Spanapaloola and the Bounce Back event in Espanola, New Mexico
Although Bounce Back and Spañapalooza have different organizers, they both share a love for the community and youth.
"Seventeen years ago an event was created to counter the hopelessness of a Post-9/11 society, to shine a light into the darkness,” Luis Peña said. “Held at the Valdez Skate Park, the event was named Spanapalooza and consisted of skaters, bands, graff artists, poets, community organizations and surrounding community members. Over the years many, many connections and memories were made. Within the last few years, my brother, Enrique Martinez, and I agreed that we didn't have the time or resources to continue organizing an event of that scale. Our hope was to pass the torch on to young people who would continue to emphasize the radical community spirit held in that space once a year.”
From the ashes of Spanapalooza, Tewa Women United's A'Gin Healthy Sexuality and Body Sovereignty Project has created The Bounce Back.
“The Bounce Back is named to bring attention to our young people's ability to "bounce back" in the face of adversity,” continued Peña. “Our goal is to raise resilient children who will become our future leaders and lead from the heart. I think that it is fitting that the future of this event is now in the hands of intelligent and powerful young Indigenous women. A'Gin's Nathana Bird, Celina Hokeah and Autumn Gomez are doing amazing work in the community and I can't say enough about their program at Tewa Women United.”
Nathana Bird explained how Bounce Back originated.
“Our intention with this event is to build community, belonging, connection and respect among our peers and youth to create new narratives as we move into the future. We are faced with various barriers and hurdles that we are overcoming and have overcome throughout the years. It is our hope that the young people of the Española Valley recognize the strengths and commitments that we and others have made to ensure they are fully supported in their growth and challenges.”
Tewa Women United work with youth in the local schools through their A'Gin Healthy Sexuality and Body Sovereignty Project, known as the A'Gin Project, and were interested in supporting an event focused on youth this year. The A’Gin Project looks to address issues of body sovereignty and personal empowerment for all stages of life. Healthy relationships are based on positive self-esteem and relationship dynamics with shared power and control.
“We cannot change one generation without acknowledging all generations,” Bird said. “When we address body sovereignty we acknowledge young girls, young boys, mothers, fathers, grandmothers and grandfathers. Spanapalooza is a perfect avenue for us to get out into the community and get the word out to the young people in our community.”
“We reached out to Luis Peña and former Spanapalooza crew and decided to create a new collaborative approach to their longstanding event,” Bird explained. “We had a brainstorming session with Luis and Enrique Martinez, who was also part of the previous Spanapalooza crew and Northern Youth Project, out of Abiquiu, on various aspects of the event. We wanted to honor the work they had already put in and also to continue to create space at the Skate Park for young people to come together. After meeting with Luis and Enrique, we approached the city and needed a name for the event. We decided to lay Spanapalooza to rest since we were taking the lead as new organizers of the event. After a few weeks of brainstorming and attempting to figure out what we would name the event, we came up with the ‘Bounce Back.’ Through the work we do as part of our work with Tewa Women United and our A'Gin Project on understanding the impact of generations of historical trauma, intergenerational trauma and individual complex trauma on our lives to this day on many levels. We want to focus on healing and resilience. Our community’s strengths. Thus, the intention of our name is to build on the concept of resilience.”
The name “Tewa Women United” comes from the Tewa words wi don gi mu, which can be translated as “we are one” in mind, heart and in the spirit of love for all. This is where their “heart work” began and continues to grow from. It is their mission at to provide safe spaces of indigenous women to uncover the power, strength and skills they possess to become positive forces for transformative change in their families and communities.
Although this was the inaugural Bounce Back event, it was well attended.
As always, there was the skating competition. Combined with the music and mural painting, there was plenty to keep visitor’s attention.
The musical entertainment was strong.
First to perform was the contemporary reggae band Innastate and they are based out of San Ildefonso Pueblo. The guitarist, Adrian Wall, is a renowned sculptor from Santa Fe. Innastate has a couple of albums under their belts and are a tight, professional sounding group.
The band has been together since the spring of 2014. Their musical influences span many genres, creating a brand of reggae and rock that is modern yet honors their indigenous heritage, musical roots and love of music. The music that Innastate creates reflects on the human experience, other themes concerning spirituality and environmental issues are often found within their songs and they believe in the power of music to connect people.
Band members are Adrian Wall of Jemez Pueblo (Guitar/Vocal), Rylan Kabotie of Santa Clara Pueblo/Jicarilla Apache (Bass/Vocal), Lawrence Bailon of Santa Clara Pueblo/Kewa Pueblo (Drums).
The band released their debut self-titled EP in April of 2015 to wide acclaim and through a strong social media presence was subsequently voted by their fans as the Artist of the Month by RockwiredMagazine.com and the 2016 Rockwired Reader’s poll award for Best Performance by an American Indian/First Nations Band or Artist.
Other musical groups who performed were:
Sound was provided by Kurt Garcia from Double O DJs. Kurt is the grandson of the late Andy Garcia, who led the Ohhay Owingeh dance group, ?????, for many years before his death.
The live mural painting, which was a mainstay along with the skateboard competition, of Spanapalooza was carried forward with Bounce Back.
