Conjunto Festival
El Placazo 2019.2 Issue 219 A publication of San Anto Cultural Arts since 1994
This year’s Conjunto festival was a fun colorful
celebration of Tejano culture and Music. It was
the 38th annual festival and it’s going strong.
On just the first day there were three thousand
two hundred people, up from last years two
thousand. Every year the same people show up
time and time again, bringing with them new
people to make sure that our culture gets passed
down.
Natalie, (Left) Abel, (Center) and Rosa (Right)
are long time westside residents, and have
been celebrating at the Conjunto festival for
years. They were out at Rosedale park everyday
of the festival and enjoyed it the whole time.
They said that the Conjunto festival was one of
the many ways people could celebrate Tejano
style, and remarked on how long it’s taken for
people to really appreciate and embrace the
way Latinos celebrate, whether that means
Easter and christmas celebrations, or just the
celebration of music and dance. The size of the
celebration shows how appreciated Conjunto
is, but so does the diversity of places people
come from. Bands were drawn from all across
the U.S. to come to the festival. Before Ruben
de la Cruz y su Conjunto played, I ran into La
Clicka de La Lonita (Below) taking a break
from the dance floor. A dance group from
McAllen Texas, they came nearly three hundred
miles to the festival. They explained to me how
Conjunto dance is closely related to German
and Czech Polka, with almost the exact same
tempos used. They also used the term “Tejano
Polka” Which I had never heard before.
Near the entrance to the festival I met Sam
Almanza (Pictured above with just a small
selection of his many hats) Who runs a hat
selling business. Sam told me that when he
was younger he used to watch people showing
off their lowriders. He noticed that a lot of the
guys in the lowrider scene wore hats, and so he
started buying and selling hats. Eventually it
went from a side hustle to a full on business that
he now runs with his daughter, and sometimes
the help of his son. His stand had every type
of hat, from classy feathered caps, to sparkly
plastic kids hats. He’s been in the business a
long time, and for the past ten years he’s been
coming down to the Conjunto festival, both for
the music and to sell. The festival had various
stands for different interests. There were people
from bud light, radio stations, and vendors like
Sam. Charlie Ochoa (Below) had a stall selling
accordions and accordion equipment. All his
accordions had “Hencho en Texas” stamped on
them. He had all manner of accordions and their
parts, and says that everyone can appreciate the
accordion. Some people buy them to play in a
band, some to play for themselves, and some
just to have an up on their wall.
It was great to see all the different people
that showed up to the festival. Going to the
Conjunto festival isn’t like going to some rock
concert, it’s the kind of music that families pass
down to their children, and indeed many people
brought their whole families to the park to
celebrate.
Their were young people and old people alike,
migleing by the food vendors, dancing in front
of the stage, and sitting back and relaxing to the
music. The audience was great, and completely
in tune with the musicians, everytime a new
band got on stage, people cheered and flocked
onto the dance floor. And when someone had
something to say, like Flaco Jimenez (below)
Everyone payed attention and let their words
resonate with them.
At One of their stands I talked to some of the
people from the Guadalupe center who were
involved in setting up the event. They told
me that setting up the Conjunto festival is a
massive effort. There are many different tasks
that have to be done to ensure that the festival
can happen. There are permits, reservations,
bands to book, security to hire, vendors to
contact, volunteers to recruit, etc, and all of it
has to be done under a predefined budget. There
are always a lot of bands and musicians who
want to participate, and making decisions about
who gets in and who will have to apply again
next year is always difficult.
Continued pg4
CHECK OUT THE
BOOK OF THE MONTH
from San Anto’s Angela De Hoyos library
SMASHED
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Thirteen chilling nightmares, presented by the master
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El Placazo 2019.2 Issue 219 | Page 2
San Anto Cultural Arts - Community Mural & Public Art List
Educación
2121 Guadalupe St.
Juan Ramos & Cruz Ortiz,
1994. Restored in 1999
Familia y Cultura Es Vida
1227 El Paso St.
Juan Ramos & Debbie
Esparza, 1995. Andy Rivas,
Restored in 2011
8 Stages of the Life of a
Chicana
1303 Tampico St. Carlos
Espinoza & Cruz Ortiz, 1995.
Cardee Avila Garcia & Gerry
Quetzatl Garcia, Restored in
2004
Comprando y Prestando
1424 Guadalupe St.
Mary Helen Herrera, 1996.
Ricardo Islas, Restored in
2007
Tribute to Martin Luther King
New Braunfels Street
Bridge. Juan Ramos & Tim
Jones, 1997
Basta Con La Violencia
1025 S. Nogalitos
Israel “Izzy” Rico, 1997
Salvación
2120 El Paso St.
Mike Roman, 1997
Leyendas Aztecas
1201 S. Brazos
Israel “Izzy” Rico & Krystal
Gonzales, 1998
End Barrio Warfare
2102 S. Laredo St.
Augustine “Fugi” Villa & Lisa
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& Sonny Mendiola, 1998
John Montez, Restored in
2010
published by San Anto Cultural Arts since 1994 Mano a Mano
San Anto Cultural Arts Staff: 1927 W. Commerce
Janette Torres, Juan
Ramos & Mike Roman, 1999
Flower Power
913 S. Brazos St.
Katy Bone, Samantha
Executive Director Estrada, & Angela Ibarra,
1999
Ben Tremillo
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Breaking The Cycle
626 S. Zarzamora
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1801 W. Cesar Chavez Blvd
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1204 Buena Vista
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2427 W. Commerce
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1013 S. Trinity
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Everything for Everyone
and Nothing for Ourselves
1300 San Pedro Ave. San
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1327 Guadalupe St.
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 El Placazo 2019.2 Issue 219 | Page 3

