tag:melemartinez.com,2005:/blogs/luz?p=1Luz2017-02-05T09:45:36-07:00Mele Martinezfalsetag:melemartinez.com,2005:Post/44644492016-11-13T07:10:21-07:002021-05-03T07:44:54-07:00November 12, 2016 CHOREOGRAPHY Part 5<p>This is a final entry in a series of quick blog posts to share some of the inspiration, development, and meaning behind choreographies that will be presented in Luz...<br><br>Title: Sangre <br>(Solea) <br><br><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/1619/16d2a4e90558895e7efa08214e15745fa62a91e6/medium/solea.jpg?1479046102" class="size_m justify_left border_" />Solea, the “mother” of flamenco palos, will close the show. Fanny Ara and I have collaborated on the choreography for this piece that will include manton work. It will be the most traditional piece in Luz, closing the evening with the purest flamenco sounds of the concert.<br><br>I've thought about how flamenco shows are traditionally presented and how Solea is almost always the final palo in flamenco performances around the globe. Keeping to this tradition is appropriate for Luz because it honors all of the flamencas who have helped establish this tradition--the women who have defined what it means to be flamenco. Many of us who practice this art form do it because of the women (and mothers) we've watched on the stage and screen perform pieces like the solea. The most important influences in my flamenco training are also mothers: Juana Amaya, Matilde Coral, Pastora Galvan, Eva la Yerbabuena, Adela Compallo, La Farruca, Mercedes Amaya, and Manuela Carrasco to name just a few. The art work from these woman has help shape me since I was fifteen years old. They are my flamenco all-stars, and my inspiration. <br><br>I'm fortunate to participate in an art form that goes hand in hand with motherhood, one that values family, and one that not only acknowledges the beauty of flamenco matriarchs, but celebrates them faithfully. This is why flamenco is such a perfect medium for honoring mothers who are artists. This is why flamenco is perfect for Luz.<br><br><em>Sangre</em> is the working title of this piece. I've chosen it because like solea, the blood is an image that is powerful, brutal, and generative. It represents the mysteries of genealogy, the substance that binds us, and the foundation of creation. The profound honor of motherhood is expressed in our blood. We don't always appreciate it, but it is always there, just beneath our skin, allowing survival and potential for creation. From it we can draw hope and renewal.<br><br><br>I hope this series of posts on the choreography of Luz has shed some light on why this project is so personal and so important! And of course, I hope you can join me on December 2nd and 3rd for Luz in Arizona! </p>Mele Martineztag:melemartinez.com,2005:Post/44629232016-11-11T17:10:35-07:002021-05-30T23:33:13-07:00November 11, 2016 CHOREOGRAPHY Part 4<p>Continuing this series of quick blog posts to share some of the inspiration, development, and meaning behind choreographies that will be presented in Luz...<br><br>Title: Dar a Luz <br>a percussive piece featuring the rhythms of Diego "El Negro" Muñoz<br><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/1619/15fe3136e841fbbb2d160c530d6d2bf8890ff747/original/20161024-073520.jpg?1478909341" class="size_l justify_right border_" /></p>
<p>This short piece is the most recent Luz choreography by Fanny Ara. It was mounted just one week before the first tour of Luz in California and New Mexico in February, 2016. </p>
<p>The music features percussive work by Diego "El Negro" Muñoz. Diego, originally from Caracas, Venezuela, is considered one of the foremost cajon players in the world. He has recorded with Paco Peña and has accompanied dancers of the highest caliber, including La Tati, Antonio Canales, Joaquin Cortes, Sara Baras, and Rocio Molina. </p>
<p>Perhaps the most unique choreography in Luz, this short work reminds me of what it feels like to be in labor. There is almost a rhythm to the surges that happen in those hours. As things move faster, time seems to slow down. There is a back and forth conversation between tension and release. In the midst of that kind of intensity, we may want to escape. We may even attempt to hide, to curl ourselves up into whatever shadow we can find. </p>
<p>But light breaks through. We move out of the eclipse. Light suddenly rushes over us, and everything about us changes forever. </p>Mele Martineztag:melemartinez.com,2005:Post/44617152016-11-10T23:16:42-07:002021-04-02T19:31:27-07:00November 10, 2016 CHOREOGRAPHY Part 3<p>Continuing this series of quick blog posts to share some of the inspiration, development, and meaning behind choreographies that will be presented in Luz...<br><br>Title: No Tiene Cuna <br>(Nana) <br><br>This piece was choreographed by Fanny Ara and is set to the music of Miguel Poveda’s “Nana de los Rosales,” a flamenco lullaby.<br><br>I first learned this piece from Fanny in a workshop she gave in 2013 in a studio in Phoenix, AZ. As we learned the material, Fanny explained that she was inspired to create this piece right after her close friend lost a child to miscarriage. Beyond the beauty of the music and the movement, the inspiration of this piece really touched me and the others in the studio that day.<br><br>About a year later, when I first talked to Fanny about working together on this project to honor mothers, I knew I'd ask if she'd allow me to present this piece. It was a blessing to hear her enthusiasm. Though the piece reflects despair, tragedy, and loss, it also speaks to the beauty of motherhood in its various experiences. It is probably my favorite choreography in Luz because though I've never felt this particular kind of pain, I embrace the idea that even if a child is in the womb for days, weeks, or months, then gone, a mother remains a mother forever.<br><br>One thing I've learned in the process of creating Luz is that we as mothers and artists can bear each others burdens. There is a phenomenal tie between women who share in each other’s grief and support each other. I'm so grateful for the women in my life who have come along side me, I'm grateful for the moments I've had the opportunity to come along side them, and of course I'm so very thankful for my friend, Fanny, for making Luz with me.<br><br><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/1619/4c18ae2dabf074fd9f44b47a2ef1a40cc408653b/medium/screen-shot-2016-11-10-at-11-11-54-pm.png?1478844757" class="size_m justify_left border_" /><br>Workshop with Fanny Ana mounting choreography to Nana de los Rosales, 2013.</p>Mele Martineztag:melemartinez.com,2005:Post/44599612016-11-09T20:05:44-07:002021-06-02T04:14:32-07:00November 9, 2016 CHOREOGRAPHY Part 2<p>Continuing this series of quick blog posts to share some of the inspiration, development, and meaning behind some of the pieces that will be presented in Luz.<br><br><br>Title: Alumbre <br>(Sevillanas) <br><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/1619/61f9c7a4c421a5ca1b7ecf014fa2bf24ae41a37f/original/pareja.jpg?1478747073" class="size_l justify_right border_" /></p>
