This is one in our continuing series of articles on the various departments within the government of Puerto Peñasco.
Last weekend we visited La Casa de la Cultura in the Old Port. We were lucky enough to find Valdemar Arrieta at a time when he had a few free minutes, and he gave us a tour of the facility. The first room we entered was decorated with artwork done by children. It's a classroom where, among other things, Valdemar gives classes on music history and notation. Another room is a workshop for painting and design classes. Proceeding to the next room, a ceramic studio, we found worktables and benches with clay pieces drying on the shelves. Beyond that was a dance studio with mirrored walls and raised platforms for performance. We were surprised to see all this because we had never had any idea it was here.
In one corner of the building is an Italian espresso and ice cream cafe called Guiseppe's, which Valdemar told us had opened last March. On March 21, the anniversary of the birth of Benito Juarez, one of Mexico's greatest presidents, there was a big fiesta with dioramas, music, and dance. Now, every Saturday there is an outdoor performance with mime and dancing by various groups, including a troupe of 3-year-old flamenco dancers.
Since last March the center has offered classes in plastic arts, music, dance, and ceramics, and also folklore, English for adults and children, cooking and sewing. There are 13 different classes.
In May of last year Valdemar organized a concert at the Municipal Auditorium to raise money for the center. He hired musicians to perform, and charged $10 for tickets. It was very successful. Valdemar himself is a musician, one of the best in town, according to his friend Antonio Hernandez. His wife Lolita is also a musician. Valdemar plays keyboard, bass, guitar, and percussion and is very well-known in local musical circles.
Valdemar told us he was born in Mexicali, then moved to Salina Cruz, Oaxaca. He lived in Mexico City for 30 years but traveled widely throughout Mexico and other places. He lived in Puerto Peñasco for three years, from 1985 to 1988, and owned a restaurant called Las Dunas (now the Happy Frog). He had Musicians' Night every Wednesday with free food and drink for any musicians who cared to come and play. He was also involved with a jazz festival featuring Pancho Sanchez. For a while he had a jazz club up in the
lighthouse on the point. He also played at the Fiesta de Cortez piano bar. Now Valdemar is back in Puerto Peñasco working with the city administration to develop the arts in the community. He seems very happy with what he is doing, and the city is sure to benefit.
Valdemar mentioned to us that there is a local replica of the house Benito Juarez lived in in Oaxaca, and we asked when we might be able to see it. It's still in the process of being renovated, so it isn't open to the public yet, but he very graciously took us over to see it right then. It's located in a building right next to the library and was built by the Masonic Lodge (Grupos Liberales y Masonicos) in 1973.
The house is traditional in style, with small rooms on both sides opening into a central patio, called Patio Andaluz. At the end farthest from the entrance, a flight of stairs leads up to a large room overlooking the patio, which used to be a book cover factory. The rooms are windowless with high ceilings to keep them as cool as possible. The ceiling is made of bricks laid over beams. In the entrance hall a row of concrete benches provided places to sit for those who came to see the President. Here is a rough sketch of the floor plan. Valdemar told us that when this replica was made, the architect took 1000 photos of the original in order to make it as exact as possible. It was really interesting to see this house, home of one of the great men in Mexican history. When finished, it will be open to the public again.
Valdemar had to return to his classes, and since we were right there, we went over to the library next door. Guillermo Munro, Puerto Peñasco's official historian, is also its director. We found the library staffed by a competent and gracious young woman, Erica Ortiz. We also met several of the high school students who work there after school: Silverio Morales, Ivonne Espinosa, Gamaliel Tavarez, and Gabriel Camargo. They showed us around and told us a little about themselves. Apparently they are part of a work program, similar to Distributive Education in the U.S., through which they get school credit for working in the community.
We were happy to see that there is a room in the library for children. It's decorated with pictures and cutouts of animals and flowers and looks very attractive and kid-friendly. One of the things the library would like to have is a videotape player and some educational videos for kids.
Here are some more details gleaned from a subsequent conversation with Guillermo Munro, who is the Director of Cultural Development for the city. There is currently a project underway to build miniatures of the city of Puerto Peñasco and of the Pinacate Mountain area. That will make a fascinating exhibit for the library. There is also a civic action outreach program to bring kids from outlying areas into the school system. Whenever culture or cultural projects come up in Puerto Peñasco, this man seems to be involved--La Casa de la Cultura, the library, local history, local government--all this in addition to his career as a professional photographer and his avocations as historian and writer.
The library has no lack of ideas for expansion but is limited by a lack of money. There is limited space available, but the cost of shelving and other amenities makes it unusable at present. One of the greatest needs is for computers connected to the local Internet server that could provide students and the public with access to the world through technology.
The library would also like to have a section for books and materials in English to serve the many English residents of the community, but currently there is not enough room. However donations of books in English on the desert, the ocean, and cultural topics would currently be welcomed. Sr. Munro said that the library may also offer some English classes in addition to those offered at La Casa de la Cultura. It would welcome experienced volunteers as teachers or in other positions.
The library would be a worthwhile project for any Americans who are willing to donate time, money, books, or equipment to help the local community. Call us if you have any ideas or wish to volunteer at 3-60-99 locally or (520) 888-7059 in the U.S. Or use our e-mail address: print@rtd.com.
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