¡Firme!

It's been over a year since my last episode! Lot's has changed in this life I follow and I am now able to re-conect via ¡Firme! with the creative community. message me and let's start a new conversation. I'm looking for this podcast, that shall have a new name, be a platform for San Antonio, Texas, National creatives. What inspired them, who drives them to create, why did they choose to create wit...

The first episode of season two invite Ami y Tara “Trinity” . The co-founders of Mixt Collective . Ami is a Japanese-Chilean musician, arts administrator, and facilitator with Equity in Arts Leadership Program Coordinator at Americans for the Arts. Developing and implementing programs to enhance the skills of emerging artists. In addition, she writes music, and serves as co-chair for Dance/NYC’s J...

As a photographer I’ve been privileged and have been aware since I was in high school. I remember having a wide variety of equipment, whereas others had only one camera and lens for all assignments. Having been aware, I’ve made it my mission to share what I know, and help others work with what they have.

Making or taking photos??? Many photographers go on and on about the features, hi sensitivity sensors, fast fames per second, and stuff. It’s never about the gear, and all about the artist’s vision. Call me old school, but being raised in a pobre art family I learned to use my resources wisely. I had to understand how to make an image and not rely on the camera for my art. The camera is only a too...

Names have connection to our identity and individual personalities. Have you ever had an issue where someone couldn’t pronounce your name? Perhaps they aren’t able to say your name, or they snooze not to try. There’s a difference... Allowing others to change, misspell, or purposefully mispronounce names can have an impact on that person then and in the future. #whatsinaname #cultureproblems #ownyi...

While serving in the military, I have seen as much or more discrimination than the art world. Until recently the military concept of inclusion, diversity, and cultural consideration is similar to comparing conjunto to cumbia... country to western. Only with in the past year has the military acknowledged and openly discussed racism within the ranks.

As gente in the USA we have indigenous roots, European heritage, and daily American influences. We often express our micro individualities such as Mexican, Cuban, Salvadoran, etc., and then the macro culture of adding Afro or LGBTQ+ before the micro culture. How can we maintain our individuality and still self identify to unite as a single connected community? How can we connect as gente, and stil...

In culture there’s always two As. The appreciation and appropriation of any culture by various means. In a community like Spokane, WA I experience plenty of both. Some with intention, and some without. For a community that is learning to be diverse, it’s a growing pain that affects many.  Visit and support the Dia de los Muertos artists featured on LTNXartes.com hosted from Guatemala, Mexico,...

The more young artists experience conversation with contemporary artists the more they develop a deeper connection to finding their own creative flow. Connecting with artists of color helps the future arts and culture community become more inclusive and truly breaks barriers. En solidaridad, we will build a stronger arts community one artist at a time.

As I come closer to Día de los Muertos in Spokane, I’m reminded of the celebrations in San Antonio. We have multiple events, parades, and ofrendas in cultural spaces across the city. Whereas in Spokane, we have one event in a borrowed space. Visit and support the Dia de los Muertos artists featured on LTNXartes.com hosted from Guatemala, Mexico, y Los Angeles.

Usually my creative energy is gone by October, and recharges after Día de los Muertos. However after recent photographic work with buena gente, the animo is recharged! Everything looks a little different today, and it’s not just because we have our first snowfall! “¡Ánimo ánimo ánimo!”, as my grandmother would say while she raises her hands to the sun. Visit and support the Dia de los Muertos arti...

When we are confronted with challenges we can oppose or open to listen. The walls we make are based on our experiences, our understanding, and our biases. We all have an opinion, and we also have the ability to listen. We don’t have to agree with others, yet we should respect them when they aren’t attacking. Fist pumping and shouting only makes noise. If we want change, we have to change together.

The challenges of sharing culture for people of color, and resources in Spanish get real in the 5 mile area. 100% of my social media posts have not been welcome in an area I reside nearby. Some neighbors were positive, others were quite negative.

Today is a day of mixed feelings. Living between being an American of indigenous heritage, and wanting to honor my ancestors. For many this day is a representation of their ancestry. For others, they don’t feel a connection to their ancestry. Others it’s a reminder of their non binary identity is challenged by their heritage. So many complicated emotions and self discovery. How do you self identif...

Local and cultural arts are often overlooked in formal arts programs. Through LTNX artes we’re introducing this into the public school arts programs.

A short cuento me grandmother told me about the day her house on St Mary’s street was demolished to make way for US 281.

If the Spanish didn’t colonize my indigenous family generations ago, what would that culture be today? What would my name be? How would the relationship with the U.S. be? What if?

The community we live in drives the culture we live in locally and across the country. The art we see today is a reflection of the world we are apart of. No everything can be pretty and fluffy. Nombre... the uncomfortable art we see isn’t the problem, the problem is what inspires the art that a community feels is uncomfortable. When a community is uncomfortable by the art, there needs to be a ques...

For just a few hours of the year, gente in Spokane unite for Día De Los Muertos. We honor our ancestors, and celebrate their lives. The community comes together, gente y non gente, and we respectfully join as a family. This is the one evening we have to celebrate our heritage. We shouldn’t have to wait all year for one evening to celebrate our heritage. We’re gente everyday. We should be able to h...

Our inspiration comes from what we experience. Not all artists create for people to buy. Many create to purge, self heal, express stresses, and tell stories. A shirt cuento if a friend the fell, and admitted he needed help getting up.

The town hall as block party was a hit! No participation from Spokane, and if we expect change we gotta make the change! Here’s a little cuento on a friend that experienced change.

After posting cultural information and an event specific to POC, I was denied sharing those posts I the community I live in. It’s like saying I don’t belong where I live, I not wanted in my neighborhood, and almost like there is no one that wants to know this.

RSVP: https://us02web.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZAqdeyvrjIjGNZFcO2OMDHPFUsxl-9KfTMb Join fellow AAC members for a Town Hall to guide you through the many committees and new project initiatives that AAC has worked on during 2020, as well as the goals for the rest of the year and beyond. Learn about the upcoming AAC Chapters pilot program and then unwind with us for our Virtual Block Party!

Mexican Independence Day! The day the people of Mexico earned their independence from the rule of Spain. As a bicultural person of indigenous heritage from Los Estados Unidos de México and being born in the U.S. of America the concept of patriotism & independence is complicated. All I can say is this is the independence I identify with, and am proud to express it.

Día de los Muertos is coming up soon, and We’re gesto up for a virtual event this year. Ltnxartes.com will host a virtual art show, and opens the gallery to any Latina/o/x artist regardless of where your located. Join us!!