Global Village Project

[ Ritmo de Fuego / Rhythm of Fire ] [ BOOK ] [ VIDEO ] [ Project Supporters ]

Our in depth founding project, Ritmo del Fuego — the Art and Artisans of Santa Clara del Cobre (1998-2005) has informed and trained us in organizing and developing programs from the ground up, crossing multiple social, cultural, and artistic boundaries and disciplines.

This multi-faceted project examines the cultural heritage of Chicago’s 1.1 million Mexican residents, of whom approximately 25 percent originate from the state of Michoacán. The internationally renown community of Santa Clara del Cobre is examined and presented through a 597 page bilingual book, poetic video documentary Huele de Noche, Ritmo del Fuego Traveling Exhibition, and extensive community programming.

Annual coppersmith artisan visits from Santa Clara del Cobre, include presentations and hands-on copper smithing workshops with youth and adults in variety of locations throughout the Chicago and nearby Midwestern cities such as Centro Romero, El Hogar del Niño and Galeria Colibri, Pilsen; Centro Romero, Edgewater; Open Studio, Evanston; Rogers Park Artist of the Wall Festival; Mexican Fine Arts Center Museum; Family Matters Howard Street; Silversmith Guild of Michigan, Detroit, Michigan; Craft Alliance Gallery, St. Louis, Mo.

Support for Ritmo de Fuego has come from Illinois Arts Council, Illinois Humanities Council, and National Endowment for the Arts, Rockefeller Foundation, Woods Fund of Chicago, and other private sources.

Ritmo de Fuego inspires a sharing of cultural passions and spirit as well as a passing down of cultural traditions and art forms. This project is our model for future Cuentos Global Village Projects linking Chicago to countries all over the world through the transnational bonds of our Chicago communities..

[ Ritmo de Fuego / Rhythm of Fire ] [ BOOK ] [ VIDEO ] [ Project Supporters ]