UNEK (pronounced unique) Francis (Jemez Pueblo / Hopi) recently completed a mural at the Abiquiú Public Library through a grant from the NRGHA. He is a nationally known muralist, having completed work from Los Angeles to New York for clients such as Microsoft, Chicago Cubs, MTV and others, and is also well regarded as a fashion photographer.
UNEK describes himself this way on his website, “This is my life: photographer, artist, trail and ultra runner, ancestral history, adventure outdoor life and honoring my Arizona/New Mexico Tewa and Jemez ancestors.”
Melody Begay and Carmella Garcia collaborated on a piece focusing on breastfeeding. They are neighbors in Ohkay Owingeh and were unaware that each other enjoyed painting.
Felix Rodriguez, who painted the Michael Jordan piece on the north wall of the Lucero Center, came out to paint after a three-year hiatus. His piece was the baby in the cosmos.
Israel Francisco Haros Lopez is a founder of Alas de Aguas Art Collective in Santa Fe. The collective recieved a grant from the Kindle Foundation and work with young people in Santa Fe. Lopez worked on a collaborative piece with the young women from the A'Gin Youth Group.
Boris Titla, from San Ildefonso Pueblo, said he has been doing serious murals for about four years.
“I don’t do a lot of gallery work so they (murals) are a way to get my art out to the public,” Titla explained. “In return, that helps me get more business.”
Two of Titla’s larger murals can be found at the Pojoaque Wellness Center and for Cystic Fibrosis in Santa Fe.
Titla also like the “free range” and the freedom he is allowed when he paints murals.
“There is so much you can combine and do with a mural,” he said.
When asked if he has any influences, Titla replied, “I like the old stuff that’s painted in chapels and Frida Kahlo. I like big, clean, simple murals, because if it’s big and clean and simple, to me that’s harder to do.”
Although he prefers simple and clean, which is apparent in his mural, he said he was going to add more details that he normally might. But even with his more enhanced technique at Bounce Back, Titla’s compositional sense and craftsmanship were more than apparent, and his history in traditional pueblo pottery was apparent in the designs that he was incorporating into the mural.
“I’m just trying to take those designs and put them on a wall,” he said as he surveyed the mural.
When Bird was asked why an event like this is important, she replied, “Our young people and community members are craving spaces for community to come together to enjoy music, art and activities. It is our hope to fill in the gaps to provide for community to ensure they are given positive and healthy spaces. One goal we have with Tewa Women United is to build beloved communities and Saturday's event was a true definition of this. Bringing all of us together from all parts of our communities is healing.”
For more information about Tewa Women United, go to their website: tewawomenunited.org
"Seventeen years ago an event was created to counter the hopelessness of a Post-9/11 society, to shine a light into the darkness,” Luis Peña said. “Held at the Valdez Skate Park, the event was named Spanapalooza and consisted of skaters, bands, graff artists, poets, community organizations and surrounding community members. Over the years many, many connections and memories were made. Within the last few years, my brother, Enrique Martinez, and I agreed that we didn't have the time or resources to continue organizing an event of that scale. Our hope was to pass the torch on to young people who would continue to emphasize the radical community spirit held in that space once a year.”
From the ashes of Spanapalooza, Tewa Women United's A'Gin Healthy Sexuality and Body Sovereignty Project has created The Bounce Back.
“The Bounce Back is named to bring attention to our young people's ability to "bounce back" in the face of adversity,” continued Peña. “Our goal is to raise resilient children who will become our future leaders and lead from the heart. I think that it is fitting that the future of this event is now in the hands of intelligent and powerful young Indigenous women. A'Gin's Nathana Bird, Celina Hokeah and Autumn Gomez are doing amazing work in the community and I can't say enough about their program at Tewa Women United.”
Nathana Bird explained how Bounce Back originated.
“Our intention with this event is to build community, belonging, connection and respect among our peers and youth to create new narratives as we move into the future. We are faced with various barriers and hurdles that we are overcoming and have overcome throughout the years. It is our hope that the young people of the Española Valley recognize the strengths and commitments that we and others have made to ensure they are fully supported in their growth and challenges.”
Tewa Women United work with youth in the local schools through their A'Gin Healthy Sexuality and Body Sovereignty Project, known as the A'Gin Project, and were interested in supporting an event focused on youth this year. The A’Gin Project looks to address issues of body sovereignty and personal empowerment for all stages of life. Healthy relationships are based on positive self-esteem and relationship dynamics with shared power and control.
“We cannot change one generation without acknowledging all generations,” Bird said. “When we address body sovereignty we acknowledge young girls, young boys, mothers, fathers, grandmothers and grandfathers. Spanapalooza is a perfect avenue for us to get out into the community and get the word out to the young people in our community.”
