From Virginia Gause

Sandra Gonzalez from the Monitor’s Festiva staff had fun making a short video about CineSol’s 36 Hour Film Race as she hung out with some of the teams who worked under extreme pressure to make the short films screened last weekend at Cine El Rey: http://link.brightcove.com/services/link/bcpid980289762/bctid1786892906

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By the way Cine El Rey was just designated a “McAllen Landmark” by the McAllen City Commission last Monday night. Congratulations to the Guerra family who constantly work to bring many vibrant events to the theater in the form of music, film, and dramatic productions.

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I think you will see several more buildings achieve McAllen Landmark designations in the coming months as Xavier Cervantes, McAllen Preservation Officer, and the dedicated members of the Historic Preservation Council move forward in showing that McAllen not only cares about business and art, but is concerned with history as well. In fact, at that same Commission meeting the first historic district in the city was approved – the Las Palmas Historical District on 15th Street, from Cedar to Hackberry.

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With so many outdoor events having to cancel because of Hurricane Ike, the perfect arts-oriented thing to do this weekend is to take in all the CineSol Film Festival screenings that you can! This will be a celebratory weekend since it is CineSol’s 15th annual Film Festival. This year’s opening and closing events will all take place at Cine El Rey in the heart of the entertainment district in McAllen. The excitement starts at 7 pm on Friday as yet another Opening Night at CineSol unfolds. The evening starts with a reception. After that you will get your funny bone tickled by some of the short films. Then at 9:30 pm the full length feature “August Evening” screens. It was filmed in San Antonio. Viewing it you will feel the pain and the joys of an undocumented worker from Mexico and his daughter-in-law who does not want to leave him and start a new life, even though she is a young and pretty widow.

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Saturday screenings begin at 11 am with Mason Dixon, directed by Charlie Brenner. Then documentaries weave between short features and long ones, keeping the day in balance. Veteran filmmaker Enrique Leal will be back with a documentary on visual artist Toni Hudson from Brownsville. During the 12 hour day, you will get to meet directors, cast and crews of 5 different films.

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On Sunday you will meet naturalist filmmaker Richard Moore and see his “A Year in the South Texas Wildlands”. You will also get to meet Ali Naqvi and the cast and crew of his “Mark’d”. Sunday is mostly a day for documentaries.

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If you have always longed to learn to speak Russian or Arabic, you are in luck. Here’s how to get started next week: http://broncnotes.utpa.edu/displayBulletin.aspx?bulletinID=2778

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Living on the border has many advantages. For one thing it enables us to take part in the art festivals on the Mexican side that make the ones we have here seem pale. I kid you not. So I want to give you plenty of advance notice of the XVI Festival Internacional de Otoño that begins in Matamoros on October 11 and runs through October 26. It offers music, dance, theater, and art exhibits. So select one of the hotels on their website and have a splendid weekend getaway in another country. http://www.fiomat.org.

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And speaking of Mexico, diez y seis de septiembre is just around the corner and the Mexican Consulate in McAllen has a grand party planned for you at McAllen Convention Center on Saturday, September 13 from 5-8 pm. Enjoy some lively music by Ramon Ayala y Los Bravos del Norte as you celebrate Mexican Independence from Spain. There will be art, handicrafts, dance, and special guests from San Luis Potosi. And thanks to several sponsors working with the consulate, it will be a free evening of celebration for all.

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HESTEC Community Day will be September 27 and you are going to need a good UTPA campus map to help you find all the many activities. S. J. Sethi, a lovely lady from India who is heading up the big event this year just sent word yesterday about it. So study ahead so you will know how to navigate the big half day event: http://www.hestec.org/pdf/HESTECcampusmap.pdf Notice how plainly the restrooms are marked. I really like this map! Take a look at the HESTEC website so you won’t miss anything in the program: http://www.hestec.org/

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Manichaus and the McAllen Arts Council have begun a series of movie nights to further your arts education. The first in the series is September 12 and it offers a chance to learn about techno music.

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On Saturday two recycled art projects will take place at DÁrte Centre Gallery in Harlingen under the leadership of the Harlingen Art Forum. Check out the other wonderful things they do: http://www.harlingenartforum.com/

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The once postponed Ben Varela exhibit opens September 13 at the Upper Valley Art League in Mission at 6 pm.

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A special evening is planned on Tuesday night, September 16 as Dr. Trini Gonzalez, history professor at STC’s Pecan Campus explores the Valley’s history from 1900-1930.

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If you would like to work for more art in McAllen, attend the meeting of McAllen Arts Council at the McAllen Creative Incubator on Thursday, September 18 at 5:20 pm – 6:30 pm. For more information, call Greg Schuller at 956-687-2787.