Menu

I Am Quixote

Call Us At: 919-995-9763

Uncategorized

Does preserving one’s stories and culture still matter?

"La Entrega" (c) 2015 Rafael A. Osuba
“La Entrega” 12×18 (c) 2015 Rafael A. Osuba

Does preserving one’s stories and culture still matter?

The way of life, the traditions and the expressions of a society determine its culture. Culture is not only the accumulation of our customs, norms and traditions, but also the creativity and inventiveness by which we define and develop our humanity. If a culture is to survive, the society wherein it finds expression must work hard to maintain its identity.  This becomes even more important when living in such a diverse country as the United States where cultures and histories often blend and transform into something new.  The United States is a wonderful experiment that continues to change and morph in ways that highlights the many cultures and influences that have always been at the core of its existence.

At the intersection of differing customs, codes, norms, traditions, visions, and values is a dynamic place full of complexity, opportunity, challenge, and, at times, frustration.

There is a lot of noise and fear in this country at present.

That is to be expected when things change, and many things have and will continue to change.  Our world is getting smaller; our communities look, feel, sound, and work differently.  At such a time it is easy to feel disoriented and lose your sense of identity and purpose.

The arts and humanities play a crucial role in telling the many stories that need to be told and preserved.  Unfortunately, I fear we are forfeiting our sense of creativity and becoming culturally bankrupt. At the same time that technologies are connecting the globe in ways unimaginable a generation ago, we have become disconnected from ourselves, our stories, our languages, and our histories.

It is sad to see the very things that celebrate and preserve our essence and identity—music, dance, literature, art—disregarded by so many. As an advocate for the arts and humanities here in North Carolina through Artist Studio Project and The El Quixote Festival, we try to provide platforms for expression, learning, creating, and engagement, as well as opportunities to share the stories that would otherwise go untold. We collaborate with others in order to create experiences for our North Carolina community that allow us to learn more about each other; those of us that have been here for decades as well as those who are still unpacking moving boxes. In my view, it is the telling and hearing of stories that empowers us to meet the challenges that all of us face each day.

As someone fighting to preserve and tell these important and still relevant stories, it concerns me that although we create and produce high quality events and programming that are accessible to all, too often attendance is very low. I was told recently that events that are free and open to the general public have no value. While I am saddened by this perspective, I take heart because I know it is not true.

I can list all of the internationally recognized authors, actors, performers, musicians, directors, and artists that we have featured as well as a long and impressive list of co-sponsors and collaborators, but I don’t know if it will make any difference. In the end, each of us decides if culture is worthy of preservation or not; it is up to us to determine whether we want our children to know these same stories and histories and eventually they may add a chapter of their own.

Ever the optimist I will continue to dream big, I hope you will join us as we celebrate another year of artistic excellence in North Carolina. We will continue to advocate for the arts and humanities and to provide spaces for our cultures to be shared.

“If thou are not versed in the business of adventure… get thee aside and pray… whilst I engage these giants in combat…”
(Miguel de Cervantes Saavedra)

Rafael A. Osuba
I am Quixote!

You can find out more about our 4th Annual El Quixote Festival here: https://iamquixote.com/year-category/fourth-annual-jose-marti/

Learn More »

CONVOCATORIA ABIERTA PARA LOS ESCRITORES, POETAS Y COMPOSITORES QUE RESIDEN EN NC

Artist Studio Project NCPARA PUBLICACION INMEDIATA
Contacto: Rafael A. Osuba
(919) 995-9763

rafael.osuba@gmail.com
www.iamquixote.com


CONVOCATORIA ABIERTA PARA LOS ESCRITORES, POETAS Y COMPOSITORES QUE RESIDEN EN NC​.

RALEIGH (07/17/2015) Artist Studio Project está buscando escritores, poetas y compositores inspirados por los temas y tópicos explorados en la obra maestra literaria de El Quijote de Miguel de Cervantes Saavedra, para conmemorar los 400 años de su publicación. Varios encuentros literarios y lecturas en vivo se están planeando en Carolina del Norte durante El Festival de El Quijote que se realizará del  29 de septiembre 2015 al 23 de abril 2016.  Los temas incluyen pero no se limitan a: los cuentos de romance, la auto creación, los sueños, el amor, la desesperación, la gastronomía, la caballería, la locura, la traición, la lucha, la esclavitud, la tontería, la moralidad, la imaginación, la distinción de clase, la percepción, el honor, la verdad, la mentira, el poder, la ficción, la obsesión, la humillación, la comedia, la amistad, la devoción, la censura, la falsedad, la historia, la religión, la ley, la opresión, los refranes, las supersticiones, el idioma, la piratería, el plagio, los símbolos, los ídolos, los caballos, los hostales, romper el molde, el chisme, la enfermedad, la muerte, los impuestos, sólo para nombrar unos pocos.

Si usted es un poeta, escritor, compositor o músico y quiere ser incluido por favor enviar su trabajo para consideración.
También habrá oportunidades de "micrófono abierto".

Reglas: Sumisiones sólo se aceptarán por www.iamquixote.com en forma literaria.

Envío por correo electrónico o correo postal no será aceptado.

Fecha límite: El 30 de agosto, 2015 a las 23:59.

Idioma: inglés / español

Poesía: Hasta 3 poemas por sumisión. Los poemas deben ser de 300 palabras o menos. No hay preferencias de estilo.