<p>This piece was choreographed by Fanny Ara in 2015 and is set to the music of Diego El Cigala, featuring Diego del Morao, “Sevillanas de Juan Antonio.” In four coplas, the choreography showcases modern flamenco movement and more complex rhythmic ideas than usually seen in traditional Sevillanas. <br> <br>For me, this piece symbolizes the duality of mothers who are artists--the two roles we play as parents and as creators. This duality is both beautiful and overwhelming. <br> <br>Since Sevillanas is normally danced in pairs, this symbolism manifests in a solo piece where the dancer plays her own “pareja.” This piece speaks to the tug-of-war within the heart of mother artists--the pull from home to be there for our families, and the pull from the studio/stage to be our creative selves. Loving mother or independent artist? This piece is about the call to be both, the acknowledgment of the sacrifices on both sides, and the rejoicing in the blessings on both sides. The balance is daily measured. <br> <br> While at times we may fail at either role (or both), we have a unique opportunity. Mothers can bring distinctive and necessary perspectives to the art world. And of course, an artistic perspective can illuminate the practice of motherhood.</p>Mele Martineztag:melemartinez.com,2005:Post/44574862016-11-08T10:24:48-07:002021-04-30T05:52:40-07:00November 8, 2016 CHOREOGRAPHY Part 1Though Luz gets presented in the course of just one night, the choreography for Luz has been in the works for several years! In the next series of quick blog posts, I'd like to share some of the inspiration, development, and meaning behind some of the pieces that will be presented in Luz. I hope these shed some light on what it means to be a mother and an artist--and how those amazing roles can be acknowledged, celebrated, and honored. <p>Title: Eva <br>(Zambra) <br> <br><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/1619/76bcf435fb222d618bdbcece2c2af9984992fb40/medium/fdvdp-056.jpg?1478625635" class="size_m justify_right border_none" alt="" /><br> <br>This piece was inspired by the genesis story – the story of Eve. I started creating the Zambra in Tucson back in 2008, when I suddenly thought of Eve. I wondered, what would it be like to be created as a fully formed woman? To not go through development stages but to suddenly be, and to suddenly be woman? Never a girl. Never an adolescent. Never in those awkward stages. Never wondering what will change next in your body, and never worried about your changing identity. Also, naked and not ashamed. I thought about how amazing it would feel to be Eve. How amazing to be the mother of all people. <br><br>As I read Genesis, I saw that Eve was not created from the dust like Adam, but created from the rib. She was created from bone. Strong. Solid. Connected. Purposed, and formed. She was taken out of man, and I’ve spent a lot of time wondering what that means. Is she the part that man is not? Is she the part that man now lacks? The part that man cannot make up for on his own?<br><br>Of course, this beginning of Eve is before the fall. All of this is in the state of perfection. Eve, in this state, is woman without pain and without loss. She is woman in bloom fully, capable of complete intimacy with man and his equal. Before her, there was a question of whether or not God’s perfect creation was good enough for man. With her, it is. Reading this I know that as a woman and mother, I’m in the unique position to realize the role of what the bible metaphorically calls the church: the bride. In the bible, the bride (the church) waits for the groom (the Savior). Women and mothers--we understand waiting. We understand expectation. <br><br>Of course, Eve doesn't stay in perfection. Things change and that is when she must endure suffering, but her suffering is directly linked to her identity as a mother. I think mothers (and artists) understand this idea: that creating hurts, and yet we are called to it. We were made for it.<br><br> </p>Mele Martineztag:melemartinez.com,2005:Post/44363602016-10-25T09:57:15-07:002021-05-21T00:25:03-07:00October 25, 2016<p>I feel like molasses. I’m moving so slowly, but thank God I’m inching along. It is hard to believe that Luz is now less than 6 weeks away. I want so much to make it perfect, to have all the right moves, the right costumes, the right lighting, and of course the energy to do it all. I want so much to have more time, enough time. But those desires of perfection are mostly ego talking. What I could be wanting instead is to be in each moment of making Luz. What I could be focused on is the perfection of this opportunity, like a divine appointment. That is so much more precious than ego. <br> <br>I’ll be working on that. <br> <br>Gladly, I have some inspiration. There are women all around me--probably heaven sent--who are mothers in the arts. Usually, I only get to witness the product of their art rather than the process of their art, but I can imagine all the thought, planning, and work they do behind the scenes, and the beauty of their practice. They weave everyday with art. <br> <br>They take a photo and fill a bottle. They make a brush stroke and comfort a crying child. They sew a stitch and run a bath. They write a verse and put their children to bed with a story. They dream an art project and wake to a child’s head on their shoulders. <br> <br>I'm so grateful to them. I honor their everyday. Their everyday work pushes me to get up early, before the rest of the house is awake, grab my flamenco shoes, and drive to a studio where I will fight to move better, feel more, dance well. I might be molasses, but I’ll get there eventually. I hope someday soon, molasses will be the very thing I treasure.<img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/1619/afb8c6b90558fa7a50f3f41d58244086367c0531/original/screen-shot-2016-10-25-at-9-51-58-am.png?1477414547" class="size_l justify_center border_" /></p>
<p style="text-align: center;">Sunrise in the studio.</p>Mele Martineztag:melemartinez.com,2005:Post/44016192016-10-03T09:54:22-07:002021-04-22T01:55:01-07:00October 3, 2016<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
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<![endif]--><!--StartFragment--><p><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/1619/6c435e9805e41ea5504079c5be4dfb23e492ef06/original/purplevideostill.jpg?1475513594" class="size_orig justify_right border_" />I don’t have the greatest “relationship” with flamenco right now, but I am grateful that flamenco doesn’t make me choose between soft and hard, between weak and strong. I’m grateful that flamenco is best with both. <br> <br>#Luz still has me on a roller coaster, and I guess I’m starting to roll with it. I've been crying a couple times a day, usually when I think I’m alone, even though I don't feel "sad." There don’t seem to be enough hours in the day to deal with all the emotions that pop up. And there are physical challenges too--I stopped eating lots of things I like to eat in the portions I like to eat them. My joints aren’t happy. I’ve had a headache for about four days straight. Also, I have a bazillion student essays to grade (that little thing called my day job), but instead of reading them, I've been reading The Color Purple again. <br> <br>The first time I read The Color Purple, I was about Lola's age. Reading it again, with daughters of my own, with memories of everything that I experienced after I read it the first time, makes me crack open a little. I feel like I'm in the twilight zone. I feel like something is going to burst. I've been feeling this way for weeks. <br> <br>I guess I thought that as I matured, I'd get tougher. But it seems I’ve gotten more sensitive with each passing year. This feels like a problem because I started off as too sensitive to begin with. I don't like being labeled as sensitive. The connotation is weak, melodramatic, disorganized, out of control. I don't want to be those things. <br> <br>I try to pretend I’m not sensitive by being anti-sentimental instead. I'm okay with throwing out Gloria's first watercolor paintings. I don't feel the need to go to my 20th high school reunion. I've even gone so far as to sell off some of my inheritances. Does that make me stronger? Does that make me tough enough? <br> <br>In The Color Purple, I read again about Celie, Shug, Nettie, Sophia. I feel smaller, but better off. I feel like the book arrived at the library just for me. I needed to see these women in a book this week. I needed these characters to arrive in my home, in my head. They are strong. They are weak. They are mothers. <br> <br>I realize that Luz is a flamenco project asking me to see how sensitive I really am, but also how sturdy, how solid. Luz makes me a baby, expressing anguish with even the smallest of pains, and simultaneously equipping me with a coat of armor. Luz feels like a miracle sometimes—a miracle that I didn’t invent, and don’t have much control over, but I know where miracles come from. I know where Luz comes from. </p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:14.0pt;font-family:Helvetica;
