Performers

A more historically authentic musical group than the Santa Cruz River Band would be hard to find. Their music crosses cultural, as well as generational lines, and speaks directly to the heart. Ted Ramirez and Michael Ronstadt from Tucson—both multi-instrumentalists/vocalists—perform their Mexican and American folk songs with passionate intensity. Their songs are filled with the mystical lore of the Southwest, and their imagery and harmonies captivate and elevate the listener, creating a powerful sound that is receiving national and international recognition.

Zarco and Carmen Guerrero will perform “Masks and Music of Day of the Dead.” Master mask maker and performance artist Zarco delights and educates visitors with his characters—the poetry spouting El Vato Poeta, the flirtatious La Comadre, the clueless Special Ed, the wise El Abuelito, and others—all created by this prolific playwright to express the humor, and sadness, and morality of our lives. Carmen will play her guitar, charango (a South American stringed instrument similar to a lute), and accordion. The Guerrero’s are dedicated to creating a better understanding of Latino arts and are a force in the Phoenix/Mesa art scene. They have conducted national and international workshops on Dia de los Muertos. On Sunday the Guerrero’s will lead a closing ceremony procession.

Of Tepehuano and Yaqui ancestry, Martin Espino brings authentic sounds of ancient Mexico and his ancestors to life on bamboo instruments he makes or gathers. The mysterious music he plays, with its many moods and sounds, has been researched and shared among indigenous musicians throughout the Americas over many years. Since the 1980s, he has pioneered interactive performances of ancient languages and percussion instruments. The 100 pre-Hispanic bamboo, gourd, and clay instruments he plays are flutes, panpipes, turtle shells, log drums, water drums, rattles, rain sticks, and chimes, to name a few.

Flagstaff’s Ballet Folklorico de Colores will perform folkloric dance traditions of Mexico, including Danza, indigenous dances that are generally religious in nature and are performed in ritual and community settings. Also typically religious in nature, Mestizo dances are indigenous dances reflecting European influences in the steps, themes, instrumentation, or costuming. Bailes Regionales, or regional dances, are primarily social in origin and are performed by most of the ballet folklorico performing groups in Mexico and the U.S.

Los Compadres, a local community conjunto, or small group, will play familiar Mexican root music on Sunday only from noon to 2 p.m. This band has been playing together for 30 years in Flagstaff. Herman Ulibarri, owner of the Ulibarri Barbershop plays lead guitar, Frank Martinez plays trumpet, and guitarist Manny Ulibarri and rhythm guitarist Jess Rodriguez sing old favorite songs with bass guitarist Trini Logan.

Heritage Insight Programs

“Community and Family History: Yours, Mine, and Ours—Exploring Our Roots”

by Dr. Rose Diaz

Dr. Diaz is recently retired from the University of New Mexico, where she was a research historian. She will share fundamental research techniques that assist the beginning researcher in looking into their own family’s story or their community’s history.

“Immigration and the Mesoamerican Connection” by Dr. Miguel Vasquez

Dr. Vasquez is a professor of anthropology at Northern Arizona University. He will bring new facts and a new perspective to his talk and slideshow about today’s hot topic of immigration and the connections between Mesoamerica and the Southwest. He invites visitors to hear a new viewpoint and explore their own thoughts about U.S. relations with Mexico and Latin America.

“Interpreting Graffiti Mural Images” by Southwest Eclectic Artists Association

SEAA uses the contemporary art form of graffiti with spray paint to depict ancient cultural images. Explore the meaning of this year’s mural images and symbols.