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Hispanic Writers Collection
Hispanic Magazine ArchivesBorder Music CollectionSelena: Como la flor Archives...and the earth did not swallow himJovita González PapersTomás RiveraTino Villanueva CollectionExhibit: Flores del Nopal: Mexican American Voices from South TexasPurchase funds for the Hispanic Writers Collection are entirely supported by donations to the endowment. If you would like to add your support to this collection please contact:
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(The following press release was produced in conjunction with Severo Perez's visit to the TxState campus in September 1998 as a guest of the Southwestern Writers collection)
Severo Perez, who wrote and directed the award-winning film adaptation of Tomás Rivera's classic Chicano novel ...y no se lo tragó la tierra, will visit Southwest Texas State University on September 23, 1998 to present a special screening of his film. "and the earth did not swallow him" follows the lives of a South Texas family of migrant farmworkers during the 1950s. Rivera's novel, first published in 1971, is widely considered a modern classic, and is taught in literature courses around the country. Perez's quiet, yet powerful film beautifully evokes the substance and spirit of the novel, and it has won international acclaim, including top honors at several film festivals. The screening of the film will take place at 2:00 pm on Wednesday, Sept. 23rd at the Showplace 3 Cinema at 321 N. LBJ in San Marcos across from the TxState campus. Perez will speak after the film and take questions from the audience. A reception at the Southwestern Writers Collection will follow at 5:00 pm. All events are free and open to the public.
Tomás Rivera is one of TxState's most distinguished alumni. Rivera began life as the child of a migrant farmworker family, and he went on to become one of the pre-eminent Chicano writers, as well as the highest-ranking Chicano in American education-he was Chancellor at the University of California-Riverside-at the time of his sudden death from a heart attack in 1984. Today, numerous libraries, buildings, and institutes are named in his honor throughout the Southwest. TxState established the Tomás Rivera Mexican American Children's Book Award three years ago. This year's winner is author Pat Mora, and the award will be presented on Thursday Sept. 24 at 6:00 pm at the Southwestern Writers Collection. Severo Perez will also attend the ceremony. Perez's appearance at TxState also coincides with the Southwestern Writers Collection's new exhibit: "Mythic Journeys: The Film Archives of the Southwestern Writers Collection." The exhibit offers an insider's look at the creation of several popular films including "Lonesome Dove," and it features the works of Bill Wittliff, Tommy Lee Jones, Sam Shepard, Larry McMurtry, Sissy Spacek, Robert Duvall, Severo Perez, William Broyles, Jr., Anjelica Huston, Horton Foote, and many others. Perez has loaned the Southwestern Writers Collection many items from the making of "...and the earth did not swallow him" for the current exhibit, including a beautifully crafted foto esculptura used as a prop in the film. Perez's visit to TxState is sponsored by the Southwestern Writers Collection and the University Lecture Series, with additional support from the Hispanic Writers Endowment, the Center for the Study of the Southwest, the Office of Multicultural Student Affairs, and the Center for Multicultural and Gender Studies. Dr. Leticia Garza-Falcón, who directs the Multicultural and Gender Studies program at TxState, will introduce Perez at the screening of the film. The Southwestern Writers Collection is located adjacent to the Wittliff Gallery of Southwestern & Mexican Photography on the 7th floor of the Albert B. Alkek Library at Texas State University-San Marcos in San Marcos. Hours are 8am-5pm Monday through Friday. Saturday, 1pm-5pm. Sunday 2pm-6pm. Call 512-245-3861 or visit our web site at www.library.txstate.edu/swwc for more information. |
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Perez will also speak to
several TxState classes during his visit to San Marcos. Both Perez
and the late Tomás Rivera are TxState alumni. Perez, who is
originally from San Antonio, moved to Los Angeles in 1972 to
pursue a career in the motion picture industry. His productions
have won more than 50 awards, including three CINE Golden Eagles.
Perez is also a successful playwright and has worked extensively
with Luis Valdez's "El Teatro Campesino." Most recently,
Perez was the 1997 Playwright in Residence at the Mark Taper
Forum in Los Angeles.