6 pm
Join the National Hispanic Cultural Center for an unveiling and
dedication of Reynaldo “Sonny” Rivera’s sculptural bust of Rudolfo Anaya
in the Center’s History and Literary Arts Library from 6 to 7 pm, in
advance of the Center’s presentation of Mr. Anaya’s work The Season of La Llorona
in the Roy E. Disney Center for Performing Arts at 7:30 pm. This event
is free and open to the public. Light refreshments will be provided.
Generously donated by Mr. Anaya, the sculpture was accepted as a
general acquisition of the NHCC by its Board of Directors in August
2016, and will be on display in the History and Literary Arts Library.
The sculpture is the original prototype from which bronzed busts of Mr.
Anaya have been reproduced; the latter currently reside at the
Albuquerque Museum and the Rudolfo Anaya Elementary School in
Albuquerque, New Mexico. The installation of Mr. Anaya’s portrait in the
Library and this dedication were made possible thanks to the generous
support of New Mexico Mutual.
Free community event
A beloved native New Mexican, Mr. Anaya is an educator and renowned
writer. Considered the father of contemporary Chicano literature, he
received the National Humanities Medal from President Barack Obama in
2015 and the National Medal of Arts from President George W. Bush in
2001. Mr Anaya was raised in Santa Rosa and Albuquerque. His most famous
works include Bless Me, Ultima (1972), Heart of Aztlán (1976), and Tortuga (1979). More recent works of fiction include Randy Lopez Goes Home: A Novel (2011) and The Old Man’s Love Story (2013).
The NHCC has proudly worked with Mr. Anaya since its opening in
October 2000, and has presented many of his works, including the current
presentation of The Season of La Llorona as part of the Center’s Siembra: Latino Theatre Season, and the planned 2018 presentation of an opera adaptation of Bless Me, Ultima.