Mr. and Mrs. Consejos Mrs. Consejos: Mira, there’s a concept called escalating commitment. It’s


when you continue a course of action based on past investment
rather than present and de seguro future performance. I
Mr. and Mrs. Consejos, a loved and respected couple, live just at the end of the guarantee you, if we saw this company taking a turn for the
extra mile, not far from a hill which on the side rest hopes and dreams. They lead worst, no longer had corporate social responsibility, if the future
a simple life yet they have a strong history of solving complex problems in all wasn’t optimistic, we wouldn’t just stay. You have to always be
manner of relationships and challenges. able to leave if you lose confidence in the company.
Alejandra: It’s just so uncertain! “The social worker and the executive” is
This is one of their stories: how I planned it. Why can’t there be any guarantees in life?!
Mrs. Consejos: Money will come and go. You CAN choose a mate by money. It
Scene: Alejandra throws open the window curtains to the guest room of a quaint can POSSIBLY make things easier. But that’s not gonna
bed and breakfast on the outskirts of town. After googling common French change how you’re cared for. That’s not gonna change IF you’re
phrases, she stirs away her Mom from her coffee and financial reports. cared for. It’s not gonna make the hard times go away. The hard
times will just be different.
Alejandra: Bonjour Mama! Comment allez vous ce matin? Alejandra: Many of my friends have seen love come and go too. (She thinks
Mrs. Consejos: Tres Bien Cherie et toi to herself, “But I wonder… was it love?”)
Alejandra: Oh Mama! Thank you so much for bringing me to France with Mrs. Consejos: I’m not going to deny you your concern, your reality, your hope.
you! The sun feels brighter. Se siente como el sol me ama poquito We all have our own reasons. When we finally bought into this
mas. Tell me again how this is work and not a vacation?? company we had a choice between buying a big fancy house and
Mrs. Consejos: Alejandra, ever since your quincenera, we’ve been saving our these vineyards. We chose the vineyards because they brought a
extra money to invest. A little here, a little there, overtime, plus greater financial return in the long run. Besides, our real home is
retirement, plus frugal living… this is part of our reward but in our hearts.
it has its risks. The vineyard in our portfolio seems healthy but Is it wise to invest your future with Antonio any longer? I…
we need to put our fingers on it. So many scams go on that we (Alejandra interrupts)
just want to know it’s really there. The annual report is nice but Alejandra: Tell me what to do, Mom? :-(
I have always known…there is a difference between what people Mrs. Consejos: Mija, I cannot tell you to marry or not any more than I can
say and what people do. tell the sun how to shine. But I will tell you this. Be honest with
Alejandra: Ah yes, Mama. (She gets distracted by the sunrise.) Do you think I yourself and your goals, your needs. Commit only to what’s best
might fall in love here? They say French is the language of love. for you. If Antonio can’t deliver the returns you desire, invest
Mrs. Consejos: Ya no mero casastes? I thought you were expecting Antonio to elsewhere. And I will tell you one thing, when I said “I do” to
propose by summer. your father, I said “I do” to the man he already was that minute.
Mrs. Consejos texts the bed and breakfast owner for the least expensive and safest No expectations of who he might become or what he might have.
transportation to the country. She looks out Alejandra’s window and breathes in a At the moment of the proposal, we were already happy.
quiet garden. They wait. But of course there was room for growth. Like these vines, there
was still work for pruning and guiding and grafting but the
Alejandra: Hmmm, Antonio… (She grunts with skepticism and prepare for ROOT, the root was strong.
the day.) Alejandra: (Playfully breaking the tension) Is that like how Mr. Miagi told
Mrs. Consejos: Ay, mija. Tell me the truth. Danielson in Karate Kid: …tree has STRONG root.
Alejandra: Antonio has started talking about opening his own business. But Mrs. Consejos: Exactly, Mija. Exactly!
he’s in line to be an executive. I had this image in my mind of Alejandra: Oui, oui, Mama! I know just what to do.
what our life would be like and now it’s blurred. The image is Beep! Beep! “Your transportation has arrived!” shouts the driver.
very blurred. Que’l dommaage (Too bad). (add direction) Alejandra and Mrs. Consejos prepare to step into the future. They don’t know
Mrs. Consejos: It’s okay to say no, mija. exactly what awaits them but with their compasses, maps, and plenty of gas they
Alejandra: But I’ve invested so much! are certain to always get where they’re going.

Sr. y Sra. Consejos Sra. Consejos: Mira, hay un concepto llamado compromiso creciente.Es cuando


