Los Unidos, LCCC present HHM tributes, events Oct. 9-12

Los Unidos, Lorain County Community College, and the Office of Student Life presents, “WHAT IT MEANS TO BE LATINO,” during its tribute to Hispanic Heritage Month. The event features renowned Sculptor/Mask Maker ZARCO GUERRERO, and the Museum of Hispanic/Latino Cultures.

Zarco Guerrero, a multi-media artist and community arts advocate, has been a force in the Arizona art scene since the early seventies. He has participated in the Artist in Education program of the Arizona Arts Commission and has conducted workshops throughout the U.S. since 1972. He is the founder of Xicanindio Artes, Inc., a non profit organization dedicated to better understanding of Latino and Native American arts in Mesa, AZ. He also co-founded Cultural Coalition.com in Phoenix.

In 1984, PBS nationally broadcast a one hour documentary about his art, entitled The Mask of El Zarco. In 1986 he was awarded the prestigious Japan Fellowship from the National Endowment for the Arts and spent one year in Kyoto, Japan, studying the Noh Masks as an apprentice to Joshun Fukakusa.  After Japan, the artist investigated mask carving in Bali, Indonesia and China.

In 1990, Zarco received the Arizona Commission on the Arts Artist Project Grant to pursue his mask carving in Mexico. He was the mask maker for La Mascarada la Vida, a play by Childsplay, Inc. in which he also played the lead male and co-composed the musical score. This play was featured at the Kennedy Center in Washington D.C.

In 1991, the Institute for Studies in the Arts at Arizona State University and its dance department performed A Song for the Forest People, a dance/opera written by Zarco in which over 30 of his masks were featured. In 1993 he was awarded Arizona’s Governor’s Arts Award for his artistic contributions to the community, and in 1994 he was the recipient of the Scottsdale Arts Council’s Chairman’s Artist Award.

On Tuesday October 9, 2012 at 6:30 pm, guests will meet the Renowned Sculptor/Mask Maker, Mr. Zarco Guerrero at the Mexican Mutual Society; He will receive recognition from Lorain Mayor Chase Ritenauer and the Mexican Mutual Scholarship Board. His signature theater play titled, FACE-TO-FACE IN A FRENZY, will be shown on the big screen. The one-man mask play focuses on the social justice topics; prevention of drug and alcohol abuse, smoking, bullying, crime, and the importance of staying in school. (http://www.zarkmask.com/Static/Face_to_Face_in_a_Frenzy.html)

On Wednesday October 10^TH, the Sculptor/Mask Maker will perform his play “FACE TO FACE IN A FRENZY” for Lorain High School, General Johnny Wilson Middle School, and Steven Dohanos Elementary School in Lorain. He will also perform for the Boys & Girls Club and El Centro. At 6:30 pm, Los Unidos shares the Sculptor/Mask Maker with Sacred Heart Chapel in Lorain for an evening performance of his play.

Thursday October 11^TH, Guerrero takes his Mask Presentation for a morning visit with the Cleveland Public Schools. At 11:30 am the community is invited to come to Lorain County Community College. The Los Unidos student organization will be presenting “WHAT IT MEANS TO BE LATINO.” The event features The Museum of Hispanic/Latino Cultures; the Museum will be displaying 18 Exhibits from Latin America & Spain.

At 1:00pm, the Sculptor/Mask Maker will perform “FACE TO FACE IN A FRENZY” for 200 LCCC Early College students & the LCCC campus in the college mall. In the Early Evening at 6:30PM, Los Unidos and Guerrero will visit with the Lorain Arts Council for a presentation in downtown Lorain.

On Friday October 12, Los Unidos will take Mr. Guerrero to the Lorain County Juvenile Detention Center for an afternoon presentation.

The Events and Presentations are sponsored by:  Los Unidos, The Hispanic Fund, LCCC and the Office of Student Life, The Museum of Hispanic/Latino Cultures, Mexican Mutual Society, Lorain County Boys & Girls Club, The Lorain City Schools, Lorain School Employees Credit Union, El Centro, and Kevin Cook.

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Revised: 10/02/12 19:28:43 -0700.