If you’ve never heard of local poet/artist/performer Amalia Ortiz, we submit this event as the ideal chance to get acquainted with one of the most emboldening and dynamic forces in San Antonio. While her book of poetry Rant. Chant. Chisme. is essential reading — selected by NBC Latino as one of 10 Great Latino Books of 2015 and winner of the Writers’ League of Texas 2015 Poetry Discovery Prize — it is through performance that Ortiz is best able to express her unique genius. Ortiz will present her latest concept, a blend of performance art, poetry, music and acting.

Ortiz explains in her artist’s statement that she chose​ ​the​ ​punk​ ​aesthetic​ ​as a vehicle for this performance because​ ​the​ ​issues​ ​she​ ​tackles​ ​in​ ​her​ ​writing,​ ​“such​ ​as​ ​racial injustice,​ ​gender​ ​inequality,​ ​and​ ​environmental​ ​justice,​ ​demand​ ​immediate​ ​action​ ​and​ ​outrage.” Her goal in this piece, and clearly throughout much of her other work, is “to center​ ​women’s​ ​voices,​ ​creatively​ ​chronicle​ ​their​ ​stories,​ ​and​ ​explore​ ​the​ ​intersection​ ​of their​ ​experiences​ ​and​ ​[her] own.”

Free, Wed April 18, 6-8pm, Artpace, 445 N. Main Ave., (210) 212-4900, artpace.org.
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