continúa un curso de acción basado en inversiones pasadas en lugar
de resultados futuros actuales y seguros. Le garantizo que si viéramos
El Sr. y la Sra. Consejos, una pareja querida y respetada, viven justo al final de la milla a esta compañía dando un giro hacia lo peor, ya no tendríamos
extra, no lejos de una colina en la que descansan esperanzas y sueños. Llevan una vida responsabilidad social corporativa, si el futuro no fuera optimista, no
simple, pero tienen una sólida historia de resolución de problemas complejos en todo nos quedaríamos. Siempre debes poder irte si pierdes la confianza en
tipo de relaciones y desafíos. la empresa.
Alejandra: ¡ Es tan incierto!”La trabajadora social y el ejecutivo” es como lo
Esta es una de sus historias: planeé. ¿Por
qué no puede haber garantías en la vida?
Escena: Alejandra abre las cortinas de la ventana de la habitación de invitados de un Sra. Consejos: El dinero vendrá y se irá.Se puede elegir un compañero por el
pintoresco bed and breakfast en las afueras de la ciudad. Después de googlear frases dinero.POSIBLEMENTE puede hacer las cosas más fáciles.Pero eso
comunes en francés, ella aleja a su mamá de sus informes financieros y de café. no va a cambiar cómo te cuidan. Eso no va a cambiar si te cuidan. No
va a hacer que los tiempos difíciles se vayan. Los tiempos difíciles
Alejandra: Bonjour Mama!Comentar allez vous ce matin? serán diferentes.
Sra. Consejos: Tres Bien Cherie et toi. Alejandra: Muchos de mis amigos han visto el amor ir y venir también.(Ella
Alejandra: ¡Oh mamá!¡Muchas gracias por traerme a Francia contigo! El sol se piensa para sí misma: “Pero me pregunto ... ¿fue amor?”)
siente más Sra. Consejos: No voy a negarte tu preocupación, tu realidad, tu esperanza.Todos
brillante. Se siente como el sol me ama poquito más. ¿Dime otra vez tenemos nuestras propias razones. Cuando finalmente compramos
cómo esto es trabajo y no unas vacaciones? en esta compañía, pudimos elegir entre comprar una gran casa de lujo
Sra. Consejos: Alejandra, desde su quinceñera, hemos estado ahorrando nuestro y estos viñedos. Elegimos los viñedos porque trajeron un mayor
dinero extra para invertir. Un poco aquí, un poco allá, horas extras, rendimiento financiero a largo plazo. Además, nuestro verdadero
más jubilación, más una vida frugal ... esto es parte de nuestra hogar está en nuestros corazones.
recompensa pero tiene sus riesgos.El viñedo en nuestro portafolio
parece saludable pero tenemos que ponerle los dedos encima. Hay ¿Es sabio invertir tu futuro con Antonio por más tiempo?Yo… (interrumpe Alejandra)
tantas estafas que solo queremos saber si realmente está ahí. El
informe anual es bueno, pero siempre lo he sabido ... hay una Alejandra: ¿Dime que hacer mamá? :-(
diferencia entre lo que dice la gente y lo que hace la gente. Sra. Consejos: Mija, no puedo decirte que te cases o no más de lo que puedo decirle
Alejandra: Ah sí, mamá.(Ella se distrae con el amanecer.) ¿Crees que podría al sol cómo brillar.Pero te diré esto. Sé honesto contigo mismo y con
enamorarme aquí? Dicen que el francés es la idioma del amor. tus metas, tus necesidades. Comprométete solo con lo mejor para ti.
Sra. Consejos: ¿ Ya no mero te casases?Pensé que esperabas que Antonio te Si Antonio no puede entregar las devoluciones que desea, invierta en
propusiera para el verano. otro lugar. Y te diré una cosa, cuando le dije “si” a tu padre, le dije
“yo sí” al hombre que ya tenía en ese momento.No hay expectativas
La Sra. Consejos envía un mensaje de texto al propietario de el bed and breakfast para de quién podría llegar a ser o lo que podría tener. En el momento de la
el transporte menos costoso y más seguro al país. Ella mira por la ventana de Alejandra propuesta, ya estábamos contentos. Pero, por supuesto, había espacio
y respira en un tranquilo jardín. Ellos esperan. para el crecimiento.Como estas viñas, todavía
había trabajo para podar, guiar e injertar, pero la RAÍZ, la raíz era
Alejandra: Hmmm, Antonio ... (Ella gruñe con escepticismo y se prepara para el fuerte.
día.) Alejandra: (Rompiendo juguetonamente la tensión) Es así como el Sr. Miagi le
Sra. Consejos: Ay, mija.Dime la verdad. dijo a Daniel-san en Karate Kid: ... el árbol tiene una raíz FUERTE.
Alejandra: Antonio ha empezado a hablar de abrir su propio negocio.Pero él está Sra. Consejos: Exactamente, Mija.¡Exactamente!
en línea para ser un ejecutivo. Tenía esta imagen en mi mente de Alejandra: Oui, oui, mamá!Yo sé exactamente qué hacer.
cómo sería nuestra vida y ahora está borrosa. La imagen está muy
borrosa. Que’l dommaage (que mal). ¡Bip! ¡Bip! “¡Tu transporte ha llegado!” grita el conductor. Alejandra y señora Consejos
Sra. Consejos: está bien decir que no, mija. preparen para entrar al futuro. No saben exactamente lo que les espera, pero con sus
Alejandra: ¡Pero he invertido tanto! brújulas, mapas y la gran cantidad de gasolina están seguros de que siempre llegarán a
donde van.
El Placazo 2019.2 Issue 219 | Page 4
Continued from front page
Sometimes the same band gets in a couple of Hello,
My name is Josh Perez, and I am a San Antonio based
years in a row, but they always try to get new filmmaker soon to graduate from The Art Institute of
performers and new music in, so that each year San Antonio with a Bachelor’s Degree in Digital Film
is a new and unique show. Below; volunteers and Video Production. For my final senior project, I
and employees from the Guadalupe pose for a have created a short horror/dark comedy film titled
picture in front of one of their booths. “LONGPIG’.

The short film has been backed by 12 backers on a

GoFundMe campaign I set up for this project. Each
backer was very excited for this project to be created, and
their incentives for donation were a custom LONGPIG
t-shirt, an executive producer credit, and a copy of the
film. Many of these people were pleased with their
products and were very supportive of my artistry. They
sent photos to me of them in their LONGPIG t-shirts to
be posted on the Official LONGPIG Instagram account.

I have gone through the entire process of pre-production

to getting my film distributed onto DVD with the help
of other local filmmakers and my film crew. I started
the entire process in the Fall/Winter of 2018, and have
worked extremely diligently on this project for months
until the film’s completion on May 4th, 2019.

I have been interested in film for almost 5 years,

attending school at the Art Institute of San Antonio.
I am San Antonio native, and award-winning film
student. I am extremely passionate about my craft,
and strive to be a very successful creator in the film/
media industry. My background in directing, editing and
cinematography labels me as a multifaceted director
with a distinct vision. I oversee my films from start to
finish, from all production perspectives. Exploring and
learning about different roles in the film industry is very
important to me, as I strive to be able to connect with my
crew members on a deeper level than most. I boost my
creativity by networking and collaborating with other
artists. This in turn helps me produce high quality content
for all to appreciate.

