Writers read their work to help the less fortunate
Sun-News report
Article Launched: 10/10/2008 01:31:14 PM MDT

Art historian, curator, publisher, literary translator,
and poet, Roberto Tejada is the author of a variety
books that include "Manuel Alvarez Bravo: In Focus"
(Getty Publications, 2001), "Luis Gispert: Loud
Image" (University Press of New England, 2004),
"National Camera: Photography and Mexico's Image
Environment" (University of Minnesota Press, early
2009), and "Celia Alvarez Muñoz" (UCLA's Chicano
Studies Research Center, University of Minnesota
Press, early 2009); he is the founder and co-editor
of "Mandorla: New Writing of the Americas," a yearly
journal of literature and translation, now on its 11th
issue. His poetry includes: "Gift & Verdict" (1999),
"Amulet Anatomy" (2001), "Mirrors for Gold" (2006)
and, forthcoming, "The Art Institute" (2009).
Stacey D'Erasmo is the author of the novels "Tea"
(Algonquin, 2000), which was a New York Times
Notable Book of the Year; and "A Seahorse Year"
(Houghton Mifflin, 2004), which was named a Best
Book of the Year by the San Francisco Chronicle and
Newsday, and won both a Lambda Literary Award
and a Ferro-Grumley Award. Her essays, features,
and reviews have appeared in the New York Times
Magazine, the New York Times Book Review, and
"Ploughshares." She is currently completing her
third novel, tentatively titled "A Secret Life."
An event to raise funds for Casa de Peregrinos, a
Las Cruces food bank, takes place Friday evening at
the Rio Grande Theatre, featuring readings from
poet Roberto Tejada and novelist Stacey D'Erasmo.
The annual Writer's Harvest Hunger Benefit,
sponsored by La Sociedad para las Artes, is a charity
event that has helped Casa de Peregrinos through
the difficult holiday season for 14 years. In that
time, La Sociedad has raised almost $60,000 for
Casa de Peregrinos.
La Sociedad Para Las Artes is an organization of
creative writing graduate students dedicated to
promoting the arts at New Mexico State University
and in Las Cruces. For 30 years, La Sociedad Para
Las Artes has been bringing local and national
writers to Las Cruces for free public readings of
poetry, fiction, and essays. The annual reading
series is the only one of its kind at NMSU. In
addition, La Sociedad places graduate students in
public schools to teach creative writing.
The Annual Hunger Benefit is intended to be both a
charity for Casa de Peregrinos and a communitybuilding
arts event. This year the benefit will include
a silent auction.
Rebecca Renteria, director of Casa de Peregrinos,
said La Sociedad's Hunger Benefit is a great source
of reliable annual aid and with more community
support "it could be a really amazing and defining
thing [for Casa de Peregrinos]."
Support could come as donations to the silent
auction (anything from art to jewelry to gift
certificates), bids during the silent auction, or the
purchase of a ticket to the event. All proceeds go to
Casa de Peregrinos and the money from the event,
Renteria said, accomplishes more than a simple food
drive because Casa is able to use the cash to
purchase bulk food at discounted rates that can help
keep the shelves full throughout the holidays.
The silent auction will begin at 5 p.m. and the
readings will begin at 7 p.m. All proceeds go to
Casa de Peregrinos. If you would like to donate to
the silent auction, buy tickets, or learn more about helping La Sociedad promote the arts, contact
Connie Voisine at (575) 646-2027 or
cvoisine@nmsu.edu .
If you go
What: 14th annual Writer's Harvest Hunger Benefit
When: Friday, 5 p.m. for silent auction, 7 p.m. for
readings
Where: Rio Grande Theatre, 211 N. Downtown Mall
Cost: $12 (includes admission to a post-reading
reception with music and a cash bar at The Rain
Forest, 1765 S. Main)
Info: (575) 646-2027, or cvoisine@nmsu.edu

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