wednesday, March 1
JORNADAS LITERARIAS LIBRO ABIERTO: MUJERES Y ESCRITURA
A CONVERSATION WITH SILVIA MOLINA
Featuring award-winning Mexican writer Silvia Molina
Presenters: Dr. Elvia Ardalani-University of Texas-Rio Grande Valley; Dr. Rodrigo Pereyra-Southeastern Louisiana University
Time: 10 a.m. (CT)
Contact elvia.ardalani@utrgv.edu in the Department of Spanish to request Zoom link.
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RICOCHET DOCUMENTARY SCREENING with MATT GONZALEZ, SAN FRANCISCO PUBLIC DEFENDERDescription: Matt Gonzalez was 1983 Senior Class President at McAllen's Memorial High School. Since then he rose to prominence as a U.S. Vice Presidential and a San Francisco Mayorial candidate. Never afraid to take a hard stand as a politician and always eager to bring the Fine Arts to his workplace, he shows courage in RICOCHET in defending a Mexican migrant in a State case where the odds seemed stacked against him as the Trump campaign tries to use the case for its own political gain.
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Screening: 4 - 6 p.m.
JORNADAS LITERARIAS LIBRO ABIERTO: MUJERES Y ESCRITURA
A CONVERSATION WITH ELVIA ARDALANI
Featuring writer and professor Elvia Ardalani
Presenters: Dr. Rodrigo Pereyra-Southeastern Louisiana University; Lisa Viviani- Ph.D. Candidate, University of Western Ontario
Time: 1 p.m. (CT)
Contact elvia.ardalani@utrgv.edu in the Department of Spanish to request Zoom link.
A CELEBRATION OF ECO-WRITING by UTRGV STUDENTS
Featuring poems and other writings that address climate change and the ecological crisis.
Presenters: UTRGV MFA in Creative Writing Students and Undergraduates
Moderator: Dr. Steven Schneider
Zoom Presentation: 5-7 p.m. Email Dr. Schneider at steven.schneider@utrgv.edu for the Zoom link.
UTRGV WIND ORCHESTRA AND UTRGV SYMPHONIC WINDS
Presenters: UTRGV School of Music with Conductor Dr. Saul Torres
Location: Brownsville Campus, TSC Fine Arts Center
Time: 7 p.m.
Wednesday, March 1 & Thursday, March 2
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Presenters: Through collaboration with the Creative Writing Department and the School of Art and Design at UTRGV, Fernando Flores will perform readings of his work in the galleries of both Visual Art Buildings in Brownsville and in Edinburg.
Wednesday, March 1
Time: 3 to 4 p.m.
Location: Brownsville Campus: Rusteberg Art Gallery Performance
Thursday, March 2
Time: 7 to 8 pm
Location: Edinburg Campus Visual Arts Building Performance
Thursday, March 2
MATTHEW BETANCOURT, AUTHOR
Author, Screenwriter and UTRGV alumni Mathew Betancourt discusses graduate school, his creative work, and the writing process.
Presenters: Mathew Betancourt & Robert Paul Moreira
Location: Edinburg Campus, ELABS 304 & EMAGC 1.414
Discussion: 9:30 a.m. - 10:45 a.m., ELABS 304; 11 a.m. - 12:15 p.m., EMAGC 1.414
JORNADAS LITERARIAS LIBRO ABIERTO: MUJERES Y ESCRITURA
A CONVERSATION WITH ELPIDA GARCÍA
Featuring award-winning Mexican writer Elpidia García
Presenters: Dr. Elvia Ardalani-University of Texas-Rio Grande Valley; Dr. Rodrigo Pereyra-Southeastern Louisiana University
Time: 10 a.m. (CT)
Contact elvia.ardalani@utrgv.edu in the Department of Spanish to request Zoom link.
IMPACT OF CREATIVE PERFORMANCE OF MUSIC RELEVANT ON CULTURE
Students of class piano will present their creative works of performance projects of music repertoire relevant on culture.
Faculty presenters / participants: Dr. Liudmila Varlamova and students of Class Piano II – MUSI 1115, Class Piano III – MUSI 2114
Location: Edinburg Campus, EPAC B1.131
Time: Class presentations: 9:30 -10:30 am on Thursday, March 2 (piano lab), Zoom presentation Please email Dr. Varlamova at liudmila.varlamova@utrgv.edu for Zoom link.
THE ART AND DESIGN OF A WINDMILL
Windmills are a South Texas tradition. Many ranches still use windmills to pump water, which can be utilized to irrigate land or provide to cattle. At the Museum of South Texas History, a towering windmill was placed in the Will Looney Legacy Park to honor the cowmen and ranch-hands in South Texas. Facilities & Security supervisor Johnny Gonzales will share the history of this windmill and its importance to the museum.
Presenter: Johnny Gonzales, Facilities & Security at MOSTHistory
Location: MOSTHistory’s Facebook @mosthistory
Time: 10 a.m.
