La Noche Bohemia to celebrate Mexican Revolution

Some Yumans will celebrate the anniversary of the Mexican Revolution with a traditional event full of music, poetry and art. La Noche Bohemia will include an open forum for members of the public who would like to participate.

Organized by the Consulate of Mexico in Yuma, Friday's event will feature various artists and their works from 6 to 9 p.m. at the Ramada Inn, 300 E. 32nd St.

“It is an evening in which we try to gather the Mexican community in a cultural event,” said Manuel Cuen, the consulate's community programs coordinator.

Guests include Adela Castillo and Jose Alejandro Moran, whom Cuen described as “indispensable cultural promoters in California's Salinas Valley.” Together they organize “Peñas Literarias,” which consists of music and short-story readings, and “Poetas Unidos (United Poets),” an Internet poetry forum, as well as Noche Bohemia Salinas, an event attended by musicians, poets and artists from all over the southwestern United States.

Castillo is a native of Mexicali but at a very young age emigrated to California. She has lived for many years in Salinas, where she works for the produce company Dole. She is the author of several books of poetry, including “Mundo Mio (World of Mine),” “Paisajes Internos (Inner Landscapes)” and “Solo Amor (Only Love).”

“Adela came during some of the first events (of Noche Bohemia in Yuma) and people really liked her,” Cuen said.

Moran, who will participate in the Yuma event for the first time, was born in the city of Aguascalientes, Mexico. He lives in Monterey, Calif., and is the author of the book of poems “Almas Entrelazadas en Vuelo (Entwined Souls in Flight).”

Both Castillo and Moran edited the anthology “Bosque de Suspiros (Forest of Sighs).” The authors will be offering for sale copies of their books and recordings and will autograph them for attendees.

In addition, troubadour Francisco Gutierrez and Rocio Fregoso, who besides being a consulate employee is a singer, will perform during the evening.

The group Tierra Mestiza will showcase Spanish dancing, and regional artists will adorn the venue with their works of art.

With an open forum, “there will be room for anyone who wants to sing or dance,” Cuen said. “Everyone is welcome.”

Admission to the event is free. For more information, call the consulate at 343-0066.

Mara Knaub can be reached at mknaub@yumasun.com or 539-6856. Find her on Facebook at Facebook.com/YSMaraKnaub.