When bands played, the dance floor was When creating this film, I started by writing the script
crowded with couples. Even between and storyboarding the key moments and camera angles
I saw in my mind. By the time script writing process
performances, when the speakers were just was finished, I had created a couple different versions
playing recordings, their were usually at least a of the script, with the help of a crew member in charge
few people dancing. When I went to get a bite of revising the screenplay. After the script was locked, I
to eat I met the staff of Ram’s VP Tacos. One went location scouting around town. Arranging all of my
of them came out and greeted me in French. options, the best choice for shooting was at my uncle’s
house.
He said that everyone in San Antonio has such
a mix of ancestry that he might as well say hi Casting and scheduling were the next part of the pre-
in French or German as in English or Spanish. production process. I had a previous actress in mind for
Overwhelmingly the Conjunto festival was a the antagonist of the short film, but casting for the lead
great event. Usually at a celebration like this role was a task that had unfortunately not gone according
to plan. A last minute replacement had to be found, and
there are ups and downs, but the atmosphere luckily the protagonist’s role was sealed the day of the
this year was so warm and inviting, and all the shoot.
people were friendly and excited.
I have to agree with Rosa and Natalie that the Buying and making props for the film was probably one
Conjunto festival is a great way of Celebrating of my favorite parts. I had went to various thrift shops,
second hand stores, and garage sales to find props and
Tejano Music and culture together, and I hope knick knacks to set up around the house. I also created
next year’s festival is just as successful. some of my own props for the film. Rearranging the
house to my liking was the next step in my process I
By Marlin Guerra Bogle removed my uncle’s items and placed them out of the
Trinity student and photographer way, returning them to their previous state after filming
of course. Shooting took place on a very sunny, slightly
cloudy weekend. The filming took about 12 hours each
day. Since we were running short on actors, some of my
crew members had doubled as my extras in the short
film. I felt as though everything went very smooth on set
thanks to all of my calculated planning and scheduling.
Everyone had a great time and a lot of fun on set.

I spent months editing the short film to get it to its current

finished state. After fishing the
production process, I scheduled a photo shoot with a
couple of my actors and a talented photographer. We
rented a studio and shot photos for the poster and other
production photos to go along with the film. After
creating the poster and posting pictures on social media
to gain hype. I began to create merch for the film to hype
people up for it even more. I created stickers, buttons,
and DVDs for the project.

Josh Perez
Email: longpigfilm2019@gmail.com
Instgram: www instagram.com/
kingofsadproductions (@kingofsadproductions)
I built the DVD from the ground up, and loaded it with
extras. Included with it is the official trailer,teaser trailer,
and behind the scenes featurette of the poster photo shoot.
Cover art was created and designed by myself as well,
and it also includes a DVD insert featuring one of my
favorite pictures from the photo shoot.
I am looking forward to getting this short film to premiere
on the big screen sometime in June.
Conjunto Festival
El Placazo 2019.2 Issue 219 | Page 5
llevarse a cabo. Hay permisos, reservas, bandas
para reservar, seguridad para contratar, proveedores
con los que contactar, voluntarios para reclutar,
etc., y todo esto debe hacerse bajo un presupuesto
predefinido. Siempre hay muchas bandas y músicos
sombreros, por lo que comenzó a comprar y vender
El festival de este año fue una celebración colorida que quieren participar, y tomar decisiones sobre
sombreros. Finalmente, pasó de un ajetreo a un
y divertida de la cultura y la música tejana. Fue quiénes entran y quiénes tendrán que postularse de
negocio completo que ahora dirige con su hija y, a
el 38º festival anual y va fuerte. En el primer día nuevo el próximo año siempre es difícil. A veces, la
veces, con la ayuda de su hijo. Su puesto tenía todo
había tres mil doscientas personas, más que el dos misma banda se pone en un par de años seguidos,
tipo de sombreros, desde elegantes gorras de plumas
mil del año pasado. Cada año, las mismas personas pero siempre intentan obtener nuevos intérpretes y
hasta brillantes sombreros de plástico para niños. Ha
aparecen una y otra vez, trayendo nuevas personas música, de modo que cada año sea un espectáculo
estado en el negocio mucho tiempo, y durante los
para asegurarse de que nuestra cultura se transmita. nuevo y único. Abajo; voluntarios y empleados de
últimos diez años ha estado viniendo al festival de
Guadalupe posan para una foto frente a uno de sus
Conjunto, tanto por la música como por la venta. El
puestos.
festival tuvo varios puestos para diferentes intereses.
Había gente de Bud Light, estaciones de radio y
vendedores como Sam. Charlie Ochoa (abajo) tenía
un puesto de venta de acordeones y equipos de
acordeón. Todos sus acordeones tenían “Hencho
en Texas” estampado en ellos. Tenía todo tipo de
acordeones y sus partes, y dice que todos pueden
apreciar el acordeón. Algunas personas los compran
para tocar en una banda, otros para que toquen ellos
mismos y otros solo para tenerlos en la pared.

Natalie, (izquierda) Abel, (centro) y Rosa (derecha)

