CALA International Festival

CALA International Festival returns for fourth celebration

of Latin cultural expression

The CALA International Festival returns to the heart of downtown Phoenix on Nov. 7 and 8, exploring and celebrating the dynamic fusion of Latino cultural expression through the arts. This is the fourth year for the event. This year’s focus is on the evolution of Cumbia music. Cumbia, described by some as “the musical backbone of Latin America,” is an energetic style of music with multinational roots in Africa and Latin America.

The 2014 CALA International Festival is the marquee event of CALA Alliance. This unique organization is dedicated to creating an ongoing international festival showcasing the Valley’s Latino cultural heritage and highlighting Arizona’s ties to Latin America. This cutting-edge celebration of the arts and culture of the Americas will feature local, national and international performances by musicians, a series of talks engaging visual and performance artists, art exhibitions and culinary experiences.

The festival takes place at Civic Space Park in downtown Phoenix. CALA Lab launches the festival from 7 p.m. to 9 p.m. Friday night, and entertainment continues on Saturday from 2 p.m. to 10 p.m. with CALA Cumbia, a free outdoor concert.

Curated by ASU Art Museum’s Julio César Morales, this year’s festival incorporates talents from throughout the Americas. “The festival extracts from our own multi-cultural experience to suggest the ways we are all shaped by our time and place,” Morales says. “Rather than push for a big picture of globalized society, the festival attempts to uncover something subtler and more illuminating to connect with – a dynamic fusion of cultural expression and new traditions of experiencing Latino culture as a gateway to broader international connections.”

CALA Lab

Fri., Nov. 7, 7 p.m. – 9 p.m.

Civic Space Park, A.E. England Building

CALA Lab tickets: $35

After Party tickets: $35

CALA Lab offers music, art and engagement, creating a fluid evening of talking, seeing and learning. Featured is an enriched dialogue with three expert panelists: Tijuana native chef Javier Plascencia, new Phoenix Symphony Virginia G. Piper Music Director Tito Muñoz and renowned Mexico City curator Aldo Sánchez.

Topics discussed include the explosion of new food and wine movements in Baja California, international artists’ place in the Valley’s artistic community and a presentation on the evolution of one of Mexico’s most visited museums, Museo del Estanquillo. Josh Kun, contributing writer for the New York Times, Annenberg professor of Latin American art and founder of the USC Annenberg distinguished Lecture Series on Latin American Arts & Culture, will moderate the evening’s discussions.

A series of art exhibitions will be displayed in the A.E. England atrium constructed around influences ranging from traditional art to contemporary photography and installation, with works on paper and video.

2014 CALA International Festival

Sat., Nov. 8, 2 p.m. – 10 p.m.

Civic Space Park

Featuring distinct elements – CALA Cumbia (music) and CALA Arte (art exhibitions) – the festival brings a fun fusion of food, cultural experiences and fun for all ages. Silk screening and mask-making workshops led by local experts are available from 2 p.m. to 5 p.m. in the A.E. England Building, along with a unique mural and storytelling project with Childsplay and other youth activities outside in the park. CALA Cumbia takes center stage from 5 p.m. to 10 p.m. with featured musicians Chucha Santamaria from Puerto Rico/San Francisco, DJ Juan Camaney, Tucson’s Sergio Mendoza y la Orkesta, Los Angeles’ DJ Lengua and Camilo Lara of the Mexican Institute of Sound from Mexico City.

Info/Tickets

At top, Protected: Borrando La Frontera, Video still courtesy of Ana Teresa Frenandez and Gallery Wendi Norri

Bottom, Mexican Institute of Sound, live concert image, courtesy of MIS