Category Archives: Work

Visions of the Borderlands: Myths and Realities / Exhibition and Programs (January 23-June 30, 2017)

March 1, 2020Exhibits and Events, WorkDenise Chavez, Natalie Diaz, Patricia Preciado-Martinjrdiaz@arizona.edu

Promotional material by Marty Taylor, University of Arizona Libraries

I co-curated this exhibit with Veronica Reyes-Escudero and a graduate student from the Library School. My portions of the exhibit dealt with stereotypes of people and places and included a focus on pulp fiction, movies and movie posters, as well as dude ranches and promotional material used by entities like the Tucson Sunshine Club. Veronica’s sections of the exhibit dealt with real life accounts of life along the border taken from diaries, for example and photographs of farming and ranching. The annotations that follow were all contributed by Veronica.

From the UA News Service: “Visions of the Borderlands: Myths and Realities is an exhibition inspired by two works published by the University of Arizona Press, Celluloid Pueblo by Jennifer L. Jenkins and Postcards from the Sonora Border by Daniel D. Arreola. There is a reality and a myth of the U.S.–Mexico borderlands, propagated through multiple lenses. Featuring material depicting both reality and myth through photography, posters, pamphlets and written documentation, this exhibit centers on important areas of enterprise for the Southwest such as photography and film; copper mining; tourism; and cattle ranching. It also expresses issues of discord such as the Mexican Revolution, mining strikes and immigrant exclusionary legislation of the time. “

Promotional video for “Visions of the Borderlands”

Local writer, Ernesto Portillo, Jr. featured “Visions of the Borderlands” in one of his “Neto’s Tucson” columns

The exhibit was also covered in a publication titled “Bear Essential News”. Click here to read it.

Two events were planned to go along with this exhibit. The opening event was titled, “Visions of the Borderlands: Exploring Popular Historical Imagery,” featuring author Daniel Arreola and University of Arizona Professor Jennifer Jenkins.

The second program “Visions of the Borderlands: Three Women Writers Share Their Stories”, featured the writers Denise Chavez, Patricia Preciado Martin, and Natalie Diaz. The program can be listened to in its entirety below. Producing this program was, for me, the best part of the whole project.

Arte Publico Press and the Legacy of Latino Publishing in the U.S / Exhibition, April 2- June 12, 2012

March 1, 2020Exhibits and Events, Workjrdiaz@arizona.edu

I worked with Dr. Charles Tatum of the Humanities program at the University of Arizona on this exhibit and lecture. Unfortunately, no photos of the actual exhibit exist, as they were lost when one of my hard drives bit the dust.

Promotional poster by Marty Taylor, University of Arizona Libraries

Main Library

April 2, 2012-June 12, 2012

News release by Bob Diaz

Tucson, Ariz. (March 29, 2012) – A new exhibit at the UA Main Library explores the history of Latino literature in the United States and chronicles a national movement to recover the Hispanic literary tradition. On display from April 2 – June 12, 2012, “Arte Público Press and the Legacy of Latino Publishing in the U.S.” showcases one of nation’s oldest and most esteemed Hispanic publishing houses. Nicolás Kanellos, director of Arte Público Press, will deliver the opening lecture titled “From the Latino Archive to Your PC or Laptop or Hand-Held Device: EBSCO Partners with Hispanic Recovery” on April 4 from 3:30 – 5:00 p.m. in UA Special Collections.

Nicolás Kanellos, founding publisher of the noted Hispanic literary journal The Americas Review (formerly Revista Chicano-Riqueña), established Arte Público Press in 1979. As that nation’s oldest and largest non-profit publisher of literature of U.S. Hispanic authors, Arte Público Press showcases Hispanic literary activity, arts, and culture. Its imprint for children and young adults, Piñata Books, is dedicated to the realistic and authentic portrayal of the customs, characters and themes unique to Hispanic culture in the United States.

Here is a selection of authors and book titles published by Arte Publico Press, and included in the exhibit.