JORNADAS LITERARIAS LIBRO ABIERTO: MUJERES Y ESCRITURA
"LAS POSIBILIDADES ESCÉNICAS DE LA VIDA COTIDIANA: TEATRO Y SOCIEDAD EN EL SIGLO XIX".
Featuring Dr. Yolanda Bache, professor at Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México
Presenters: Dr. Elvia Ardalani-University of Texas-Rio Grande Valley; Dr. Rodrigo Pereyra-Southeastern Louisiana University
Time: 12 p.m. (CT)
Contact elvia.ardalani@utrgv.edu in the Department of Spanish to request Zoom link.
REIMAGING THE ROLE OF THE AUDIENCE: AN INTERACTIVE PERFORMANCE BY THE UTRGV NEW MUSIC ENSEMBLE
Featuring: Dr. Anthony T. Marasco and students from the UTRGV Music Technology Program. The UTRGV New Music Ensemble will present an interactive concert and workshop promoting new approaches to making music designed around audience participation. Attendees will have the chance to interact with the ensemble members and play an important role in the music-making process, with no previous experience required! Works written for everyday objects and electronic instruments will be featured, and a Q&A session will be held after the performance.
The New Music Ensemble performs contemporary chamber works that embrace experimental performance techniques and sonic textures. Students who participate in the ensemble perform works on both electronic and acoustic instruments, with a focus on using computers, synthesizers, mobile devices, homemade electronic instruments, and expressive digital interfaces.
Presenters: Students in the UTRGV New Music Ensemble, directed by Dr. Anthony T. Marasco.
Location: Edinburg Campus, Performing Arts Center Lobby
Discussion: 2 – 3:15 p.m.
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MYRIAM GURBADescription: A great FESTIBA Event featuring Writer Myriam Gurba.
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THE CULTURAL CORRIDORDescription: Those of us who live here have traditionally lived in a "one river-one country" zone. The northern border cities of Mexico and the southern border cities of Texas..with a river in between.. but not blocking. Families have lived on both sides for generations, crossing back and forth daily for generations. The customs, the language twist, the art, the music...not quite Mexico, not quite US. Just uniquely 'border' and uniquely beautiful...and especially uniquely Texan! The Cultural Corridor is an initiative to provide artists and merchants safe spaces for creative work and businesses. |
Location: Old Hidalgo Pump House, Hidalgo, Texas
Cultural Exhibit, Champagne & Presentation: 6 p.m.
Thursday & Friday, March 2 & 3
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READING ROCK STARSVisits to Public Schools with Book Distributions In keeping with our mission to promote early childhood reading, FESTIBA is proud to present the “Reading Rock Stars” program in partnership with the Texas Book Festival. This program is a popular mainstay of FESTIBA, and children receive a signed book by an author of national repute. |
2023 Reading Rock Stars Schools: PFC Mario Ybarra Elementary, Hidalgo; Cesar Chavez Elementary, Pharr; Canterbury Elementary, Edinburg; Bryan Elementary, Mission; Dr. RE Margo Elementary, Weslaco; Guerra Elementary, Alamo
Authors: Xavier Garza, Erika Said, Marcelo Verdad, Karla A. Valenti, David Bowles, Ana Siqueira, Carmen Tafolla, Zara Gonzalez Hoang
LA FRONTERA INTERNATIONAL PIANO CONFERENCE
EL PIANO LATINOOAMERICANO
A piano festival exploring the rich and diverse heritage of Latin American piano music. March 2-3. For details and schedule, follow them on Facebook or email juan.andrade@utrgv.edu.
Date: March 2 & 3
Presenter: Dr. Juan Andrade
Friday, March 3
JORNADAS LITERARIAS LIBRO ABIERTO: MUJERES Y ESCRITURA
A CONVERSATION WITH ALICIA GIMÉNEZ BARTLETT
Featuring award-winning Spanish writer Alicia Giménez Bartlett
Presenters: Dr. Elvia Ardalani-University of Texas-Rio Grande Valley; Dr. Rodrigo Pereyra-Southeastern Louisiana University
Time: 10 a.m.(CT)
Contact elvia.ardalani@utrgv.edu in the Department of Spanish to request Zoom link.
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THE ARTIST-MOTHERFeaturing: Art-making and Sharing Workshop with Lizzete Rendon UTRGV Alumni/ Graduate student. Description: The artist’s mother project is to start a conversation about those mothers who are ignored as artists and forced into motherhood expectations. This project aims for those artist mothers to come together to create a community work of art/ installation piece bringing awareness to a community that is rarely talked about. |
JORNADAS LITERARIAS LIBRO ABIERTO: MUJERES Y ESCRITURA
"LA REVOLUCIÓN MEXICANA: UNA REVOLUCIÓN NOVELADA"
Featuring Dr. Herminia Alemañy, professor at Universidad de Puerto Rico-Aguadilla
Presenters: Dr. Elvia Ardalani-University of Texas-Rio Grande Valley;Dr. Rodrigo Pereyra-Southeastern Louisiana University
Time: 12 p.m. (CT)
Contact elvia.ardalani@utrgv.edu in the Department of Spanish to request Zoom link.