mso-bidi-font-family:Helvetica;color:#16191F"><p></p></span></p><!--EndFragment-->Mele Martineztag:melemartinez.com,2005:Post/43906722016-09-26T10:26:13-07:002021-06-02T16:15:04-07:00September 26, 2016<p><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/1619/051a30fac67d66c4d99cffd37e030d083a04d6ca/medium/gloria.jpg?1474910709" class="size_m justify_left border_" /><br>I know we all have days or weeks packed with highs and lows, epiphanies then tragedies, blessings and then burdens again. The last two weeks have been like that for me. I’ve been given wonderful news then awful news then back again. I’ve felt comforted and at ease one moment, then shocked and confused the next. Some of this has to do with the planning of Luz later this year, some of it has to do with family, and some of it has just been about watching the news. The last couple of weeks have felt just like those roller coaster rides I used to love as a kid--the kind I can’t even look at now without feeling sick. <br><br>The ups and downs shouldn’t be a surprise, but when those ups and downs get condensed, like quickened heart beats on a monitor, I start to feel lost and hyper focused at the same time. It is a strange feeling, and one that I know I’ve felt before. <br><br>When Gloria was about to be born, the nurses broke my water to help things move along, to speed things up. It worked. Moments after my water broke, I felt something more intense in my body than I ever had in my life. I had already given birth to one child, so I thought I knew what labor was like. In reality, I had no idea what was about to hit me. Labor went from zero to sixty in that minute. I had no idea what those ups and downs would feel like in such rapid succession. I felt lost then too, and all I could do was focus on the eyes of one nurse in the room. I looked into her eyes without blinking for what felt like an hour. Suddenly, I was seeing pretty clearly. <br><br>They say that a mother forgets labor. Well, I don’t remember what that nurse looked like. I don’t remember her name. I don’t remember many details of my labor with Gloria, but I have not forgotten that feeling of being lost and focused and up and down several times a second. That is a feeling I will never forget. <br><br>Though these last two weeks haven’t been as dramatic as giving birth, my experience of having Gloria, of feeling her last hours inside me, her father holding me, and breathing all those short breaths—all of those things help me understand what it means to be right here, seeing clearly in the middle of the mountains and valleys. </p>Mele Martineztag:melemartinez.com,2005:Post/43683372016-09-12T11:20:49-07:002021-04-02T19:26:20-07:00September 12, 2016 - Loving Mondays<p><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/1619/7cd47aef5e471a22a569e41bb9b6bb9e72982bde/original/screen-shot-2016-09-12-at-11-13-13-am.png?1473704016" class="size_l justify_center border_" /><br>My three-year-old daughter, Gloria, joined me in the studio today. While I rehearsed, she played for a while by herself, but eventually she left her toys and distractions and walked right up to the mirror. Gloria’s immediate response to seeing her own reflection? Singing (loudly). And dancing (or at least spinning). <br> <br>Despite my attempts to keep her calm so that I could work, Gloria was unabashed. It didn’t matter that she didn’t know the words to her own songs. It didn’t matter to her that anyone else was in the room. She didn’t once self-criticize. This is the way I know most toddlers to behave, and it wasn’t out of the norm for her. She lives her little three-year-old life like this pretty much everyday. <br> <br> <br>My “normal” is to smile and indulge her for a moment, but then to try and somehow corral this behavior. Even though I don’t necessarily fault her for acting like this while I’m trying to get something done, I often complain about it, and even use it as an excuse for why I can’t seem to get anything done. Anyone who has spent even five minutes with a toddler understands this. But I sometimes wish that my “normal” looked a little more like hers. <br> <br>My mother started taking me to dance classes when I was three years old. I remember knowing what day of the week it was (Monday), because it was the day I got to dance. I remember putting on my ballet shoes and I remember looking in the mirror. I remember holding on to the ballet bar. I don’t recall much of anything else. But I do remember loving Mondays with all my heart. <br> <br>Everyone tells me that Gloria looks just like me. Sometimes people even say the words: “She is little Mele.” But as soon as I outwardly acknowledge our likeness, I find myself inwardly rejecting the idea. I think Gloria is beautiful, but I don’t really want to look like her. I often feel the need to remind myself that she is not me; I feel the need to corral the very idea of it, and to put a nice strong fence between me and that three-year-old little girl. But I wonder if God has a good reason, maybe even a hundred good reasons, for giving me a child that is my doppelganger. Maybe He wants me to see something every time I look at her. Maybe He is trying to tell me something.</p>Mele Martineztag:melemartinez.com,2005:Post/43575482016-09-05T10:42:50-07:002021-04-02T19:27:45-07:00September 5, 2016 - Looking for Luz<p><a contents="" data-link-label="" data-link-type="url" href="https://www.instagram.com/p/BJ-rg93DATkjvwseTALJW7N_jyleWG4LZDQKSI0/" target="_blank"><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/1619/748d1f58baab9a42b665cbf81834e0551101c1ad/original/screen-shot-2016-09-05-at-10-41-12-am.png?1473097309" class="size_l justify_center border_" /></a><br>Luz will be presented the first weekend of December in Phoenix and Tucson. <br> <br>Though I wish I could give you this news with balloons and confetti and lots of exclamation points, I’m going to tell you that in all honesty, my first “flinch” is to run away. I’ve asked for this opportunity. I’ve taken steps to make it happen. But the first thing that comes to mind when I think about presenting <em>Luz</em> (in just twelve weeks) is <strong><em>run away</em></strong>. <br> <br>I admit this reaction sounds like I don’t have any appreciation. It sounds cowardly. Lazy too. And those labels are pretty accurate. Real dancers don’t act like this. They work hard. They make a million sacrifices. They spend their whole lives in the studio. Blood, sweat, and tears…all of that. They dream and they strive. <br> <br>But I guess my first flinch reaction is to be the opposite of a dancer… to not dance, to not even move. <br> <br>My heart is missing something. I wish I could just invent the part that is gone – make it fit the hole. I’ve tried many times to do this, but the part never fits. There is no real or lasting replacement. <br> <br>Almost all summer long, I’ve done my first flinch reaction—I’ve done everything but dance. My shoes have slept in my closet. My body has retreated under the covers of my bed. I’ve been