Cine Mariachi Film Festival at the Fox / 2006

March 1, 2020Community Service, Exhibits and EventsFox Theatre, Mexican filmjrdiaz@arizona.edu

In 2005, I became a board member of the Tucson International Mariachi Conference. It was a memorable experience. I hadn’t done a lot of fundraising before, but one of my tasks as a member of this group was to do just that. I came up with the idea of having a film festival, and pulled all my resources together to produce “Cine Mariachi at the Fox”. I worked with the Mexican Consulate in Tucson to secure a beautiful print of the film “Dos Tipos de Cuidado” starring Pedro Infante and Jorge Negrete, and I also pulled some strings to secure the Fox Theatre as the venue for the program. My friend Pima County Supervisor Richard Elias was intstrumental in helping me with this. My mariachi friends Johnny Contreras and Olga Flores helped get a small mariachi group together to provide musical entertainment, and we even had ballet folklorico dancers.The promotional materials were done by a marketing group that worked with the Tucson International Mariachi Conference. We even got write-ups in the local press. It was a full day’s worth of fun! Now that these films are freely available on Youtube, I have included them below. Enjoy!

Complete film: El Mariachi Canta

Rogaciano El Huapanguero. Complete film.

Dos Tipos De Cuidado in color. Complete film.

Photos of the program

These are copyrighted photos, available for purchase, courtesy of kevin@KvrCreative.com.

A Look at Medicine & Medical Facilities in Early Tucson / Exhibition, June 12-December 31, 2012

February 28, 2020Exhibits and Events, WorkMedical facilities, Medicine, Tucsonjrdiaz@arizona.edu

Promotional material designed by Marty Taylor, University of Arizona Libraries

Introduction: This was the second exhibit I curated at the Science Engineering Library. Once again, I found a treasure trove of information in Special Collections, including photographs, news clippings, books, pamphlets and brochures as well as advertisements in local magazines, directories and other sources. I learned a great deal about the topic, including some very interesting facts about tuberculosis and its treatment. Finding information on the Pima County Hospital was also very enlightening, as was learning about the various sanitariums that existed across the community. Another fun project!

News Release:

A new exhibit at the University of Arizona (UA) reviews 100 years of health care history in Tucson. “A Look at Medicine and Medical Facilities in Early Tucson” showcases Tucson’s system, and business, of health care from the mid-19th century to the mid-20th century. The exhibit is on display from June 19 – Dec. 31, 2012 at the UA Science-Engineering Library, 744 N Highland Ave.

“A Look at Medicine and Medical Facilities in Early Tucson” reviews the history of Tucson health care through three categories: physicians, hospitals, and Tucson’s approach to treating tuberculosis.

Included in the exhibit are profiles, photographs, and biographical information of 9 early Tucson physicians. One of Arizona’s most colorful and distinguished physicians, Dr. George E. Goodfellow, earned his medical degree in 1876 and became a self-taught expert on bullet wounds. He went on to make medical history in Tucson for performing the world’s first successful prostate removal surgery.

Of interesting note for Pima County physicians was a county ordinance passed in 1875 that required local physicians to file their diplomas from accredited schools with the county recorder or face a fine up to $50. The Territory of Arizona did not take similar action until 1881.

The exhibit also offers a brief historical review through photographs, books, and ephemera of Tucson’s early hospitals including St. Mary’s Hospital, Pima County General Hospital, and the Veteran’s Administration Hospital.

The patient population at Tucson area hospitals ballooned in the early 20th century, an increase brought on by patients seeking treatment for tuberculosis which, by that time, was responsible for 12 out of every 100 deaths in the United States. Up to 25% of all newcomers to the Southwest over that period arrived in the region to recover their health, choosing the Southwest for its warm, dry air and their faith in its healing properties. Notable among those who came for the healing climate are Governor A.P.K. Safford, Sam Hughes, Hiram Dodge, “Doc” Holliday, and Harold Bell Wright.

Tucson sanatoriums, including Whitwell Hospital, the Desert Sanatorium, Comstock Hospital, Pastime Park, focused on treating tuberculosis patients. While wealthy patients were received care at resort-like sanatoriums, those without financial means were treated in Tentville, a “squalid ghetto” located in the area north of Speedway Blvd. between Park and North First Avenues. Photographs and ephemera included in the exhibit offer a brief history of Tucson’s sanatoriums.

“A Look at Medicine and Medical Facilities in Early Tucson” was curated to coincide with Tucson’s 237th birthday, an occasion where Tucsonans are encouraged to recognize our community’s history, culture, arts and environment.