A READING AND DISCUSSION WITH THOMAS RAY GARCIA AND ROBERT PAUL MOREIRA
Featuring Thomas Ray Garcia, author of THE RIVER RUNS, and Robert Paul Moreira, author of DIG.
Presenters: Thomas Ray Garcia & Robert Paul Moreira
Location: Borderlands Room, EDUC 3.204
Presentation: 7 - 9pm
Friday - Sunday, March 3-5
UNIVERSITY PRODUCTIONS
Picasso at the Lapin Agile
By Steve Martin
Set in a bar in Paris in 1904, Einstein and Picasso debate their work, the nature of creative endeavors both scientific and artistic, and trade witty banter. This comedy classic was written by actor/writer/musician Steve Martin.
Dates/Times:
March 3, 7:30 p.m.
March 4, 7:30 p.m.
March 5, 2:00 p.m.
Location: Edinburg Campus, Albert L Jeffers Theatre (Edinburg Liberal Arts Building South)
PURCHASE TICKETS HERE!
Friday & Saturday, March 3 & 4
FESTIBA 2023 MARIACHI FESTIVAL
Masterclasses, Competitions & Concert featuring Mariachi Sol de México de José Hernández
SPECIAL GUESTS:
Maestro José Hernández, founder and director of Mariachi Sol de México and Mariachi Reyna de Los Angeles; recognized internationally as an innovative force behind mariachi music, both musically as well as in mariachi education.
Mariachi Sol de México, internationally recognized mariachi, renowned for their innovation and fusion of different styles of music, with a distinguished history of performances for five US Presidents, and tours throughout Europe, Asia and Latin America.
Maestro Jorge Iván Velasco, internationally renowned harp player, Director of the Mariachi Universitario de la Universidad Veracruzana in Mexico.
Dr. Diana Seitz, Associate Professor of strings and violin at the UTRGV School of Music, College of Fine Arts, is recognized nationally and internationally as a pedagogue, soloist, chamber, and orchestral musician.
Josué “Eddy” López, professional mariachi performer and arranger, Director of Grand Prairie Fine Arts Academy’s high school mariachi program.
Dr. Adolfo Estrada, professional mariachi performer and guitarist, Assistant Professor in the School of Music and Director of Latin Music Studies at Texas State University.
Charlie Borrego, eight-time Emmy Award winner, Video and Audio Engineer, TV Production, Musical Producer, professional installation and sound design.
$45.00 registration fee includes concert ticket. Individual Concert tickets are $10.
Limited number of seats available. For more information and registration visit: UTRGV | FESTIBA Mariachi Festival
SCHEDULE
Friday, March 3
11 am to 12 p.m. – WELCOME; Masterclass at the UTRGV PAC Auditorium with Dr. Adolfo Estrada
12 to 1 p.m. - Masterclass at the UTRGV PAC Auditorium with Eddy López
1 to 2 p.m. - Lunch on your own
2 to 3 p.m. - Masterclass at the UTRGV PAC Auditorium with Charlie Borrego
3 to 7 p.m. - Group Competitions: Middle School, High School JV, High School 1-4A, 5A
Saturday, March 4
9 a.m. - Masterclass at the UTRGV PAC Auditorium with Maestro Jorge Iván Velasco
(Harps in the Lobby from 10 to 12 am)
10 a.m. - Masterclass at the UTRGV PAC Auditorium with Dr. Diana Seitz
11 a.m. - Masterclass at the UTRGV PAC Auditorium with Maestro José Hernández,
12 to 1 p.m. - Lunch on your own
1 to 4:00 p.m. – Vocal Competition; High School Group Competition: 6A
7 p.m. – FESTIBA 2023 Mariachi Festival Grand Concert with Middle School and High School Vocal Competition winners, winners of Middle School and High School Group Competition, Mariachi Aztlán with Jorge Iván Velasco, Mariachi Sol de México de José Hernández
Location: Edinburg Campus, UTRGV Performing Arts Complex
Saturday, March 4
A Reception & Panel in Honor of the 200th Anniversary of Diplomatic Relations Between the United States and Mexico
Location: Edinburg Campus, Ballroom
Time: 5 - 7 p.m.
For more information contact: Events@UTRGV.edu.
Sunday, March 5
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DANCE ADJUDICATION FESTIVALUTRGV Dance Program will be hosting the Dance Adjudication Festival Gala Concert. The objective of this Gala concert is to present the most outstanding performers/groups from the Dance Adjudication Festival at the UTRGV Performing Arts Complex auditorium. Faculty Presenter: Miguel Peña with Ballet Folklórico UTRGV |