son residentes del lado oeste desde hace mucho
tiempo, y han estado celebrando en el festival de
Conjunto durante años. Salieron al parque Rosedale
todos los días del festival y lo disfrutaron todo el
tiempo. Dijeron que el festival de Conjunto era
una de las muchas maneras en que la gente podía
celebrar el estilo tejano, y comentaron cuánto
tiempo ha tomado para que la gente realmente
aprecie y acepte la forma en que los latinos
celebran, ya sea en las celebraciones de Pascua y
Navidad, o solo en la celebración de musica y baile.
El tamaño de la celebración muestra cuán apreciado
es el Conjunto, pero también enseña la diversidad
de lugares de donde proviene la gente. Se sacaron
bandas de todos los Estados Unidos para asistir al
festival. Antes de que tocara Ruben de la Cruz y su Cuando las bandas tocaban, la pista de baile estaba
Conjunto, me encontré con La Clicka de La Lonita llena de parejas. Incluso entre las presentaciones,
(Abajo) tomando un descanso de la pista de baile. cuando se escuchaba solo grabaciones, solían haber
Un grupo de baile de McAllen, Texas, llegaron de al menos algunas personas bailando. Cuando fui a
casi trescientas millas al festival. Me explicaron comer algo, conocí al personal de los Tacos VP de
cómo el baile de Conjunto está estrechamente Ram. Uno de ellos salió y me saludó en francés.
relacionado con la polca alemana y la checa, con Dijo que todo el mundo en San Antonio tiene una
casi los mismos ritmos utilizados. También usaron el mezcla de ascendencia tal que también podría decir
término “Polca tejana”, que nunca había escuchado hola en francés o alemán, como en inglés o español.
antes. De manera abrumadora, el festival de Conjunto fue
Fue genial ver a todas las diferentes personas que
un gran evento. Por lo general, en una celebración
asistieron al festival. Ir al festival de Conjunto no
como esta hay altibajos, pero la atmósfera de
es como ir a un concierto de rock, es el tipo de
este año fue muy cálida y acogedora, y todas las
música que las familias transmiten a sus hijos y, de
personas fueron amistosas y emocionadas.
hecho, muchas personas trajeron a todas sus familias
Tengo que estar de acuerdo con Rosa y Natalie
(arriba) al parque para celebrar. Eran jóvenes y
en que el festival de Conjunto es una excelente
ancianos por igual, mezclados por los vendedores de
manera de celebrar la música y la cultura tejanas en
comida, bailando frente al escenario, y sentados y
conjunto, y espero que el festival del próximo año
relajándose con la música. La audiencia fue genial,
sea igual de exitoso.
y completamente en sintonía con los músicos, cada
Por Marlin Guerra Bogle
vez que una nueva banda subía al escenario, la gente
Estudiante de Trinity and fotografo
aclamaba y acudía a la pista de baile. Y cuando
alguien tenía algo que decir, como Flaco Jiménez
(abajo), todos prestaron atención y dejaron que sus
palabras resonaran en ellos.

