Lafayette Public Library and the University of Colorado at Boulder Office of Community Relations will present a reading by prominent Denver-based Chicano artist Tony Ortega on Friday, March 31, at the library.
The reading will be at 3:30 p.m. at Lafayette Public Library, 775 W. Baseline Road.
Ortega, a CU-Boulder alumnus, will read from the children's book "Who am I?/¿Quien soy Yo?," written by CU-Boulder fine arts Professor George Rivera and illustrated by Ortega.
The library also is hosting an exhibition of the 12 original pastel drawings for the book through Thursday, April 6.
Professor Rivera and Ortega have collaborated on three other books, which involve the same characters as "Who am I?/¿Quien soy Yo?" In real life the two dogs, Cholo and Vato are Rivera's and the young boy, Pano, is Ortega's son Cipriano.
The pastel drawings for the book illustrate unique characteristics of the Chicano heritage. Ortega also is known for his vivid depictions of Chicano culture and neighborhoods, and for the murals he has painted with his wife, Sylvia Montoya, honoring Colorado Pioneer women.
Ortega is a recipient of the Denver Mayor's Award for Excellence in the Arts and received a fellowship from the Colorado Council of the Arts.
Rivera has published articles and essays in journals, books and catalogues in the United States, Mexico and Spain and has had exhibitions in Bulgaria, Canada, Chile, Mexico, Peru, Russia, Spain and throughout the United States. He is a Senior Fulbright Specialist scholar and a recipient of the Governor's Award for Excellence in the Arts. The objective of his work is to convey an appreciation for Mexican/Chicano culture and history.
For more information contact the CU-Boulder Office of Community Relations at (303) 492-7084.