comfortable, not dancing. Lately, I’ve been trying to force some motivation. I’ve rented a studio. I’ve had creative meetings. I’ve had plenty of coffee. I’ve considered watching some Rocky films. But when I get into the studio and try to move, my body gets stuck. Almost immobile. My heart is missing something. <br> <br>I’ve come to understand that initial reactions are usually the opposite of what God has intended for me. I’ve come to understand that much of the time I am blind to my own purpose. Even when I know it is right there in front of me, I can’t really see it. It is distorted, and my eyes get tired of trying to make out the image. I forget that this act of dancing, this production of art, is not really about me. It is not about my body. It is not about my imperfections. Nor is it about anything I can do right. It is not about my abilities or even my performance. It is simply about shining a light. <br> <br>My heart maybe missing something, and my flinching may last for days or weeks or months, but I’m going to keep looking for <em>Luz</em>. </p>Mele Martineztag:melemartinez.com,2005:Post/43024582016-07-30T11:32:25-07:002020-12-30T03:47:41-07:00Panorama Summer<p>Please visit <a contents="PANORAMA: Sonoran Desert Art &amp; Literary Journal" data-link-label="" data-link-type="url" href="http://panoramalitart.com" target="_blank">PANORAMA: Sonoran Desert Art & Literary Journal</a> Summer 2016 issue featuring poetry, prose, and interview! The journal cover is a photo by an amazing mom (and photographer of motherhood) Kristin Watts. Special thanks to Chiquis Barron, the creator of this special journal that provides artists and writers a platform where they can practice their craft and share their art. PANORAMA is doing amazing work in sharing the voices of Sonora. Ole!!! <br><a contents="" data-link-label="" data-link-type="url" href="http://panoramalitart.com" target="_blank"><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/1619/e7c2c77d57a1215703be882abb971b2cf3bbdc15/medium/screen-shot-2016-07-30-at-11-09-42-am.png?1469902233" class="size_m justify_center border_" /></a></p>Mele Martineztag:melemartinez.com,2005:Post/42414822016-06-21T14:05:08-07:002017-01-14T12:01:47-07:00Staying in the room<p>#Luz Update: <br> <br>There was a moment in Carlisle 116 last week when I felt something very different. I wish it could have lasted longer than a moment, but I’m grateful for it anyhow. It occurred to me, as I moved and breathed and perspired with dozens of other dancers, that I actually spend a whole lot of time alone when it comes to flamenco. Being in workshops in this studio for six days was a sharp contrast to that. In a moment of realization I could see all of us moving together in the mirror. Eyes, arms, shoulders, hips, feet: synchronized. For the first time in a long time, I could see something beautiful in that mirror.<br><br>This year was my 22nd attendance at the annual Festival Flamenco Internacional de Alburquerque. I have to be honest - doing flamenco hasn’t gotten any easier after all those years. In many ways, it is harder. This year I found myself struggling to “stay in the room.” I didn’t like the way my body worked, I was discouraged by how slow I learned, and I didn’t like being away from my kids and my husband. Most of the time I felt alone, even surrounded by the hundreds of people in attendance of workshops and performances, many of them dear friends. <br><br>The last evening performance, Fiesta Flamenca, closed with one of my favorite flamenco artists in the world – Juana Amaya. She was not the youngest or strongest dancer at the festival this year. She doesn’t enjoy the same popularity as some others. Her shoes were not the shiniest. She was the only mother on the stage, and in fact, the only grandmother. And maybe all that has something to do with why she was the one to move the audience to tears, to joy, to goose bumps and oles and why she was meant to close the festival... she was the best. It is hard to argue otherwise. And aside from that moment of connection I felt in Carlisle 116, what I felt when Juana danced was the highlight of the festival for me. Because of her, I know that I can keep practicing this art even when I’m not sure I belong in it. When I'm tired. When I'm making the mistake of comparing myself to everyone else. When I come home to crying babies. When I think there are not enough hours in the day to do this. Juana is proof that flamenco is for people like me.<br><br>Many thanks to Eva Encinias for creating and growing this festival, now headed into its 30th year. She is a mother, a grandmother, and a creator of beautiful things in New Mexico. Eva, thank you for “staying in the room.” Like so many others who spent last week in that room, I’m home now but more inspired to press forward, to grow, and to watch myself move again among those who dare to look in the mirror.<br><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/1619/bf31eef76382945867f4497c2687ef4776507b3b/original/13445533-10153767088156158-6164896512477408171-n.jpg?1466541450" class="size_l justify_center border_" /></p>Mele Martineztag:melemartinez.com,2005:Post/41551552016-04-26T18:13:37-07:002017-01-14T12:01:47-07:00October 26, 2015<p>As promised, here is the first entry of a blog: LUZ UPDATE<br><br>What I’ve come to realize more fully in the last few days is how much it means when a mother is supported by other women in the arts. This is huge....Yesterday Fanny Ara traveled to AZ to continue mounting choreography in the studio with me. I have to admit that while I watched her create the movement for the closing piece, I was lost – but in a good way. The truth is, I am often mesmerized by Fanny’s beauty in movement. Sometimes, even sweaty and tired in the studio, it takes my breath away. Those of you who know her know how incredibly phenomenal she is in so many ways. This, along with the fact that she has been one of my most supportive colleagues and friends, is why I wanted so much to work with her. In the last several months that we have collaborated, I’ve been so blessed. When I have asked for help, she has come through. She has selflessly given her effort, energy, and encouragement time and time again. Yesterday, I was surrounded by women who generously gave me advice and helped me problem-solve. Being a mom didn’t make me deserving of this help, but in the asking for help, I was humbled, and in receiving, I was loved. This is part of the message of Luz , and I am in awe. <br><br>Please share this with your friends and family who love to support the arts and use the hashtag #Luz on your social media posts, as I’d love to see your thoughts! Thank you all! And of course, thank you Fanny Ara - though there are literally hundreds of gorgeous photos of you, this is my favorite.