Cerca de la entrada al festival, conocí a Sam

En uno de sus puestos hablé con algunas de las
Almanza (en la foto de arriba con solo una pequeña
personas del centro de Guadalupe que participaron
selección de sus muchos sombreros), quien dirige
en la organización del evento. Me dijeron que
un negocio de venta de sombreros. Sam me dijo
configurar el festival de Conjunto es un esfuerzo
que cuando era más joven solía ver a personas
masivo. Hay muchas tareas diferentes que deben
mostrando sus lowriders. Se dio cuenta de que
realizarse para garantizar que el festival pueda
muchos de los chicos de la escena lowrider llevaban
El Placazo 2019.2 Issue 219 | Page 6
The Making of a Chicano Artist La Creación de un Artista Chicano
Armando Sanchez is not a famous artist, but his art has been
purchased by famous people— such as Mick Jagger and Maya
Angelou. He met these personalities when he had an art gallery
and studio at the San Antonio Market Square next door to Mi
Tierra Restaurant where the Cortez family first started their
restaurant empire. Ms. Angelou returned to buy numerous
works from him over the years and introduced him to her friend,
Oprah Winfrey.
Armando, a native of South San Antonio, grew up drawing and
sketching and recalls that as a child in elementary school his
teachers would ask him to use his artistic skills to help decorate
the classroom for holiday events such as Thanksgiving and
Halloween. At age ten, his family moved to Detroit, where his
father worked at the Ford Motor Company. Armando decided
at that time that he wanted to be an artist. He tried to enroll in
the Detroit Art and Craft School but was rejected because he
was only twelve years old.
After three years in Detroit, his family returned to San Antonio,
and he enrolled at Burbank High School where he took art
classes in the mornings and spent the afternoons and evenings
at the public library. At the library he sat for hours studying the
lives and works of famous artists. On many days he would stay
until closing time. One Burbank teacher noticed his art skills, in
particular, his excellent lettering, and suggested that Armando
work as a sign maker. The following year, Armando left
Burbank before graduating and started working at the Schuler
Sign Company. Not satisfied with just his lettering abilities,
he sought out art classes at the Art Institute at the McNay and
Coppini Academy of Fine Arts.
He credits the mentorship of another self-taught artist, Doro
Perez, who also worked at the sign company, with giving him
informal art lessons and creative tips as well as encouragement.
Perez was an excellent landscape painter who often
accompanied the very accomplished bluebonnet artist Porfirio
Salinas on his open air art activities in the countryside.
In his twenties, Armando also took art classes, mostly over
three to six month periods of time. San Antonio artist Warren
Hunter served as another excellent teacher and mentor. Hunter
operated the Warren Hunter School of Art at La Villita, and
Armando was one of his students.
A clothing store in front of the Majestic Theatre hired Armando
during the early 1960s to handle all the signage on the glass
windows. He left after five years to fill an artistic position at
Randolph Air Force Base. At Randolph he was assigned to
paint portraits of the Commanding Officers as well as canvas
renderings of aircraft for the base headquarters. He loved the
base art assignments, but decided to leave to join the public
relations firm owned by Lionel Sosa where he did artistic
design work.
While working for the Sosa firm, he met Jorge Cortez, then
CEO of Mi Tierra Restaurant, and began a life-long friendship
with him. Cortez commissioned Armando in 1970 to paint a
Zapata portrait which became the icon for the restaurant. His
Zapata image graces the aprons and tee shirts at Mi Tierra and
are sold in the thousands annually.
When President Bill Clinton visited San Antonio in the 1990s,
the Cortez family presented the President with a tee-shirt
with the Zapata image. On his jog the next morning along the
Riverwalk, President Clinton wore the Zapata shirt designed by
Armando and later signed a photo of himself wearing the shirt
to Armando.
During the first three decades of his painting career, Armando’s
restlessness took him from one job to another. In the early
1990s, he decided to try self-employment and opened a gallery
and studio on Market Square. Since thousands of people came
to the Square on a daily basis, he met many people and sold
hundreds of his art works. His specialities are Texas landscapes
and portraits.
He recalls that a customer with a striking pink striped suit
came in and asked Armando about an art piece selling for $600
dollars. After telling Armando that he only had $300, Armando
suggested that he could take the painting in exchanged for the
money and his pink suit. The customer agreed and left his shop
in his underwear.
Armando is best known as a watercolorist, but his outdoor and
indoor murals at Mi Tierra and Pico de Gallo are also highly
admired by the San Antonio community. One prominent mural
features the famous Mexican singer Jorge Negrete. Another
mural captures more than one hundred well-known personalities
in San Antonio.
In the coming months, Armando will have a one- man
retrospective show of his watercolor paintings at the Progreso
Memorial Library in Uvalde. My wife Harriett and I are happy
to be a part of that event, having donated fifty-two beautiful
Armando watercolors from our collection of Mexican American
art to the Library. We plan to keep readers informed about the
date and time of this show in Uvalde.
Ricardo Romo
Armando Sánchez no es un artista famoso, pero su arte ha sido
comprado por personajes famosos, como Mick Jagger y Maya
Angelou. Conoció a estas personalidades cuando tenía una
galería de arte y un estudio en la Plaza del Mercado de San
Antonio, al lado del restaurante Mi Tierra, donde la familia
Cortez comenzó su imperio de restaurantes. La Sra. Angelou
volvió a comprarle numerosos trabajos a lo largo de los años y
le presentó a su amiga, Oprah Winfrey.
Armando, un nativo del sur de San Antonio, creció dibujando,
y recuerda que cuando era niño en la escuela primaria, sus
maestros le pedían que usara sus habilidades artísticas para
ayudar a decorar el salón para eventos festivos como el Día de
Acción de Gracias y Halloween. A los diez años, su familia
se mudó a Detroit, donde su padre trabajaba en la Ford Motor
Company. Armando decidió en ese momento que quería ser
artista. Intentó inscribirse en la Escuela de Arte y Artesanía de
Detroit, pero fue rechazado porque solo tenía doce años.
Después de tres años en Detroit, su familia regresó a San
Antonio y se inscribió en Burbank High School, donde tomó
clases de arte por las mañanas y pasaba las tardes y noches en la
biblioteca pública. En la biblioteca estuvo sentado durante horas
estudiando las vidas y obras de artistas famosos. En muchos
días se quedaría hasta el cierre. Un maestro de Burbank notó
sus habilidades artísticas, en particular, sus excelentes letras,
y sugirió que Armando trabajara como fabricante de letreros.
Al año siguiente, Armando dejó Burbank antes de graduarse y
comenzó a trabajar en Schuler Sign Company. No satisfecho
con solo su capacidad para escribir letras, buscó clases de arte
en el Art Institute en el McNay y la Academia de Bellas Artes
Coppini.
Da crédito a la mentoría de otro artista autodidacta, Doro Pérez,
quien también trabajó en la compañía de carteles, por haberle
dado lecciones de arte informales y consejos creativos, además
de estímulo. Pérez fue un excelente pintor de paisajes que
acompañó a menudo al artista de bluebonnet Porfirio Salinas en
sus actividades de arte al aire libre en el campo.
En sus veinte años, Armando también tomó clases de arte, en su
mayoría de tres a seis meses. El artista de San Antonio Warren
Hunter fue otro excelente maestro y mentor. Hunter dirigió la
Escuela de Arte Warren Hunter en La Villita, y Armando fue
uno de sus estudiantes.
Una tienda de ropa frente al Teatro Majestic contrató a
Armando a principios de la década de 1960 para manejar toda la
señalización en las ventanas de vidrio. Se fue después de cinco
años para ocupar un puesto artístico en la Base de la Fuerza
Aérea Randolph. En Randolph se le asignó pintar retratos de los
oficiales al mando, así como lienzos de aviones para la sede de
la base. Le encantaba los trabajos de arte del base, pero decidió
irse a unirse a la firma de relaciones públicas propiedad de
Lionel Sosa, donde realizó trabajos de diseño artístico.
Mientras trabajaba para la firma Sosa, conoció a Jorge Cortez,
en ese tiempo director general de Mi Tierra Restaurant, y
comenzó una amistad de por vida con él. Cortez le encargó
a Armando en 1970 que pintara un retrato de Zapata que se
convirtió en el ícono del restaurante. Su imagen de Zapata
adorna los delantales y camisetas en Mi Tierra y se venden por
miles anualmente.
Cuando el presidente Bill Clinton visitó San Antonio en la
década de 1990, la familia Cortez le presentó al presidente
una camiseta con la imagen de Zapata. En su trote a la mañana
siguiente a lo largo del paseo del río, el presidente Clinton usó
la camisa Zapata diseñada por Armando y más tarde firmó una
foto de él usando la camisa para Armando.
Durante las tres primeras décadas de su carrera como pintor, la
inquietud de Armando lo llevó de un trabajo a otro. A principios
de la década de 1990, decidió probar el trabajo por cuenta
propia y abrió una galería y un estudio en Market Square.
Como miles de personas venían a la Plaza a diario, conocía
a muchas personas y vendía cientos de sus obras de arte. Sus
especialidades son los paisajes y retratos de Texas.
Recuerda que un cliente con un llamativo traje a rayas de color
rosa entró y le preguntó a Armando sobre una obra de arte que
se vendía por $ 600 dólares. Después de decirle a Armando que
solo tenía $ 300, Armando sugirió que podía tomar la pintura y
a cambio del dinero su traje rosa. El cliente accedió y dejó su
tienda en ropa interior.
Armando es mejor conocido como un acuarela, pero sus
murales en exteriores e interiores en Mi Tierra y Pico de Gallo
también son muy admirados por la comunidad de San Antonio.
Un prominente mural presenta al famoso cantante mexicano
Jorge Negrete. Otro mural captura más de cien personalidades
conocidas en San Antonio.
En los próximos meses, Armando tendrá una muestra
retrospectiva de un hombre de sus pinturas de acuarela en la
Biblioteca Conmemorativa de Progreso en Uvalde. Mi esposa
Harriett y yo estamos felices de ser parte de ese evento, al
haber donado cincuenta y dos acuarelas hermosas de Armando
de nuestra colección de arte mexicano-estadounidense a la
Biblioteca. Planeamos mantener a los lectores informados sobre
la fecha y la hora de este espectáculo en Uvalde.
Ricardo Romo
Ricardo Romo grew up in
San Antonio’s Guadalupe
community near the San
Anto Cultural Arts offices.
He graduated from Fox Tech
High School and attended the
University of Texas at Austin
on a track scholarship. He was
the first Texan to run the mile
in less than four minutes.
Romo earned his B.S. degree
at the University of Texas at
Austin; a master’s degree in history from Loyola Marymount
University (1970); and a Ph.D. in history from UCLA (1975).
A nationally respected urban historian, Romo is the author
of “East Los Angeles: History of a Barrio,” now in its ninth
printing (one in Spanish).
Romo served as the fifth president of the University of Texas at
San Antonio from 1999 to 2017. A recognized urban historian,
he has taught and published in the field of civil rights, Mexican
American history, and urban history.
Romo currently serves as a Director for numerous boards
including: Southwest Research Institute, Brackenridge
Conservancy, Humanities Texas and World Affairs Council. He
is also active as cultural and political writer as well as editorial
board member for La Prensa Texas, a bilingual newspaper in
San Antonio.
A talented photographer, Romo’s photos have been included
in numerous regional exhibits including “Havana” and “Small
Town Texas,” from which photos were selected for an exhibit
in China, “Infinite Horizons: Visions of Texas.” He and his wife
Harriett are avid collectors of Latino art and active in several
Texas museums.
1964
Danielle De Leon
I used to think history was boring
Because it occurred so long ago
But something happened to change my
mind
And it goes by the name of Jim Crow
In case you’re not familiar with the term
I’d be much obliged to tell
Just beware it’s very grim
But here it is in a nutshell
The Jim Crow laws were terrible
Full of repulsion, hate, and discrimination
Towards people of darker complexions
There was absolutely no integration
Oh sure it was “separate but equal”
And if you think that was a lie
A deception, inaccuracy, or falsehood
Then you’ve hit a straight bull’s eye
Because Black people were persecuted
Although they had done nothing wrong
Just because of their deep skin color
And it’s been going on much too long
According to books and records,
A Civil Rights Act was signed in 1964
Putting a stop to segregation
And locking it behind a closed door
But I have my own theory
That the hate never really stopped
Maybe the plan didn’t exactly work
And the whole project just flopped
Racism is in all places
If you open your eyes you’ll find
That people are harassed and oppressed
And if you don’t see it then you’re blind
Unfortunately, some cruelty seeped through
Past the year of 1964
And although it was supposed to be secure,
There must have been a crack in that door.
 El Placazo 2019.2 Issue 219 | Page 7

