'CIRCUIT RIDERS' TOUR TO BEGIN JAN. 28
(KINGSVILLE, February 14, 1997) -- Residents of five South Texas communities will have a unique opportunity beginning Jan. 28 to learn through a series of presentations about what Mexican American people have contributed to the world of culture.
The "Circuit Riders" program, initiated by Texas A&M University-Kingsville lecturer Dr. Evelyn Jenson and funded in part by the Texas Council for the Humanities, features six faculty experts on Mexican and South Texas cultures who will present programs at five libraries in the communities of Kingsville, Falfurrias, Zapata, Raymondville and San Diego throughout the next three months. This year's theme is "South Texas Legends and Tales."
"In a world in which so much attention is paid to technology, the culture of people becomes overlooked," Jenson said. "Our program of South Texas Legends and Tales reaches back to this culture."
The subjects will include a slide-lecture presentation on four renowned artists of the Texas/Mexican border region, focusing on the thematic material of Amando Peña, Cesar Augusto Martinez, Carmen Lomas Garza and Jose Luis Rivera; a discussion on the various views of the legendary outlaw/hero Juan N. Cortina; and a discussion on legends and tales highlighted in J. Frank Dobie's Tales of Old Texas. Also featured will be a potpourri of dramatic readings from Mexican American writers including Lionel Garcia, Sandra Cisneros, Ana Castillo and Jesus Salvador Trevino. Cisneros was last year's recipient of the McArthur Award, one of the most prestigious literary awards in America. A provocative lecture-discussion on South Texas legendary heroes including Juan Sequin, Katrina Garza and Santos Benavides will also be included in the presentations.
In addition to Jenson, the presenters, all from A&M-Kingsville, will be Art Professor William Renfrow, Assistant Professor of History Dr. Suzanne Summers, Bilingual Education Professor Dr. Guadalupe Thompson, Associate Professor of Communications and Theatre Arts Dr. John R. Jenson and retired Psychology and Sociology Professor Dr. Stanley Bittinger.
Audience participation will be a major part of each program
Basically, Circuit Riders is a time-honored concept to bring culture to the countryside, Jenson said. Jenson initiated the Circuit Riders program in South Texas with A&M-Kingsville faculty in the spring of 1989. Originally offering only discussions in literature, the program has expanded to include the departments of art, history, music and other subjects.
"We would like to have community people start their own programs," Jenson said. "The main thing is to get this South Texas culture proclaimed so that people learn to accept Mexican American people, and not only accept them but recognize their contributions to American culture.
"The long-time benefit of the programs is, of course, that this culture will be passed on to the next generations to add dimension and richness to the lives of people here, both Mexican-
American and others."
The presentations will be made at the public libraries in the participating communities. The presentation schedules are as follows:
Saturday, Feb. 1 Lecture/slide show on Texas/Mexican border artists
-- William Renfrow
Saturday, Feb. 8 Provocative presentation of Juan Sequin/Katrina Garza/Santos Benavides
Saturday, Feb. 15 Potpourri of dramatic readings from Mexican American writers
Saturday, Feb. 22 Discussion on J. Frank Dobie books
Saturday, March 1 Various views of the legendary Juan Cortino
FALFURRIAS -- ED RACHAL MEMORIAL LIBRARY, 203 S. Henry St.
All presentations will begin at 7 p.m.
Tuesday, Jan. 28 Various views of the legendary Juan Cortino
-- Dr. Suzanne Summers
Tuesday, Feb. 4 Discussion on J. Frank Dobie books
-- Dr. John Jenson
Tuesday, Feb. 11 Lecture/slide show on Texas/Mexican border artists
-- William Renfrow
Tuesday, Feb. 18 Potpourri of dramatic readings from Mexican American writers
-- Dr. Evelyn Jenson and Dr. Guadalupe Thompson
Tuesday, Feb. 25 Provocative presentation of Juan Seguin/Katrina Garza/Santos Benavides
-- Dr. Stanley Bittinger
ZAPATA COUNTY PUBLIC LIBRARY
All presentations will begin at 1 p.m.
Saturday, Feb. 1 Potpourri of dramatic readings from Mexican American writers
-- Dr. Evelyn Jenson and Dr. Guadalupe Thompson
Saturday, Feb. 8 Various views of the legendary Juan Cortino
-- Dr. Suzanne Summers
Saturday, Feb. 15 Discussion on J. Frank Dobie books
-- Dr. John Jenson
Saturday, Feb. 22 Lecture/slide show on Texas/Mexican border artists
-- William Renfrow
Saturday, March 1 Provocative presentation of Juan Seguin/Katrina Garza/Santos Benavides
-- Dr. Stanley Bittinger
Wednesday, Jan. 29 Lecture/slide show on Texas/Mexican border artists
-- William Renfrow
Wednesday, Feb. 5 Provocative presentation of Juan Seguin/Katrina Garza/Santos Benavides
-- Dr. Stanley Bittinger
Wednesday, Feb. 12 Discussion on J. Frank Dobie books
-- Dr. John Jenson
Wednesday, Feb. 19 Various views of the legendary Juan Cortino
-- Dr. Suzanne Summers
Wednesday, Feb. 26 Potpourri of dramatic readings from Mexican American writers
-- Dr. Evelyn Jenson and Dr. Guadalupe Thompson
RAYMONDVILLE -- REBER MEMORIAL LIBRARY, 190 N. 4th St.
All presentations will begin at 7 p.m.
Tuesday, Feb. 4 Various views of the legendary Juan Cortino
-- Dr. Suzanne Summers
Tuesday, Feb. 11 Provocative presentation of Juan Seguin/Katrina Garza/Santos Benavides
-- Dr. Stanley Bittinger
Tuesday, Feb. 18 Discussion on J. Frank Dobie books
-- Dr. John Jenson
Tuesday, Feb. 25 Lecture/slide show on Texas/Mexican border artists
-- William Renfrow
Tuesday, March 4 Potpourri of dramatic readings from Mexican American writers
-- Dr. Evelyn Jenson and Dr. Guadalupe Thompson
-TAMUK-
- Mary McAdam