by the El Reportero staff
Bill Santiago
A new exhibit of international folk art from New Mexico brings devotional paintings of saints, archangels, the Virgin Mary, and La familia Sagrada.
Retablo, derived from the word for Baroque wooden altarpieces, are inspired by the period of Spanish rule and Catholic evangelization beginning in the 1720’s. In addition to nearly 70 retablos, the exhibition includes several ex votos, crated for public display in a church or shrine, and painted wooden home altars. The exhibition runs from Jan. 12 through April 6.
A lecture called Images of Mary-Sacred, Secular and Stylized by Pamela Gasparovich Thomas, M.A. to be held Feb. 29 5-6 p.m. at Soda Activity Center. Reception following, 6-7 p.m.
Free to members and children 12 and under; $5 general admission.
Public tours of the exhibition on Wednesday, March 5, 12:15 p.m.
Sunday, March 30, 4 p.m.
The Gallery will be closed March 21-23 for Easter.
Hearst Art Gallery hours are Wed. through Sun. 11 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. $3 suggested donation. Free Parking. For information on the exhibit or to book group tours call 925.631.4379.
The Funny of Latin Dance- Standup Bill Santiago from Comedy Central
Calling all salsaholics, tango freaks, bachata addicts, merengue maniacs, chachaficionados, and bailamosapiens Standup comic Bill Santiago, from Comedy Central, riffs on his feet, about his feet and yours, hunting for the funny of Latin Dance, as he workshops material for his next cable special.
Come hear and help shape his take on the syncopated reconquista of American dance fl oors by the cadera-centric body language of la raza, aka the vida loca people. Be ready to share your dance stories, about every kind of Latin dancing.
Show is on Jan. 25 8 p.m at La Peña in Berkeley. La Peña Cultural Center at 3105 Shattuck Ave. in Berkeley.
The cost is $12 at the door and $10 in advance or with student discount.
For more Information call 510.849.2568 or 415.748.8997 or visit www.billsantiago.com, www.myspace.com/billsantiagocomedy, www.lapena.org.
Find a Place to Chat Nicaraguan Style
Nicaraguan residents in the Bay Area of San Francisco are meeting monthly to learn – via teleconferences – different aspects of current Nicaraguan reality.
Each meeting a different offi cial or leader from Nicaragua will attend to expose different topics and to answer questions from participants.
For more information call Raul Valdivia at 408-569-4292 or Victor Molina at 650.630.0585
The New Russia
Former Deputy Secretary of State Strobe Talbott will offer his take on the New Russia, refl ecting on the path of U.S.-Russia Relations, since the Soviet break-up and the end of the Cold War. As a leader in the Department of State for seven years, Talbott was the architect of the Clinton administration’s policy toward Russia and the other states of the former Soviet Union.
He is currently president of the Washington D.C. based Brookings Institution, the nations most prestigious think tank.
Lecture will be held on Thurs. Jan. 31. 5:30 p.m., Check-in, 6 p.m., Program. 7 p.m., Book signing.
JW Marriott Hotel, 500 Post St., San Francisco $15 for Members, $30 for Non-Members Premium (seating in first few rows): $45 for Members, $65 for Non-Members.
To buy tickets call 415/597-6705 or register at www.commonwealthclub.org.
The John Santos Quintet
Featuring John Callo way on fl ute and percussion, Saul Sierra on bass, Marco Diaz on piano, John Santos on congas and percussion and Orestes Vilato on timbales and bongos.
Show starts at 9:30p.m. on Saturday, Jan. 26th Mojito 1337 Grant Ave. in San Francisco’s North Beach. For more information call 415.398.1120.