Historias de la Roma
Esta es otra historia de la Sra, Inés Valdez. Retirada, ella tiene hoy 84. Años.

Mi historia, soy Inés Estrada , tengo 84 años, retirada, miembro, activista. Soy de un pueblo del Estado de México, Santa Ana Cicaticoya. Trabaje desde que tenía 15
años. En mí pueblo, emigre a la Ciudad de México. Ahí luego de trabajar en diferentes lugares. Conseguí este trabajo, estuve ahí como desde 1968 al 1975 con la señora Ofelia.
Limpiando la casa. Ellos tenían un hijo viviendo en San Antonio Tx. Casado que tenía 3 hijos, 2 niños y una niña. Cómo el Dr. Homero , seguía estudiando allá en San Antonio Tx.
La señora, Ofelia un día me dijo que le gustaría que yo le fuera a ayudar a su hijo y a su nuera Lula, allá en San Antonio. Para que le cuidara los nietos. La Sra Ofelia me saco el
Pasaporte como dama de compañía de ella. Y un día me dijo que me fuera. Yo me fui sola en Avión.

Yo le hacía a la Sra Lula de todo. Le hacía la limpieza de la casa, yo empezaba la comida ella la terminaba. Lavaba, planchas, cuidaban a los niños. Al principio me dijo la Sra., que
era para ayudarla a ella. Me quedaba en San Antonio 3 meses, les trabajaba. En realidad le venía a ayudar a la Nuera la Sra Lula, Me regresaba a la Ciudad de México y volvía a
regresar. Cuándo tuvieron su cuarto hijo, ya me quedé más tiempo. Cuidando a los niños. Les hacía el desayuno. Me decían niña los más grandes.
Era mucho el trabajo, al principios no tenía descansó, por que hacer todo y más de lo que mencioné, pero más cuidando al recién nacido, Eduardo se llamó. Lo traía de aquí allá,
en brazos, alimentarlo, dormirlo, fue como mi hijo, le di todo mi tiempo, amor atención, lo ayudé a caminar, sus primeros dientes. Estaba tan apegado a mí, que me empezó a
decir mamá. Por qué la Sra no lo atendía para nada. Porque yo estaba ahí, hasta los fines de semana.
También no salia, por qué no sabía tomar el Camión, no sabía Inglés.

Un día me dijo la Sra Lula.¡No debe estar nada más aquí adentro! La voy a enseñar a usar el Camión.
Para que me viniera nomas al Centro y como regresarme. Pero todo fue por que no le gusto que el niño me decía mamá. Y me pasaba ahí encerrada todo el tiempo.
Luego me llevaba al North Star Mall. Los Sábados, me pasaba todo el día ahí ese era todo mi descansó . Ella me recogía todas las tardes del Sábado. Cómo no sabía Inglés. Ella me
hacía mí lunch. Y caminaba y me volví a a regresar a la misma banca y puerta. Así pasé años.

Un día comencé a comerme mí lunch ahí llegó un Hombre. Se sentó a mi lado, me hizo la plática, me invitó un café, acepté y ahí mismo en el Mall, me llevó a tomar el café. Me
siguió viendo, el trabajaba ahí era el jefe de todos los que limpiaban el Edificio, con este hombre dure un año de novia. Con él terminé casandome.
El niño más pequeño estaba muy encariñado conmigo. Me seguía diciendo mamá. Todos ellos me querían mucho. Me pedían que les cocinara gorditas picadas de frijoles.
Los niños se acostumbraron a mí que cuando querían que les cocinara huevos la Sra Lula les decía. Yo se los hago. Le decían.
No, que los haga Nina. Quiero huevo con tortilla abajo.
Ella se molestaba.