Cuentos: Un máximo de un cuento corto por sumisión. Los cuentos cortos deben ser no más de 1000 palabras. No hay preferencias de estilo.

Tiempo de respuesta: Todas las presentaciones serán notificadas de su estado el 10 de septiembre de 2015. Si se selecciona, los escritores están de acuerdo para permitir la publicación en el sitio web de I Am Quijote con el crédito apropiado, y extractos de los escritos en los medios de comunicación sociales de El Quijote Festival con el crédito apropiado.

Lecturas en vivo: Las lecturas en vivo serán programadas durante todo el festival y a los escritores escogidos posiblemente se les pedirá leer su obra en vivo en algunos eventos del festival, el primero de los cuales está prevista para el 29 de septiembre en Durham, seguido por la conferencia inaugural / discurso de apertura el 30 de septiembre en Meredith College . El primero de varias tertulias literarias está programado para el 12 de octubre 2015 en la Universidad de Duke.  Los autores / escritores seleccionados serán contactados para coordinar las lecturas.

EL FESTIVAL DE EL QUIJOTE
CUÁNDO: Desde el 29 de septiembre 2015 al 23 de abril 2016
DÓNDE: Diferentes áreas de Carolina del Norte.
MAYOR INFORMACIÓN: Contacte a Rafael A. Osuba al (919) 995-9763
o por correo electrónico a Rafael.osuba@gmail.com    www.iamquixote.com

 
Acerca de ASP: Es una colaboración de artistas que trabajan para ayudar a promover mutuamente sus talentos y el arte a través de diferentes medios. Artist Studio Project unirá a artistas en varios proyectos en un esfuerzo intelectual que es creativo por naturaleza y con ello les dará una plataforma para crear a través de un intercambio de conocimientos, aprendizaje y consenso mutuo. Es nuestra creencia que, en particular, equipos que trabajan en colaboración tienen la posibilidad de obtener mayores recursos, reconocimiento y recompensa cuando se enfrentan a la competencia por recursos limitados. 

 

CONVOCATORIA ABIERTA PARA LOS ESCRITORES, POETAS Y COMPOSITORES QUE RESIDEN EN NC

Learn More »

OPEN CALL FOR WRITERS, POETS AND SONGWRITERS RESIDING IN NC

Artist Studio Project NCFOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: Rafael A. Osuba
(919) 995-9763

rafael.osuba@gmail.com
www.iamquixote.com


OPEN CALL FOR WRITERS, POETS AND SONGWRITERS RESIDING IN NORTH CAROLINA.

RALEIGH (07/17/2015) Artist Studio Project is looking for literary writers, poets and songwriters inspired by the themes and topics explored in the literary masterpiece of El Quixote written by Miguel de Cervantes Saavedra to commemorate the 400 years of its publication. Several literary gatherings and live readings at festival events are being planned throughout North Carolina during the El Quixote Festival which runs September 29th, 2015 – April 23rd, 2016. Topics include but are not limited to: Romance tales, self creation, dreaming, love, despair, food, chivalry, lunacy, betrayal, struggle, conflict, loyalty, slavery, tomfoolery, morality, imagination, class distinction, perception, honor, truth, lies, power, fiction, obsession, humiliation, comedy, friendship, devotion, censorship, falsehood, history, religion, law, oppression, sayings, superstitions, language, piracy, plagiarism, symbols, idols, horses, inns, breaking the mold, gossip, illness, death, taxes, just to name a few.

If you are a poet, writer, songwriter or musician and would like to be included please submit your work for consideration.  There will also be “open mic” opportunities.

Guidelines:  Submission will only be accepted through www.iamquixote.com literary form.  Submission by email or US mail will not be eligible.

Deadline: August 30th, 2015, 11:59pm

Language: English /Spanish

Poetry: Up to 3 poems per submission. Poems must be 300 words or fewer. No style preference.

Short stories: One story maximum per submission. Stories must be no more than 1000 words. No style preference.

Response time: All submissions will be notified of their status by September 10, 2015.  If selected, writers agree to allow publishing on I Am Quixote website with proper credit, and excerpts of writings on El Quixote Festival’s social media outlets with proper credit.

Live readings: Live readings will be scheduled throughout the festival and chosen writers may be asked to read live at festival events, the first of which is scheduled for September 29th in Durham followed by the Festival’s opening lecture/ keynote address on September 30th at Meredith College.  The first of several literary gatherings is scheduled for October 12th, 2015 at Duke University.  Selected authors/writers will be contacted to coordinate readings.

THE EL QUIXOTE FESTIVAL
WHEN: From September 29, 2015 to April 23, 2016
WHERE: Different areas of North Carolina
MORE INFORMATION: Contact Rafael A. Osuba at (919) 995-9763
or by email to Rafael.osuba@gmail.com or by visiting www.iamquixote.com

About ASP: Artist Studio Project: Is a collaboration of artists working to help promote each other’s talents and art through various media forms. Artist Studio Project will team up artists on an intellectual endeavor that is creative in nature and by doing so give them a platform to create by sharing knowledge, learning and building consensus. It is our belief that in particular, teams that work collaboratively can obtain greater resources, recognition and reward when facing competition for finite resources.
ASP was created by Rafael A. Osuba.

OPEN CALL FOR WRITERS, POETS AND SONGWRITERS RESIDING IN NC

Learn More »