<br><br><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/1619/c773ed23a83ebed52cd2fa1ebbb7fec273dfa1d4/original/screen-shot-2016-04-26-at-6-11-14-pm.png?1461719513" class="size_l justify_center border_" /></p>Mele Martineztag:melemartinez.com,2005:Post/41551532016-04-26T18:10:34-07:002021-06-01T05:01:22-07:00October 27, 2015<p>"There’s a group of rising artists who strongly reject the all-or-nothing, children-versus-art premise. Motherhood, they argue, has increased the complexity of their work and intensified their perspectives, whether or not their subject matter is domestic life. And they believe that the art world is slowly warming to the idea that great artists can also be great mothers." - Jacoba Urist<br><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/1619/59a2bfc724439db8494927dbdbad9e8a9fe05441/original/screen-shot-2016-04-26-at-6-08-58-pm.png?1461719363" class="size_l justify_center border_" /></p>Mele Martineztag:melemartinez.com,2005:Post/41551522016-04-26T18:05:36-07:002016-04-26T18:05:36-07:00November 2, 2015<p>Since many of you have commented on your enthusiasm for the <a contents="Luz Hatchfund video" data-link-label="" data-link-type="url" href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wEvjcieH5iY" target="_blank">Luz Hatchfund video</a>, I decided to use this LUZ update to reflect on the “mini” project that jumpstarted the campaign. The Luz video was an investment of time, energy, and money, but I’m so glad that it was produced. I’ve never worked with a professional video/audio technician in this way before, and it really flexed my creative muscles in a fresh way! I'd love to do it again, and I even have some ideas for what is next after Luz! <br>I am grateful for the opportunity to have worked with Cyril Davis on video and audio for this project. As important as it was to show my life as a mom in the video, Cyril and I knew the focus had to be on flamenco and the fact that this was a solo project, so we shot in the places that I move to and from throughout my day: home, studio, stage. Many of the shots are taken in iconic places in Tucson, my home, and many of those places are along 4th Ave – a street I travel each day – by foot, by car, and by streetcar. Some shots are from home videos and some are shot with a GoPro (thanks for lending it to me Fanny Ara!) and some are shot with more professional equipment. <br>Though I probably could have “revised” the final product a hundred times more, I’m happy with what Cyril and I were able to create together. I hope you enjoy it too.</p>Mele Martineztag:melemartinez.com,2005:Post/41551342016-04-26T18:04:14-07:002017-01-14T12:01:47-07:00November 9, 2015<p>This morning, I was walking down University Blvd. when I crossed paths with Suela. Perhaps it is because she doesn’t quite remember who I am or perhaps it is because we didn’t really need to exchange more than smiles, but we didn’t stop and talk. We are busy women. Still, I wish Suela knew how much of an influence she has had on me and on my decision to do #Luz… <br>Last year, I was pushing Gloria in a stroller downtown and running errands when I had to sit on a park bench and collect myself. Gloria was crying, I was barely getting through my long list of obligations for that day, and I was late for everything. To top it off, I had gotten a couple of rude stares from people in the library that same morning when I wasn’t able to control Gloria’s “volume.” I felt defeated and judged. I know it might sound melodramatic, but all I could do in that moment was sit and weep. <br>Suela was across the street walking into a job interview when she saw me. Other people passed me by without a glance, but she walked over to me. She told me her name and then she asked if she could sit with me for a while. Even though I was a complete stranger to her, and even though I was embarrassed to be crying in front of a stranger, she understood how I felt. As a mom, and as a busy professional, she understood. <br>Suela helped get me through that day, and I believe in my heart that she was sent to that street corner on that random morning for a reason. <br>It was a few months later that I knew I had to do Luz. Part of the reason I am doing this project is because I want other moms to know that their work is recognized. I want them to know that their perspectives and voices as mothers make them essential in the world – especially the art world. I want to honor them. For me, the name Suela has come to symbolize how important it is for me (for all of us) to be supportive to other mothers in the arts, to encourage them, to shine light on them. Or even simply, when we cross paths with them, to share a smile or a tear.<br><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/1619/4606ad230d569ab134463d0a96b34b7a74b62cb3/original/screen-shot-2016-04-26-at-6-02-05-pm.png?1461718951" class="size_l justify_center border_" /><br> </p>Mele Martineztag:melemartinez.com,2005:Post/41551232016-04-26T18:01:47-07:002017-01-14T12:01:47-07:00November 16, 2015<p><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/1619/347eb0186ce9f54efbbc89be5c58706667a7a66c/original/screen-shot-2016-04-26-at-5-59-58-pm.png?1461718843" class="size_l justify_center border_" /><br>I'm so excited to announce the artists who have just been confirmed for Luz!!!!!! Please help support this project (and these artists) by contributing to our hatchfund: http://www.hatchfund.org/project/luz Thank you so much to these amazing musicians/dancers who believe in this project. Each is so outstanding it their own right, and I am humbled to be able to work with this level of flamenco artistry. Thank you a million times!!!! I can't wait to be in the studio and on stage with you all!!!! José Cortés Fernández, Manuel Gutierrez, Andres Vadin, Diego Álvarez "El Negro", and of course Fanny Ara!!!</p>Mele Martineztag:melemartinez.com,2005:Post/41551222016-04-26T18:00:12-07:002017-01-14T12:01:47-07:00November 23, 2015<p>Making a list of all the things you are grateful for is a good exercise, and I certainly have a long list I can make that would help give me an appreciative perspective. Counting your blessings is good for more than just a way to fall asleep!!! But sometimes I think these lists (so common around this time of year) shift the focus from what we could be archiving instead. Rather than tell you all that I am grateful for in my process of making Luz, I’d rather make a list of WHO I am grateful TO. I want my thanksgiving, especially for all the inspiration I have had for Luz, to focus on people, not things. Obviously, many of the people on that list are mothers who are artists. It is to this special group that I owe so much. I am grateful to you. You are a blessing. Thank you. Thank you. Feel free to tag a "mama in the arts" that you know deserves some love!!!<br><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/1619/4fb54434d4a3738677d00565b95414764462da25/original/screen-shot-2016-04-26-at-5-57-13-pm.png?1461718668" class="size_l justify_center border_" /></p>Mele Martineztag:melemartinez.com,2005:Post/41551212016-04-26T17:56:22-07:002017-01-14T12:01:47-07:00November 30, 2015<p>Even though Luz is dedicated to mothers in the arts, I’m very blessed to share that an amazing dancer and father will also be presented in this project: the phenomenal Manuel Gutierrez. Manuel is one of the most generous and talented flamenco artists I know. His bio is impressive, but one thing most people don’t realize is how Manuel manages to not only excel in flamenco as one of the best in the country, but to do it while raising two young boys with his beautiful wife, Alina. Being a dedicated father while maintaining any demanding job is tricky, but to do it while working as a flamenco artist, as someone who does the bulk of his job at night, on weekends, and on the road - this is a real challenge. I know Manuel sacrifices a lot to do the art that he loves so much. And I know how hard he works to be a loving father too. I’m grateful that he will be part of this special show, and I’m grateful to share the stage with someone who truly understands the delicate balance between living as an artist and loving a family. Ole los padres. #Oleyou.<br><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/1619/919d2110de8a9710f2d99d3cb2a11617fef8a5a9/original/screen-shot-2016-04-26-at-5-55-37-pm.png?1461718555" class="size_l justify_center border_" /></p>Mele Martineztag:melemartinez.com,2005:Post/41551202016-04-26T17:54:42-07:002017-01-14T12:01:47-07:00December 3, 2015<p>I got a new pair of black shoes in the mail today, just in time for Lluvia Flamenca tonight!!! But rather than show them off, I thought it would be better to photograph my old ones instead. These old beatup flamenco shoes have seen a lot of changes in the past couple years. They've been pounded, scuffed, torn, re-sewn, super-glued, and sometimes neglected. In the rays of sunlight, it is easy to see that they're pretty ugly, but maybe I'll wear them on stage one more time.