“We reached out to Luis Peña and former Spanapalooza crew and decided to create a new collaborative approach to their longstanding event,” Bird explained. “We had a brainstorming session with Luis and Enrique Martinez, who was also part of the previous Spanapalooza crew and Northern Youth Project, out of Abiquiu, on various aspects of the event. We wanted to honor the work they had already put in and also to continue to create space at the Skate Park for young people to come together. After meeting with Luis and Enrique, we approached the city and needed a name for the event. We decided to lay Spanapalooza to rest since we were taking the lead as new organizers of the event. After a few weeks of brainstorming and attempting to figure out what we would name the event, we came up with the ‘Bounce Back.’ Through the work we do as part of our work with Tewa Women United and our A'Gin Project on understanding the impact of generations of historical trauma, intergenerational trauma and individual complex trauma on our lives to this day on many levels. We want to focus on healing and resilience. Our community’s strengths. Thus, the intention of our name is to build on the concept of resilience.”
The name “Tewa Women United” comes from the Tewa words wi don gi mu, which can be translated as “we are one” in mind, heart and in the spirit of love for all. This is where their “heart work” began and continues to grow from. It is their mission at to provide safe spaces of indigenous women to uncover the power, strength and skills they possess to become positive forces for transformative change in their families and communities.
Although this was the inaugural Bounce Back event, it was well attended.
As always, there was the skating competition. Combined with the music and mural painting, there was plenty to keep visitor’s attention.
The musical entertainment was strong.
First to perform was the contemporary reggae band Innastate and they are based out of San Ildefonso Pueblo. The guitarist, Adrian Wall, is a renowned sculptor from Santa Fe. Innastate has a couple of albums under their belts and are a tight, professional sounding group.
The band has been together since the spring of 2014. Their musical influences span many genres, creating a brand of reggae and rock that is modern yet honors their indigenous heritage, musical roots and love of music. The music that Innastate creates reflects on the human experience, other themes concerning spirituality and environmental issues are often found within their songs and they believe in the power of music to connect people.
Band members are Adrian Wall of Jemez Pueblo (Guitar/Vocal), Rylan Kabotie of Santa Clara Pueblo/Jicarilla Apache (Bass/Vocal), Lawrence Bailon of Santa Clara Pueblo/Kewa Pueblo (Drums).
The band released their debut self-titled EP in April of 2015 to wide acclaim and through a strong social media presence was subsequently voted by their fans as the Artist of the Month by RockwiredMagazine.com and the 2016 Rockwired Reader’s poll award for Best Performance by an American Indian/First Nations Band or Artist.
Other musical groups who performed were:
Sound was provided by Kurt Garcia from Double O DJs. Kurt is the grandson of the late Andy Garcia, who led the Ohhay Owingeh dance group, ?????, for many years before his death.
The live mural painting, which was a mainstay along with the skateboard competition, of Spanapalooza was carried forward with Bounce Back.
UNEK (pronounced unique) Francis (Jemez Pueblo / Hopi) recently completed a mural at the Abiquiú Public Library through a grant from the NRGHA. He is a nationally known muralist, having completed work from Los Angeles to New York for clients such as Microsoft, Chicago Cubs, MTV and others, and is also well regarded as a fashion photographer.
UNEK describes himself this way on his website, “This is my life: photographer, artist, trail and ultra runner, ancestral history, adventure outdoor life and honoring my Arizona/New Mexico Tewa and Jemez ancestors.”
Melody Begay and Carmella Garcia collaborated on a piece focusing on breastfeeding. They are neighbors in Ohkay Owingeh and were unaware that each other enjoyed painting.
Felix Rodriguez, who painted the Michael Jordan piece on the north wall of the Lucero Center, came out to paint after a three-year hiatus. His piece was the baby in the cosmos.
Israel Francisco Haros Lopez is a founder of Alas de Aguas Art Collective in Santa Fe. The collective recieved a grant from the Kindle Foundation and work with young people in Santa Fe. Lopez worked on a collaborative piece with the young women from the A'Gin Youth Group.
Boris Titla, from San Ildefonso Pueblo, said he has been doing serious murals for about four years.
“I don’t do a lot of gallery work so they (murals) are a way to get my art out to the public,” Titla explained. “In return, that helps me get more business.”
Two of Titla’s larger murals can be found at the Pojoaque Wellness Center and for Cystic Fibrosis in Santa Fe.
Titla also like the “free range” and the freedom he is allowed when he paints murals.
“There is so much you can combine and do with a mural,” he said.
When asked if he has any influences, Titla replied, “I like the old stuff that’s painted in chapels and Frida Kahlo. I like big, clean, simple murals, because if it’s big and clean and simple, to me that’s harder to do.”
Although he prefers simple and clean, which is apparent in his mural, he said he was going to add more details that he normally might. But even with his more enhanced technique at Bounce Back, Titla’s compositional sense and craftsmanship were more than apparent, and his history in traditional pueblo pottery was apparent in the designs that he was incorporating into the mural.
“I’m just trying to take those designs and put them on a wall,” he said as he surveyed the mural.
When Bird was asked why an event like this is important, she replied, “Our young people and community members are craving spaces for community to come together to enjoy music, art and activities. It is our hope to fill in the gaps to provide for community to ensure they are given positive and healthy spaces. One goal we have with Tewa Women United is to build beloved communities and Saturday's event was a true definition of this. Bringing all of us together from all parts of our communities is healing.”
For more information about Tewa Women United, go to their website: tewawomenunited.org
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