Bay Area Chilean diaspora commemorates the 40 anniversary of 9/11

The Chilean 9/11 created a community in California and around the world of Chileans that fled to escape the brutal military regimen. The Bay Area Chilean community commemorates September 11, every year with a cornucopia of cultural and art events. “This is part of our history as a community here in the Bay Area,” said Marci Valdivieso, one of the organizers.

By Fernando Andrés Torres Published by Portside
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President Salvador Allende,

The Bay Area Chilean diaspora commemorates the 40th anniversary of the US-sponsored military coup that overthrew President Salvador Allende on September 11, 1973. In Berkeley and San Francisco, the activities will include live music, art installations, poetry, art exhibits, traditional Chilean dishes, talks, films, and a folk dance presentation in celebration of Chile's Independence Day,

The Chilean 9/11 created a community in California and around the world of Chileans that fled to escape the brutal military regimen. The Bay Area Chilean community commemorates September 11, every year with a cornucopia of cultural and art events. “This is part of our history as a community here in the Bay Area,” said Marci Valdivieso, one of the organizers.

The activities include:

Saturday, September 7, 2013. 7pm. $10. El Materazo por el Mural. Los Materos in Concert for La Peña's Mural. Chileans by geography, musicians by vocation and necessity, Los Materos fuse elements from Latin American folklore and trova into an original alternative style of contemporary music. Featuring Maria Loreto Ramirez, Jairo Rodriguez, Poncho Jaramillo, Axel Herrera, and special guest Evelio Roque. A fund raising event for the completion of the re-creation of the Song of Unity mural at La Peña Cultural Center in Berkeley. Special guests include Barrio La Mision's Semilla Negra with Nacho Valls, Adrian Dobarro, Garsha Shavankhani y Francisco Ferrer; Mexican singer Jesus Magaña; poet Ximena Soza and dancers Stephanie Emmanuela Engel and Cristiano Silva. At the Mission Cultural Center for Latino Arts. 2868 Mission Street @ 25th St., San Francisco.

Wednesday, September 11. 7pm. $10-$20 Sliding Scale. 40th Anniversary of the Coup in Chile and Vigil. Join La Peña and the Freedom Archives to Commemorate the 40th Anniversary of the Coup in Chile. On September 11, 1973, General Augusto Pinochet and his right-wing supporters staged a brutal coup d’etat that overthrew the democratically elected and socialist-leaning administration of Salvador Allende. Now, on September 11, 2013, we celebrate Chile’s resistance here at La Peña! Featuring a new video with Chilean author Isabel Allende – poetry – and music by Bay Area Hip Hop’s Rico Pabon. (No one turned away for lack of funds). There will be a candlelight vigil in front of the mural, outside La Peña, to pay tribute to the victims of the military. Please bring a candle, a flower and a memento to share. At La Peña, 3105 Shattuck Ave. in Berkeley.

Thursday, September 12. 7:30pm. $10. Film: Special Circumstances/Circunstancias Especiales. A Documentary by Marianne Teleki and Héctor Salgado. At 16, Héctor Salgado was arrested and tortured by Pinochet’s forces. By 20, Héctor was without a country, living in exile in the US, the very place whose devastating foreign policies in Chile caused the death and torture of thousands of Chileans. Special Circumstances follows Héctor as he returns to Chile almost 30 years later, camera in hand, to confront the perpetrators and his former captors looking for answers and justice. In the process, the documentary takes an unflinching look at US foreign policy in Latin America in the ’70s, and the legacy of Pinochet with which Chile struggles today. At La Peña, 3105 Shattuck Ave in Berkeley.

Friday, September 13. 7pm. $5. 40 Años - Chile's 9/11. The Bay Area Remembers. A transformation of the La Peña Cultural Center space by the Chilean diaspora from the cafe to the community room with art exhibits, live music, poetry, art installations & exhibits and films in commemoration of the 40th year anniversary of the Chilean Coup of 1973. 


There will be Chilean food available for sale at the cafe and the mural committee will be requesting a $5 donation per person at the door. Proceeds will go towards the Song of Unity mural renewal. Participating artists include: Pancho Pescador, Cristian Munoz, Ximena Soza, Gonzalo Hidalgo, Hector Salgado, Aleixo Goncalves, Hector Salgado, Mochi Parra, Lichi Fuentes, Marci Valdivieso, Ricardo Valdivieso, Fernando Feña Torres, Denis Schmidt, Carlos Baron, Roberto Leni, Ximena Soza, Lisa Milos. At La Peña, 3105 Shattuck Ave in Berkeley.

 

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Saturday, September 14. 6pm. Free Admission. Ramada Viva Chile M… (In the Café & Lounge). Get a jump on the Chilean Independence celebrations! Come enjoy an evening of traditional Chilean cuecas, with live music by Chilean musicians and cuequeros, and dances by Araucaria. Pachamama Cookery with the mural committee will be preparing a traditional Chilean meal available for pre-sale.
The fixed price menu includes: assorted empanadas, pastel de choclo o zapallitos a la parmesana (vegetarian), and assorted desserts. Food will be available a la carte but capacity is limited so we will be offering pre-sale of the dinner with reservations for the seating areas. Call 510.903.1043 for more information.

Sunday, September 15.
12 noon until 2pm. Free admission. Song Of Unity Mural Artist Talk and Q&A. Raymond Patlan, Cristian Munoz, Gonzalo Hidalgo and Maria Josephine will hold a round table discussion about the mural redo, the challenges and community participation in the process at the Cafe Lounge. Ximena Soza will host a mural activity for children during the artists talks, so bring your little ones! Chilean food available for purchase.