<br><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/1619/cc8dc2c291a14d0a86d000658c7bccd409d9f9c6/original/screen-shot-2016-04-26-at-5-53-58-pm.png?1461718458" class="size_l justify_center border_" /></p>Mele Martineztag:melemartinez.com,2005:Post/41551182016-04-26T17:52:30-07:002017-01-14T12:01:47-07:00December 7, 2015<p>I’m excited to announce the first of several events for Luz!!!! Though a tour will happen in early 2016 (info available on Hatchfund) a special event will happen in Tucson on TUESDAY, JAN. 5 at Unplugged Wine Bar to: <br>1) CELEBRATE the close of our Hatchfund campaign, <br>2) PRESENT a “work-in-progress” showcase of Luz choreography, <br>3) PREMIERE Tucson’s first “Tertulia Flamenca” <br>This event will be my way of sharing the work of Luz with the Tucson Community – through both presentation and conversation. And, there will be wine! ☺ I hope you will attend and celebrate with us! LUZ is funded in part by the Tucson Pima Arts Council!!! To make a TAX DEDUCTIBLE contribution to this special project, please visit http://www.hatchfund.org/project/luz<br><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/1619/b0f794fef327be95ce3c5119a01b00887279e236/original/screen-shot-2016-04-26-at-5-51-21-pm.png?1461718329" class="size_l justify_center border_" /></p>Mele Martineztag:melemartinez.com,2005:Post/41551162016-04-26T17:50:05-07:002017-01-14T12:01:47-07:00December 11, 2015<p>Had a wonderful interview with dancer/artist/mama, Yvonne Montoya this morning for #StoryCorps! We talked about what it means to balance life as a performing artist and mother... we laughed, we cried (well almost), and we probably should have danced for the microphone! Jajajajajaja! Our interview will be archived in the Library of Congress and I hope to share excerpts with you soon!!!! Thank you, Yvonne, for being an inspiring example, and thank you for your support of #Luz!!!! Que vivan las madres artistas!!!!!<br><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/1619/6e61ef0db689ecd2ccccc364e6df3418d9d0abb1/original/screen-shot-2016-04-26-at-5-49-17-pm.png?1461718182" class="size_l justify_center border_" /></p>Mele Martineztag:melemartinez.com,2005:Post/41551142016-04-26T17:48:18-07:002017-01-14T12:01:47-07:00December 14, 2015<p>First, I need to express this one idea... It has been raining blessings lately. Like a blessing storm blew in. Like God wants me to have no doubt that His plan is in motion. Amazing things are happening. I'm so grateful. </p>
<p>Secondly, I want to talk about how a trip to the movie theater last night hit me with more encouragement than I expected. Sorry if this story is a bit cheesy! But it is the truth, so it has that going for it.... </p>
<p>Lola and I went to see "Creed" last night (her second time seeing it in the theater and probably not the last). She's in love with the Rocky movies. She knows what a good story it is. And even though it might be a cliché, I couldn't escape the fact that a story of a boxer preparing for a fight is a metaphor that will never get old for me. I'm embarrassed to admit it, but I almost cried through the whole 133 minutes of this film. I must have looked ridiculous weeping in the theater, but at least Lola was with me. And she didn't judge. wink emoticonIn many ways, Lola is the best person to cry in front of. Her eleven-year-old heart gets it. It is one of the ways my daughter is amazing to me. She might have realized it before I did, but in the dark of the theater, halfway through the story, I realized that all of my tears had something to do with Luz. </p>
<p>Last week I started jogging in the mornings to try and get my body ready for tour. Honestly, I'm not sure how I'm going to physically get through a solo concert, but I've suspended that fear long enough to say yes to Luz. Jogging in the mornings is not something I want to do. And it is not something I am good at. And even though I know people are often given the work of doing something they are not good at for a very good reason, I was starting to fear that my pathetic attempt at jogging each morning was not really going to help me. More than once, the feeling that I was about to fail at the biggest creative project I've ever done has crept into my soul. This is where Rocky Balboa comes in. </p>
<p>His motto in "Creed" spoke to this fear, my fear. Usually, when a theme gets mentioned over and over in a movie, it becomes so obvious that it loses its impact - and it is reason for artistic criticism. But I think maybe Rocky's maxim might get repeated so many times because some of us have to hear it. Over and over. </p>
<p>So, after last night's theater experience, I woke up this morning ready for my jog - and I had hope. I know I might not "feel" hopeful tomorrow when I step out onto the pavement at my driveway and try again. But even if I don't feel it, I'm starting to know it. And so I'm grateful for the encouragement from one Hollywood film that might have gotten a lot of things right. And I'm going to take Luz #OneStepAtAtime.<br><br><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/1619/91846f2e85e671d60a086faaedd365ee459d2c35/original/screen-shot-2016-04-26-at-5-47-06-pm.png?1461718055" class="size_l justify_center border_" /></p>Mele Martineztag:melemartinez.com,2005:Post/41551082016-04-26T17:39:05-07:002016-04-26T17:39:05-07:00December 20, 2015<a contents="Madres Artistas" data-link-label="" data-link-type="url" href="http://epoca1.valenciaplaza.com/ver/162823/madres-artistas-los-desafios-de-crear-y-criar-.html" target="_blank">Madres Artistas</a>Mele Martineztag:melemartinez.com,2005:Post/41551072016-04-26T17:37:26-07:002017-01-14T12:01:47-07:00December 22, 2015<p>Ironically, being a dancer and having body image issues go hand in hand. I've struggled with and around and about my body since I was a child, and to even mention it publicly on Facebook like this makes me very, very anxious. But it is true. Becoming a mom hurt and helped at the same time. Anyone who's ever been pregnant knows that you learn a lot from the loss of control over your body that comes with pregnancy. Sometimes it seems funny, sometimes it feels wonderful, and sometimes it is too much to take. Each of the feelings became a lesson for me. But what might make me even more nervous than talking about my body is having it photographed. </p>
<p>A couple of weeks ago, I visited Kristen Watts for a photoshoot. I think she realized how nervous I was, but she was kind and understanding. She has practice dealing with body issues – being a photographer of primarily women (and mothers in particular). I am so grateful to her for capturing images of me that made me turn my normally self-criticizing voice off. She captured a me that I forgot existed. </p>
<p>I remember looking at images of women that Kristen had photographed (before I met her) and thinking, “Wow, those women must be confident. They MUST love their bodies to do photos like this.” But now, I wonder if maybe those women were actually more like me. And like me, they decided to just make a scary leap in front of the camera. I’m starting to believe that maybe confidence comes from courage. </p>