Dure trabajando un año ahí encerrada. Los fines de semana me iba a quedar con mi esposo. Pero el ya no quiso estar solo. Le dije a ellos que seguiría ahí trabajando pero que me
quedaría en mí casa. El Sr Homero y la Sra Lourdes estuvieron de acuerdo.
El día que hacía mi maleta para irme. La Sra gritó ¡ Eduardo qué andas haciendo?

-¡Mi maleta, por que ya me voy con mí mamá!

-¡No es tú mamá! ¡Tú mamá soy yo!
-¡ NOOO! ¡Mi mamá es ella !
-¡No, tú mamá soy yo !
Seguí trabajando con ellos por muchos años.
Eduardo aún se acuerda de mí. Me llama la Sra Lula.
-¡ Doña Inés ! ¡ Su hijo la quiere saludar!
- Y me viene a visitar. El Thanksgiving, en Navidad.
Nunca me olvida. ¡Me quiere aun.

Yo me retiré en el año 2000. Pobre, endeudada, sin un quinto de retiro, enferma, sola, uso andador. Mi único consuelo y compañía mis gatos. Y ser parte de Domésticas Unidas.

Stories from Roma

The story of Mrs. Inés Valdez. Retired, she is 84 years old today.

My story, I’m Inés Estrada, I’m 84 years old, retired, member, and activist. I am from a town in the State of Mexico, Santa Ana Zicatecoyan. I’ve worked since I was 15
years old, in my town, I emigrated to Mexico City. There after working in different places, I got this job, I was there as from 1968 to 1975 with Mrs. Ofelia cleaning the house.
They had a son living in San Antonio Tx married with 3 children, 2 boys and a girl. Since Dr. Homero was still studying there in San Antonio Tx, Mrs. Ophelia one day told me
that she would like me to help her son and his daughter-in-law Lula, back in San Antonio. To take care of the grandchildren. Mrs. Ofelia got me a Passport as her companion and
one day he told me to go. I went alone on Plane.

I did everything for Mrs. Lula, I did the house cleaning, I started the meals and she finished them, I washed, ironed, and took care of the children. At first, Mrs. Ofelia had told me,
I was there to help her. I stayed and worked for them in San Antonio for 3 months. Actually I came to help the daughter-in-law, Mrs. Lula, I would return to Mexico City and come
back. When they had their fourth child, I stayed longer, taking care of the kids, I made them breakfast and the older ones would cal me Niña.
It was a lot of work at the beginning, I could never rest because I did everything and more than what I mentioned before, it was also taking care of the newborn, Eduardo was his
name. I would bring him here and there in my arms, feed him, and put him to bed. He was like my own son. I gave him all my time, love, and attention. I helped him walk his first
steps, and through his first teeth. He was so attached to me that he started calling me Mamá, since the Mrs. did not attend to him at all, and since I was there through weekends.
Also I did not go out, I did not know how to take the bus, and I did not know English.

One day Mrs. Lula told me,”You shouldn’t just be inside all the time! I’m going to teach you how to take the bus.”,
so that I could come and go from Downtown. But it was all because she did not like the little boy calling me mom, and I spent all my time there inside.
Then I would go to the North Star Mall on Saturdays, I spent all day there that was all my time off. She picked me up every Saturday afternoon, since I did not know English, she
made me lunch and I would walk around and go back to the same bench and door, and that’s how I spent years.

One day I began to eat my lunch there, a Man arrived. He sat next to me, and started to talk to me, he invited me for a coffee, I accepted and right there in the Mall, he took me to
have coffee. He continued to see me, he worked there, he was the boss of all the staff who cleaned the building, and we went on seeing each other for a year. We ended up getting
married.

The youngest child was very fond of me, he kept calling me mom. They all loved me very much and they would always ask me to make gorditas picadas. The children became
accustomed to me, so much that when they wanted me to cook eggs Mrs. Lula told them, “I’ll make them.”, and they would say, “No, let Niña do it. I want egg with tortilla
underneath.”. She would get upset.

I lasted a year working there shut up inside, on weekends I would go to stay with my husband, but he did not want to be alone anymore. I told them I would continue working there
but that I would stay at home. Mr. Homero and Mrs. Lourdes agreed.
The day I made my suitcase to leave the Mrs. shouted “Eduardo what are you doing?”
- “Packing my suitcase, because I’m leaving with my mom!”
-”She’s not your mom!” “I’m your mom!”
-”NOOO!” “She’s my mom !”
-”No, I’m your mom!”
I continued working with them for many years.
Eduardo still remembers me, he calles me Mrs. Lula.
- “Mrs. Ines !” “Your son wants to say hello!”
And he comes to visit me, on Thanksgiving, at Christmas,
he never forgets me. He still loves me.

I retired in the year 2000. Poor, indebted, without a bit of retirement, sick, alone, and I use a walker. My only consolation and company my cats, and being part of Domesticas
Unidas (Domestic Workers United).
El Placazo 2019.2 Issue 219 | Page 8

By Morgan Lopez

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We need journalists, photographers, graphic designers, and translators to help train our El Placazo news
room crew. Weather you’re a college student getting your start or professional looking to give back send a
resume or artist statement and work sample to elplacazo@sananto.org

Upgrade your ride to

Zarzamora.
New PRIMO 103 Stations are Here
Modern design. Inspiring art panels.
NextBus arrival displays.

— High-tech Stops with Real-time Arrival Info

— Free WiFi
— Link to Medical Center with Extended
Route 95/Fredericksburg
— Link to Texas A&M-SA with
Route 672/TAMUSA

* Monday – Friday 6am-6pm

Visit VIAinfo.net/PRIMO for a chance to ride VIA free for a month and more!