Tears of Esperanza

States rights versus federalism. Racial profiling and access to education. Concealed weapons. Immigration policy. Tea party politics. It’s all part of “Tears of Esperanza,” a book by Bill Lace subtitled “A Novel of Fury and Passion in Arizona.”

It’s the tale of an illegal immigrant named Esperanza and the impact of anti-immigrant policies and presumptions on both her own life and the lives of those around her. Reading “Tears of Esperanza” is like walking through a written exhibit of recent Arizona history.

Think HB 2212, whose supporters sought to limit access to education for illegal immigrants — and SB 1070, whose supporters favor asking suspected illegal immigrants to provide documentation of citizenship. Also boycotts against Arizona and efforts by interfaith groups to assist immigrants in peril.

It’s told through the eyes of several characters whose lives are ultimately intertwined in unexpected ways. The book is especially gripping once these connections grow clearer, and you begin to suspect there might not be a happy ending.

Folks who’ve never seen their state legislature in action will find clues in Lace’s book about how all that lovely sausage-making takes place — and feel inspired, I hope, to finally get the logistics of lawmaking on their radar.

“Tears of Esperanza” makes clear the difference one person, and groups of people who act in concert, can have on the legislative process — reminding readers that democracy must be of, by and for the people.

It’s a reminder as well to beware of stereotypes based in race, ethnicity or country of origin. And a cautionary tale about making assumptions based on where a person lives or what religion someone practices.

Show up. Speak up. Volunteer. And vote. Less fear. Fewer tears. Let that be Esperanza’s legacy.

— Lynn

Note: Lace’s bio notes that he’s “a native of the Southwest, a proponent of sensisble immigration reform, and a federal law enforcement special agent in Phoenix, Arizona.” Click here to learn more.

Coming up: Give a man enough rope…

Friday night lights

This slideshow requires JavaScript.

There’s a beautiful building on one corner of the intersection at Roosevelt and 1st St. in Phoenix. It’s the Roosevelt Community Church, home to an artist guild that participates periodically in the First Friday arts scene by hosting art shows, performances, artist salons, film screenings and such. This proud, prominent structure sits across from a series of unassuming spaces making equally important contributions to Arizona arts and culture.

I explored the block last Friday night while popping into Warehouse 1005 before opening night of “Spring Awakening,” a joint production of Phoenix Theatre and Nearly Naked Theatre that runs through July 1. Warehouse 1005 is one of many galleries operated by PSA Art Awakenings, which features artworks by individuals living with mental illness. The place was bustling with artists working in a large back room when I arrived, and I spent a lovely bit of time admiring sculture, paintings, jewelry and more.

Lured by a sidewalk laced with chark art, my next discovery was a funky little space called The Firehouse Gallery — home to vintage clothing, jewelry by local artists and all sorts of protest art. Think SB 1070, Occupy Phoenix and such. I was tickled to find a belt in my favorite color (brown), plus a glass flower that’ll look nifty hanging in necklace mode. Before leaving, I snapped photos of a mural gracing the side of the artist collective’s habitat.

Soon I was following the bright fushcia paint along a wall heading in the other direction — which led to the new home for Jazz in AZ, which they’ve dubbed “The Nash.” I’ll be venturing inside some other time when theater tickets aren’t beckoning my name. It was 7:45pm, and my show started at 8pm — so I had to scurry. A quick drive along the winding road behind Burton Barr Central Library got me there with plenty of time to enjoy pre-show festivities.

First, I entered the Phoenix Theatre courtyard through the recently remodeled passageway. It’s filled with mirrors awash with sapphire blue lights that conjure images of the Star of Bombay I once lingered over at the National Museum of Natural History in Washington, D.C. Inside the theater lobby, I discovered a musician working both harmonica and guitar — plus paintings by several local artists. Rebecca Hollingsworth, a member of Phoenix Art Space, sat in the spot that’s usually home to a piano, painting away as theater patrons young and old took it all in.

Seems the lights of Phoenix shine brightest on Friday nights.

— Lynn

Note: Click here for information on upcoming First Fridays in Phoenix

Coming up: Phoenix mom rocks the theater vibe

A work in progress

Five panels of an Annette Sexton-Ruiz piece being used in a poster to promote a short-play festival featuring student and other works on the topic of immigration

Playwright James Garcia has worked for years with students at Carl Hayden Community High School on robotics and other projects.

Garcia says he learned “by coincidence” that some of the students had written a play titled “Should We Stay or Should We Go?” with teacher Trish Galindo Kiser — and that the work has themes similar to plays he’s assembling for an upcoming festival.

Garcia, who founded the New Carpa Theater Company in Phoenix, is organizing a “Performing 1070 Short-Play Festival” featuring works “centered on themes related to immigration.”

The festival will include 12 plays, chosen from 70 submissions, which vary in length from four to 12 minutes. The list of works being presented was finalized earlier this month — and you’ll have two opportunities to view them.

The “Performing 1070 Short-Play Festival” takes place Wed, March 30 at Arizona State University West (as part of an annual event examining “border justice” issues) and Thurs, March 31 on the lawn of the Arizona State Capitol.

Students from Carl Hayden High School will be working with Garcia and their teacher this week to consider which vignettes from their piece would best compliment the other plays. Chosen vignettes will be performed by students during the festival.

Works being presented by Arizona playwrights include “Freedom Trail” by Terry Tess Earp, “In Old Arizona” by Guillermo Reyes, and “Joe Arpaio Meets La Virgen de Guadalupe” by Stella Pope Duarte.

Playwrights from California, New York, Massachusetts, Texas, Pennsylvania and Idaho are also represented. Most, says Garcia, have “awards and/or professionally produced plays under their belts.”

Garcia notes that New Carpa is “especially honored” to present an excerpt from a new work by Josephina Lopez titled “Detained in the Desert.” Lopez authored the play “Real Women Have Curves” — and co-wrote the screenplay for the film version featuring actress America Ferrera.

“The purpose of this short-play festival,” shares Garcia, “is to highlight the effects of a series of state-based immigration-related legislation enacted or proposed in Arizona over the last decade.” 

Garcia describes the festival as “a non-partisan, grassroots, community-based theater project…on one of the most compelling human and civil rights issues of our time.”

Admission to the festival is free, but Garcia notes that “donations to the nonprofit New Carpa Theater Company will be accepted.” Click here for event details.

— Lynn

Note: The festival’s title refers to SB1070, an immigration-related piece of legislation signed by Arizona Governor Jan Brewer on April 23, 2010.

Coming up: East Valley high school students sound off about “Macbeth”