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On Tuesday April 15th, the Esperanza Peace and Justice Center hosted Kitchen Table Puppets + Press’s puppet show, Recipes of Resistance, a community written and performed, giant puppet show. The night featured a variety of performances and activities, including puppet shows, a night market, DJ, live art, music, food and a piñata to close the night! The main event, Recipes of Resistance was a thought provoking puppet show that discussed political events currently happening in the world, such as deportation, mass surveillance, and social injustices. Through the use of vibrant oversized puppets, and powerful storytelling, the show encouraged the audience to reflect on the ways in which these global challenges affect local communities. Overall, the evening was a celebration of creativity, resilience, and community power. Reminding us that storytelling and art can be powerful tools for resistance and change. Author: Alyssa MedellinEl Placazo Assistant, Mural Artist and CECLEF Scholarship recipient.
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"You are not alone. The violence that happened to you has happened to many of us. It is not your fault." Inspired by true events, Jacque Salame brings forth a heart-wrenching story about systemic injustice on working-class families. She tells it in a unique blend of multimedia storytelling, utilizing music, dance, animation, and spoken word. The story is about a mother who on her birthday finds her son missing and, while in search, has a run-in with the law. Meanwhile, her son gets detained by I.C.E., and all the ramifications that result from these dual perspectives run in with law enforcement. Happy Birthday Mom HBDM tackles these important topics of state-sanctioned violence through the lens of marginalized communities. Salame herself is an artist, dancer, and activist in the local arts community. She was a recipient of two art grants that went to this production: the individual artist grant and the production costs grant from the City of San Antonio Department of Arts and Culture. The show was presented on March 29th as a work in progress to the community, to raving reviews and heartfelt tears. Full production of Happy Birthday Mom HBDM is scheduled for August 2025. Author: Omar HilarioEl Placazo coordinator and Managing Editor. Local San Antonio luchador, Santa Chiva, hit the Westside with his Margarita Madness event this past March 29th. Lucha Libre fans from all across the Barrio and beyond gathered in the Burleson Beer Garden to see talented luchadors practice their craft, with Santa Chiva front and center. Check out the Photo Galleries below to see what went on. Photography done by local filmmaker and photographer Dylan Gloria. Author: Omar HilarioEl Placazo coordinator and Managing Editor. From 1994 to 2025, First Friday remains San Antonio’s longest-lasting mixed-media showcase, with multiple art galleries, museums, studios, and vintage boutiques. This past Friday (4/4/25), I visited the Blue Star Arts Complex for the first time and experienced First Friday. My night consisted of live music, art, and a sense of community that made the experience unforgettable. Whether you’re an artist, collector, or just someone looking for something fun to do on a Friday night, First Friday has something for everyone. Walking through the complex, I felt surrounded by creativity. Every gallery I visited had its own unique vibe. Out of all the places I explored, my favorite was the Flight Gallery. The space was small but packed with amazing authors and artists, who I was able to have great conversations with. The exhibit that stood out to me the most was the work of Juan Tejeda, a 72-year-old retired professor of Mexican American Studies and Music, he is also a writer, publisher, musician, and activist. He spoke about his time at First Friday and how it has developed. He used to play his accordion to crowds at the very first, First Friday events. I was able to ask him if he had noticed any changes over the years, and he replied, " I don't exactly know how it has changed if it has expanded or if it has grown, or if it has gone down from those early days. From what I heard there are still pretty good crowds, but this is the only event that I have done the last two years at First Friday in many years.” Tejeda went on to describe the many books he has written and published about Native and Chicano culture such as his most recent book "Mi Carnal Frank", a family memoir, and Biography of U.S. Congressman Frank Mariano Tejeda Jr. I also got to meet Gabi Magaly, another amazing author whose work focused on personal and cultural heritage. Her book “Dear Frank, I wish… Love Gabi” is raw, honest, and beautifully done. Her book describes love, loss, and self-discovery, as Gabi pieces herself back together, learning what it means to stand in her power truly. As a photographer for El Placazo, I was busy the whole night capturing everything I saw. From people laughing, musicians playing, artists talking about their work, and small details like the way the light hit a canvas just right. I left the night with amazing photos and memories. Author: Alyssa MedellinEl Placazo Assistant, Mural Artist and CECLEF Scholarship recipient. This past March, the 29th Annual Cesar Chavez March for Justice hit the city of San Antonio as it rallied Chicano voices in one place to be loud, proud and heard. This March is the largest Cesar Chavez March in the United States and is organized by the nonprofit organization CECLEF (Cesar E. Chavez Legacy & Educational Foundation), a 100% volunteer board-run nonprofit organization dedicated to preserving Cesar Chavez’s legacy and life’s mission. The organization does this by not only hosting the march, but also giving out fifty thousand dollars worth of annual college scholarship for young Latino students looking to pursue their futures in higher education. This also contributes to the organization's continuous goal in youth civic engagement. CECLEF has also distributed over 700+ Thanksgiving meals in one of its annual Barrio events, Thanksgiving in the Barrio. This year's theme for the March was honoring a line from the Farmworker’s prayer, “Bring Forth Song and Celebration”—and it did just that with the exceptional live music and public performances before and after the March. Alongside the abundance of arts and culture, 4 mini murals and 3 banners were painted and showcased at hemifair park for all to see. The Celebration and unity of Chicano culture really emphasised its focus on cultura, arte y communidad. Author: Omar Hilario El Placazo coordinator and Managing Editor. |
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