<p>Anyhow, thank you Kristen.<br><br><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/1619/95d04a438e9c15877ad67270fe56c16b145e9605/original/screen-shot-2016-04-26-at-5-36-47-pm.png?1461717423" class="size_l justify_center border_" /></p>Mele Martineztag:melemartinez.com,2005:Post/41550862016-04-26T17:33:30-07:002020-12-06T02:07:29-07:00December 27, 2015<p>"Eugene Peterson writes, 'Waiting does not diminish us, any more than waiting diminishes a pregnant mother. We are enlarged in the waiting. We, of course, don’t see what is enlarging us. But the longer we wait, the larger we become, and the more joyful our expectancy.' Waiting itself is, of course, a reminder that we are earthbound." - Jill Carattini</p>Mele Martineztag:melemartinez.com,2005:Post/41550532016-04-26T17:31:57-07:002017-01-14T12:01:47-07:00December 28, 2015<p>So, in what seems to be horrific timing, I injured my back. Having a hard time standing, walking, running, sleeping, dancing – most all the “ings.” Discouraged also, I’m realizing that I feasted more on Christmas than I should have, my kids are probably wondering where I am right now, and I’m not sure how I feel about turning 38 years old on Thursday. When did that happen? Where did the last two decades of my “adulthood” go, I wonder. These thoughts make me flip-flop between laughter (at myself,) and a locking in my throat that makes my eyes water. I guess I’m a pretty good archetype for the “emotional woman” character today. But reflecting long enough on these thoughts, the obvious stares me in the face… The reality is that this world knocks you down. You can be absolutely certain of that. And many of us have a choice to make once we are down –- allow ourselves to sink further into the mud, or grasp whatever will pull us into peace, gratitude, and joyous expectation. In our hearts, we all cling to something. As for me, I will cling to a person --my God will lift me up. I worship a God who loves and whose sacrifices are perfect. He will lift me up. My struggles, though paling in comparison to those of so many who hurt, are real nonetheless. And He will lift me up. He will help me walk into 38 years old, run into the year 2016, and dance into Luz with peace, gratitude, and joyous expectation. I pray your reflections on 2015 bring comfort to your hearts and motivate you too. Happy New Year, everyone.<br><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/1619/58696a20670d0970078db540ab3e4c446535b244/original/screen-shot-2016-04-26-at-5-31-07-pm.png?1461717096" class="size_l justify_center border_" /></p>Mele Martineztag:melemartinez.com,2005:Post/41550512016-04-26T17:27:10-07:002017-01-14T12:01:47-07:00January 4, 2016<p>I’m excited to announce that tomorrow night in Tucson, we will celebrate the closing of the Hatchfund campaign with a “work-in-progress” showcase and Tucson’s 1st Tertulia Flamenca (to be moderated by my dear friend and amazing flamenca, Angelina Ramirez)! I’m looking forward to presenting and discussing two new choreographies by award-winning artist, Fanny Ara. I hope you will come and join in the conversation! <br><br>This intimate event is possible because of Tucson Pima Arts Council, because of the support of many dear friends, and because of a few small miracles!!! Just a few days ago, I was informed that the original venue for our event had been sold to a new owner. Discouraged and in the midst of stress, injury, and holiday, I scrambled to find a new space. Then, someone came to the rescue – again! I’m so grateful to Todd Wilson and BreakOut Studios for providing an emergency space for us!!! And I want to take this opportunity to thank Todd for all that he has done. <br><br>I met Todd just a few months ago when Jason and I found ourselves in limbo after closing the Tucson Flamenco Studio at Casa Vicente. Todd’s generosity and openness to flamenco was such a blessing. Because of his kindness, I’ve had a place to rehearse and prepare for Luz. This is huge.<br><br>Having a place to move, to experiment, to be alone with music is so central in the creative process, and I'm learning more and more each day it should never be taken for granted. As a mom, I can’t tell you how much it means to me to have “a room of my own” – even for just a couple hours! Todd, I know, understands this and I love that his work, his choreography, is enriched by the place, the space, the beauty of a studio.<br><br>I want to share this <a contents="video" data-link-label="" data-link-type="url" href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CMACg-vYktI&feature=share" target="_blank">video</a> of Todd because I think it shows how special an artist and person he is, because it is an inspiration, and because after I watched it the first time, I couldn’t stop saying, “ole.” Space, time, and movement happen exquisitely in this piece. Ole tu! Thank you, Todd! Thank you BreakOut Studios!!! Because of you, my relationship to movement is changing too, and I can tell you that you are certainly giving back to movement. Ole. <br><br>With just one day left for our Hatchfund campaign, I want to also thank EVERYONE who has contributed to and supported the project!!! There is still time to become a contributor! Visit http://www.hatchfund.org/project/luz and hope to see you tomorrow night!<br><br><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/1619/80eb7c6b33f465fbf5c59bb25b2a2139aa2b4a0c/original/screen-shot-2016-04-26-at-5-25-41-pm.png?1461716807" class="size_l justify_center border_" /></p>Mele Martineztag:melemartinez.com,2005:Post/41550482016-04-26T17:20:39-07:002021-04-02T19:31:51-07:00January 11, 2016<p>AMAZING NEWS! Luz has received the Arizona Commission on the Arts’ 2016 Artist Research & Development Grant! “This highly-competitive grant program awards funding to Arizona artists practicing in a variety of artistic disciplines in support of research and development leading to the creation of new works of art. This year, 10 of 102 applicants received an award…” Mil gracias a mi tierra ARIZONA!!! It is wonderful to be supported in such a fundamental way. Ole Arizona. Ole.<br><br><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/1619/be3d885ef192b71f16ae388b7f5d112c5c1ee899/original/screen-shot-2016-04-26-at-5-19-58-pm.png?1461716419" class="size_l justify_center border_" /></p>Mele Martineztag:melemartinez.com,2005:Post/41550472016-04-26T17:17:58-07:002021-06-01T03:45:22-07:00January 18, 2016<p>It is getting closer to showtime and with that both my anxiety and excitement are accelerating. Just a few months ago, I didn’t really know if I was capable of doing Luz, but over the past few weeks I’ve started to see the answer to that question. <br>This morning I was blessed to talk with a couple of friends – both artists. Both of them are people who are supporting me and both are women I can help support too. And as I interacted with both, I voiced those familiar complaints about my physical ailments, my weaknesses, how difficult this is, how unprepared I am, etc. In those conversations the idea of hardship was ever-present. But in that hardship, in the confusion and the struggle we all admitted feeling, we found support in each other. <br>I use that word “support” and I can imagine it as movement. I can see it in the mirror when I am in the studio. My joints right now are struggling to support my weight. My muscles. My bones. They hurt. This 38-year-old body has a weight to be carried. But when I step into rehearsal, my skeleton is doing its best to hold me up. I forget that. My body is doing its best to bear the burdens. And so I think I need to stop being so critical of it and I need to stop feeling so entitled to a body that lacks for nothing. </p>
<p>The answer is that I am not ready for Luz, and I never will be. I am not capable, on my own, of doing this. In fact, I probably lack 90% of the “requirements” for such an endeavor. I am ill equipped, and from a logistical perspective, I haven’t had “what it takes” at any time in my life. That is the reality. <br>Despite that reality, I have this unreasonable belief that God will use my weakness. That the last will be first. That the things that are foolish will confound the wise. <br>I don’t have to meet the requirements. I don’t have to have “what it takes.” Support will prevent me from boasting in my own muscles, my bones, my abilities. Then the glory will certainly have to go to Someone else.<br><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/1619/729726b1fa53ef106faf31921af419fc3df8c0a8/original/screen-shot-2016-04-26-at-5-17-08-pm.png?1461716255" class="size_l justify_center border_" /></p>Mele Martineztag:melemartinez.com,2005:Post/41550212016-04-26T17:13:54-07:002017-01-14T12:01:46-07:00January 25, 2016<p>Ten days. That’s the number of days that I will be away from my girls when the final rehearsals and first tour for Luz begin this weekend. That’s the longest I’ve ever been away from Gloria, and while Lola has seen me leave plenty of times, we are probably closer now than we have ever been, so ten days is a lot for us. </p>
<p>Part of what I wanted to show in Luz is that women can be artists and mothers at the same time. But that isn’t really true. I can’t be in a studio in California “being an artist” and simultaneously braid Lola’s hair or make Gloria breakfast in Tucson. We can’t really be both at the same time. But maybe being in a studio everyday doesn’t make you an artist. Maybe changing diapers and doing laundry doesn’t make you a mother. Maybe that identity comes from something else. And it may be true that if these things are not done, we can hardly call ourselves artists or mothers, but I hope that my identity as either comes from something more profound than “what I do.” I hope there is another reason to be an artist or a mother than just “the doing.” </p>
<p>I believe it comes down to the knowledge that love takes sacrifice. If you love your kids, you give something else up. If you love to make art, then you give something else up. Wherever there is love, sacrifice follows. When I leave my kids this week, it is going to hurt. Maybe not enough to ruin us, but there will be a price to pay, and it is up to me to decide if the price is worth it. For Luz, I know it is. And I’m pretty sure that my girls if not already will someday (maybe when they really begin to understand love) be okay with that sacrifice too.<br><br><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/1619/cedd82765ff75ca4af907bfaffb28b718c26da27/original/screen-shot-2016-04-26-at-5-13-11-pm.png?1461716014" class="size_l justify_center border_" /></p>Mele Martineztag:melemartinez.com,2005:Post/41550192016-04-26T17:11:59-07:002020-11-11T07:17:28-07:00January 27, 2016Radio interview with Fanny Ara and Jose Cortes...<p>https://kpfa.org/episode/music-of-the-world-with-jose-ruiz-january-27-2016/</p>Mele Martineztag:melemartinez.com,2005:Post/41550162016-04-26T17:09:24-07:002017-01-14T12:01:46-07:00February 2, 2016<p>It turns out that a special mother was the one who came up with the perfect name for a show to honor other mothers in the arts. </p>
<p>Several months ago, when Fanny and Manuel were trying to come up with the right name for the show, Manuel’s wife, Alina suggested “Luz” because of the expression “dar a luz.” Dar a luz, an idiom, a verb phrase, means to give birth, to deliver a child. <br>I love this title because it speaks to the idea of light as an origin. When we bring something to light, we bring it into existence. Light is the beginning of things. And it is the source of things. This title supports the idea of mothers as creators in so many respects. <br>Because of this title, I’ve thought a lot about what light is and what it means to me. I’ve thought about how light is reflected and refracted. I’ve noticed light when I used to ignore it. I’ve considered how light moves, how it heats, and how I feel when it goes away. How good it is. The gift that it is. </p>
<p>Thank you, Alina, for naming our show. Though I’ve had plenty of moments when I thought I should abandon this project out of fear or frustration, the title of the show has given me a foundation to stay motivated and focused. I am so thrilled to do this project that I hardly have the words to express it. </p>
<p>I hope to see you this weekend in Berkeley, Santa Cruz, and Albuquerque for Luz!!!<br><br><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/1619/f9b20bd9224ecf5ff5504ddeaf35d2d0523361fe/original/screen-shot-2016-04-26-at-5-08-33-pm.png?1461715743" class="size_l justify_center border_" /></p>Mele Martineztag:melemartinez.com,2005:Post/41550152016-04-26T17:05:40-07:002021-05-31T04:38:19-07:00February 7, 2016LosMusicos....<br><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/1619/74600fc863cbecfe42d868e49c3711d7d75c2ac0/original/screen-shot-2016-04-26-at-5-04-01-pm.png?1461715498" class="size_l justify_center border_" />Mele Martineztag:melemartinez.com,2005:Post/41550012016-04-26T17:03:28-07:002020-08-19T00:39:08-07:00February 8, 2016<p>LUZ. ALL ABOUT LOVE FRIENDSHIP LAUGHTER AND INCREDIBLE TALENT. I fell so honored and lucky to be surrounded with those beautiful people. Thank you for making my life soooooo beautiful. Love you all! - Fanny Ara<br><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/1619/726a60ad91858af7fac7e0689e75bda2c755276b/original/screen-shot-2016-04-26-at-5-02-48-pm.png?1461715391" class="size_l justify_center border_" /></p>Mele Martineztag:melemartinez.com,2005:Post/41549962016-04-26T17:00:11-07:002017-01-14T12:01:46-07:00February 13, 2016<p>Still reflecting on Luz, Jason and I feel more and more admiration and gratitude. Thank you guys so much for being there. You made it beautiful for us!!! Love you - M<br><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/1619/5f81342a5df07db387a0d6d909020e79686dfa0b/original/screen-shot-2016-04-26-at-4-59-29-pm.png?1461715198" class="size_l justify_center border_" /></p>Mele Martineztag:melemartinez.com,2005:Post/41549952016-04-26T16:56:15-07:002017-01-14T12:01:46-07:00February 16, 2016<p>Out of curiosity, I recently read a blog titled “20 Things I Wish Someone Had Told Me About Postpartum.” Strangely, some of that awkward postpartum phenomenon is part of what I’ve experienced since Luz ran its first tour a week ago. Here were the ones (out of the 20) that resonated: </p>
<p>1) You will be humbled. </p>
<p>I knew that the musicians for Luz were excellent ones, but I never really thought about how humbled I would be in light of their true talent and expertise. I was in awe of them, and I’m indebted to them for all that they taught me in the studio and on the stage. This humbling was important because I have to be reminded that I cannot be perfect – that I won’t ever be perfect (as evidenced by the video footage!) </p>
<p>2) You’ll probably cry. A lot. </p>
<p>Yep. </p>
<p>3) You might not like your baby right away. </p>
<p>I was disheartened when I watched video of Luz. This is nothing new, and it is the reason why I never watch video of my own work. I “didn’t like my baby right away” – and mostly because I thought it would look different. I thought I would look different. But the video doesn’t lie. That’s me. That’s how I dance. Parts of it I like and parts of it I don’t. In this “postpartum” phase, I have to figure out which things I can change and which things I need to accept. </p>
<p>4) It gets better. </p>
<p>I’m glad that postpartum is a phase, and not a new reality. This part of the process won’t last forever, and I’m grateful for that because I want to do Luz again, and I want to do it better. I look forward to that chance.<br><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/1619/87af9485e3858e85b6c30b47eb26138d89caf9b8/original/12715793-10153479122181158-5418600657273335819-n.jpg?1461714948" class="size_l justify_center border_" /></p>Mele Martinez