10,000 Years of Love and Resistance: A Celebration of the Arts and Spiritual Union

Bihl Haus Arts hosts “10,000 Years of Love and Resistance: A Celebration of the Arts and Spiritual Union,” organized by curator David Zamora Casas, which recognizes the 50-year union of Tomás Ybarra-Frausto and Dudley Brooks. The media includes photography, painting, installation and recorded soundscape. The opening reception is from 6 to 9 p.m. Saturday, July 21. 

“The core concept is to create an intergenerational dialogue about the LGBTQ plus realities in a maturing, evolving and empathetic world,” Zamora Casas said. “The exhibition is also in recognition of the time-honored sensibility called rasquachismo credited to the genius of Tomás Ybarra-Frausto.”

Ybarra-Frausto is best known for his series of essays on rasquachismo, a time-honored aesthetic which he describes as a “Chicana/o lived sensibility rooted in working class values. In academia, to be rasquache is to engage in a Chicana/o expression defined by an ability to make do with whatever is at hand. It’s the view of the underdog, to make something out of nothing, to make the most out of the least.”
 

In 1998, the Smithsonian awarded Ybarra-Frausto the Joseph Henry Medal – for exceptional service to the Smithsonian Institution – to honor his contribution to the study of Latino art. In 2007, the Mexican government honored him with the Order of the Aztec Eagle, the highest Mexican order awarded to foreigners in the country.

Ybarra-Frausto was associate director of creativity and culture at the Rockefeller Foundation for many years. This exhibition and fiesta reflects the high esteem and love our community holds for Tomás Ybarra-Frausto and his partner of 50 years, Dudley Brooks. 

Participating artists include: miguel angel iii, Bianca Alvarez, Jo Reyes-Boitel, Fadela Castro, Chris Castillo, Agosto Cuellar, Anel Flores, Jamison Holt, in memorium, Joyous Windrider Jiménez, Julian Pablo Ledezma, Joaquin Linn, Anna De Luna, Franco Mondini Ruiz, Los Náhuatlatos, J. Marcos Ortiz, Mary Agnes Rodriguez, Veronica Sandoval, Autumn Summers, Gilberto Tarin, Rita Urquijo-Ruiz and Debora Kuetzpal Vasquez.
 

Zamora Casas explains that the exhibition title refers to recently discovered skeletal remains that place native human inhabitants in the Americas 10,000 years ago. This exhibition provides the opportunity to explore vocabulary introduced by the LGBTQ community to identify and claim our preferred pronouns.

The reception includes the AIDS Lady, Anna De Luna, providing HIV / AIDS testing. There will also be information tables on topics ranging from voter registration, affordable housing and LGBTQ-friendly political groups like Human Rights Campaign San Antonio. 

Latin-fusion music by San Antonio favorites Los Nahuatlatos in a poolside performance will keep guests dancing throughout the night. There will be a special performance by Rita Urquijo-Ruiz, Ph.D., accompanied by accordionist Joaquin Linn. The evening includes a Literary Piñata, thirst-quenching margaritas and cooling fruit paletas.
 

The program is made possible with support from the City of San Antonio Department of Arts & Culture and the Texas Commission on the Arts and by Friends of Bihl Haus Arts. A percentage of all sales will benefit Fiesta Youth. Gallery hours are 1-4 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays.

Related Events:

Saturday, Aug. 4, 2-4 p.m.: “Geographies of Love,” a panel discussion on mental health strategies, affordable housing for elder LGBTQ plus and gays in the military moderated by Tomás Ybarra-Frausto and Dudley Brooks with Julian Pablo Ledezma, Luz Lopez and Tiffany Perez.

Saturday, Sept. 1, 6-8 p.m.: Closing Reception and LGBTQ plus reading by Jo Reyes-Boitel, Anel Flores, Joyous Windrider Jiménez and Autumn Summers.