Documentary (in development)
raúlrsalinas and the Poetry of Liberation traces the arc of Xicanindio elder poet/activist raúlsalinas’ work as a writer, as well as the social forces and political movements that have influenced his life’s work as a champion for human rights. Funded by Humanities Texas and the ITVS Diversity Development Fund.
Documentary, 56 min (in post-production)
Examines the personal toll and legacy of the Vietnam War in Mexican American communities through the stories of three South Texas artists. Funded by Latino Public Broadcasting, Humanities Texas, and the City of San Antonio Office of Cultural Affairs.
Screenings:
PSA Series (co-produced by Guillermina Zabala; Decmber, 2005 - April, 2006)
Series of four PSA's that feature local celebrities discussing the importance of good pet ownership. San Antonio Filmmakers, KLRN Ch 9 and the Humane Society of San Antonio. View the PSA's at KLRN. Read about the project at San Antonio Express-News.
Screenings:
Documentary, 20 min (co-produced by Guillermina Zabala; 2005)
Pan de Vida: Bread of Life gives us a glimpse into the cultural, artistic, and spiritual life of the Day of the Dead and how artists and bakers interpret this tradition.
Screenings:
Documentary, 20 min (produced by Anne Lewis, Laura Varela & Heather Courtney; 2004)
Despite years of disenfranchisement, the Latino and African American communities in Lockhart, Texas are fighting back — registering voters, running for local office, organizing the first ever MLK day march in their community. Texas Majority Minority shows how important voting is — not only in determining elections but also in preventing political apartheid in Texas. See also: films about voting in America.
Screenings:
Experimental film, 30 min (Lisa Cortez Walden, Executive Producer; Roger Castillo and Laura Varela, Producers; 2002)
This film features 5 vignettes featuring women poets, artists, mothers and professionals meditating on health, life and death.
Screenings:
Video Altar Dedicated to the Muertos of the Iraq War (collaboration with Guillermina Zabala; October, 2006)
Video installation for Pan de Dulce Exhibit Blue Star Art Space SA, TX. This altar is a three-panel installation contemplating visually and audibly the human and economic costs of the Iraq War. The three panels are looped; the top panel of the installation multiplies as many frames as there are dead U.S. soldiers in Iraq while the first lone American flag is identifiable in the first frames, it too is multiplied to where it is no longer distinguishable from video static by the time we reach 2000 plus.
Exhibitions:
Interactive Multimedia Installation (collaboration with Betty A. Bastidas; September, 2006)
The Street Altar of Hope represents a place to honor hopes, dreams and prayers of the urban communities in the South of Bogota Columbia, San Antonio, TX and Brooklyn, NY. Created for the Exhibit Sound Gallery: de Ushuaia a San Antonio UTSA Downtown Gallery. Read about the exhibit.
Video Installation and mixed media diptych (collaboration with Guillermina Zabala; March, 2006)
Explores the concept of the Earth as our Mother and Women as manifestations of Mother Earth in human form. This piece also contemplates the environmental destruction stemming from unchecked, unbalanced, and unjust government policy, capitalism, consumerism and its effects on women of color, indigenous people and all of humanity.
Exhibitions: