Roberto Rodriguez to Give Button Accordion Workshops at MECA

Starting this month, local accordionist Roberto Rodriguez will give a monthly workshop on button accordion at MECA.  Every second Tuesday of the month, the accordion workshops will be offered for students at all levels and all ages.  This is a great opportunity to learn the accordion from a master teacher, no le falta!

Tuesdays, October 8 / November 12 / December 10

Beginners                                    5:00 - 6:30 pm

Intermediate and Advanced          6:30 - 8:00 pm

Born and raised in the Greater East End area of Houston, Roberto Rodriguez is one of the great talents of Mexican American accordion music.  Rodriguez studied button accordion with Leonel Pulido, a legendary accordion player amongst Tejano musicians, and has since developed a sound that has taken him across the world for the past 15 years. Now a full time musician, he continues to travel and has taught accordion for the past 3 years at MECA and Heritage Arts Productions. He gives workshops on the accordion and its history throughout the city of Houston.  Rodriguez has performed with various groups in the city, playing diverse genres such as conjunto, country, blues, rock, ska/reggae, and a fusion of many other hybrids of music. He is the leader of Los Pistoleros de Texas and is a member of Nick Gaitain and The Umbrella Man.

• Electrical engineering concepts such as circuit design
• Reading schematics
• Simple robotics
• Programming through various art related projects   

The semester will end with a performance featuring the students premiering compositions of their newly constructed electronic instruments as well as displays of the various projects created throughout the semester.   

Multicultural Education and Counseling through the Arts (MECA) announces the 2013-14 season of MECA Performing Arts which will present multidisciplinary performances by local, national, and international artists - including productions with MECA arts students - held at the MECA Dow School Auditorium and Pavilion Green Stage in the Old Sixth Ward Historic District of Houston. MECA Performing Arts, which includes visual art exhibits, looks to collaborate with artists through presenting, commissioning, and producing works that traverse the boundaries of tradition, innovates time-honored practices, and give new perspectives to the critical role the arts play in contemporary social life.

The season highlights include a residency and performance by Mexico City-based theater collective, Lagartijas Tiradas al Sol (Lizards Lying in the Sun) in April 2014 who will perform their intense documentary-style piece, El rumor del incendio. The company will be co-presented with the Cynthia Woods Mitchell Center for the Arts of the University of Houston. Another spotlight artist will be a return of the acclaimed Dallas Black Dance Theatre in February who will perform one of their newest works, The Nina Simone Project. The residency of Lagartijas Tiradas al Sol is supported in part by funding from Mid Atlantic Arts Foundation and National Performance Network; and the residency of Dallas Black Dance Theatre is supported in part by funding from New England Foundation for the Arts through the National Dance Project and National Performance Network.  

Visit www.meca-houston.org for periodic updates and a listing of events of the MECA 2013-2014 Performing Arts Series.

Upcoming MECA Performing Arts Series Event:  

Sunday, October 20

EL FESTIVAL DE LA SALSA

In collaboration with Foundation for Modern Music/Flam�rt and Decidete Mujer

El Festival de la Salsa is a Latin music festival dedicated to bringing not only Latinos but people from all places and backgrounds together while keeping salsa music alive in the City of Houston. The festival features numerous artists playing the lively music traditions of the Caribbean for this all-day outdoor gathering in downtown Houston. Please find more information on the web at www.elfestivaldelasalsa.com.

Admission:  Free to the public

Time:           3:00 to 10:00 p.m.

Location:     Jones Plaza

                    600 Louisiana Street, Houston,TX 77002

D�a de los Muertos is a traditional Latin American holiday that honors and celebrates the lives of family and friends who have gone before us. The common theme throughout the three-day celebration, traditionally held on November 1 and 2, is the belief that the dead return home, visit loved ones, and feast on their favorite foods. A playful mockery of death and a reaffirmation of life are demonstrated through music, dance, theatre, and visual arts. MECA's event, now in its eleventh year, features the elements of D�a de los Muertos celebrations throughout Latin America, with a Calavera Rendezvous on opening night, altar exhibit tours on October 21 - November 22, an altar exhibit competition, foods from the Americas, vendors selling authentic Latin American arts and crafts, and a Calavera Fashion Show. MECA's D�a de los Muertos: Honoring our Past, Celebrating our Future is held at MECA's colorful, art-filled campus located at the nationally recognized historic Dow School in Houston's Old Sixth Ward. The Calavera Rendezvous will be held on Friday, November 1st with an auction and Calavera fashion show by The Art Institute of Houston.  Admission is $25 presale and $35 at the door.  The festival held on Saturday, November 2 and Sunday, November 3 is FREE admission.  For more information, visit www.meca-houston.org. 

MECA is currently seeking diverse talent for the D�a de los Muertos event. Call for the following:

• Performance artists (application) 
• Visual artists
• Community altars (application) Deadline to submit application is October 4.
• Calaveras to be created/donated by artists for the silent auction at the Calavera Rendezvous 

Performance artists may contact Estevan Azcona at 713-802-9370 or email at estevan@meca-houston.org.   Visual artists and interested parties in building community altars may call Grace Zuniga at 713-802-9370 or email at grace.mecahouston@gmail.com.  

Call for Artists to Repair MECA's Large Calavera (Paper Mache Skull)

MECA is seeking experienced artists to repair a large Calavera (paper mache skull) for the D�a de los Muertos event. MECA will supply the carved styrofoam foundation.  Please submit a proposal, as well as a portfolio of past works supporting the ability to carry out this project, to info@meca-houston.org.  

Artisan Booths/Vendors

If you are interested in participating this year as a vendor or renting an artisan booth during the festival, please download the application here or call Ana Medellin at 713-802-9370.  

Sponsors

Companies and organizations interested in becoming a major sponsor of the festival, please download the sponsor packet here or call 713-802-9370 for more information.

Volunteers

Interested in volunteering for the largest D�a de los Muertos event in Houston?  We could use your help!  For more information, download the application here and email to info@meca-houston.org or call 713-802-9370.     

Altar Exhibit Tours

Students can take a tour on October 21 - November 22 of the visual art and altar exhibit at MECA to learn about the tradition of making memorial ofrendas and participate in a Dia de los Muertos craft activity.  Schools and students interested in taking a tour of the altar exhibit can contact Liz Salinas at 713-802-9370 or click here for more information.  

Please visit www.meca-houston.org for periodic updates on the Dia de los Muertos event.

Visual Art Teachers, 2013 Fall/2014 Spring Semesters

MECA is also seeking two qualified candidates as Visual Art Teachers for the 2013 Fall/2014 Spring semesters. 

Qualified candidates must have the following:

• Bachelor's degree from an accredited university
• Minimum 3 years experience in visual arts
• Ability to work well with children (K-5th grade level)
• Bilingual (English/Spanish) preferred but not required
• Must submit lesson plan for review
• References required

Please call Liz Salinas at 713-802-9370 between 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. or email resume to lizsalinas1@yahoo.com with subject heading "ATTN Liz Salinas: Visual Art Teacher position for 2013 Fall/2014 Spring semesters."

Music Teacher for Fall 2013 and Spring 2014

MECA is also seeking qualified candidates for a Suzuki violin instructor for the Fall 2013 and Spring 2014 semesters.

Qualified candidates must have the following:

Minimum 3 years experience teaching music

Ability to work well with children

            -K-5th grade level - Suzuki violin

Bilingual (English/Spanish) preferred but not required

Have lesson plan ready for review

References required

Please contact Estevan Azcona at 713-802-9370 for more information and email resume to estevan@meca-houston.org.

University of Houston Work-Study Program

UH students (Main Campus) seeking internship for the Work-Study Program should contact Ana Medellin at info@meca-houston.org or call 713-802-9370.

University of Houston Main Campus

COLLEGE WORK-STUDY

POSITIONS AVAILABLE

CWS Program Eligibility:

• Must file a FAFSA (Free Application for Federal Student Aid)
• Must be enrolled for a minimum of SIX (6) credit hours - enrollment monitored
• Good academic standing  
• Must re-apply for financial aid by submitting a FAFSA every year

• $600 per month
• First and last month's rent required as deposit
• Kitchen access
• Great location in historic neighborhood and just minutes from downtown Houston with easy access to freeways!
• Large, functioning windows
• Lots of character and family friendly

Contact Alice Valdez at 713-802-9370 for more information.