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BOCA DE ORO LITERARY ARTS & CULTURE FESTIVAL
RETURNS TO DOWNTOWN SANTA ANA
Spirit of Transformation and Nine Greek Muses inspire
community literary festival that grows each year
Sessions held at OCCCA on March 7th:
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KEYNOTE SPEAKER:
THE MARRIAGE CLOCK Author Zara Raheem
The Marriage Clock by Author Zara Raheem is a warm, funny debut novel about love, how we find it, and how we can keep it. So fresh and charming and fun! I adored being in Leila's world, from her girls' nights with her friends to her conversations with her loving, pressuring parents to her many first dates. At Orange County Center for Contemporary Arts.
TIME: 12:00-2:00 PM |
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SUSANNAH RODRIGUEZ DRISSI
Cuban born author reads from her latest works
In this two-part session, Cuban-born novelist, poet, playwright, and scholar Susannah Rodríguez Drissi reads from her latest poetry collection, The Latin Poet’s Guide to the Cosmos (Floricanto Press, 2019), and from her novel, Until We’re Fish, forthcoming fall 2020 from Propertius Press. With Special Guests Yalil Guerra (Latin Grammy Award-winner composer and musician) and Justin Lack (percussionist, Graham Bonnet Band). There will be a Q&A with author after each session. Refreshments will be served during a 10-minute break. Books will be available for purchase at the event at Orange County Center for Contemporary Arts.
TIME: 2:00-3:00 PM |
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THE AUTHORS CIRCLE:
MARYTZA RUBIO, CHRIS BARRON, FOZ MEADOWS, HOLLY KAMMIER
Author's Circle is where authors Writer and PEN Emerging Voice, Marytza K. Rubio, Hugo Award Winning Author, Foz Meadows; Internationally acclaimed author Holley Kammier will share their work with the audience after which they will sit on a panel curated by Artist Courtney Gordon Burch to further discuss their works and the craft of writing at Orange County Center for Contemporary Arts.
TIME: 3:00 - 4:00 PM |
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CANCELED
UFORA Dali Polivka, Annabella Pritchard, Rob Mintz
Founders of UFORA talk about their published literature and collaboration with artists, art exhibitions and how to help to create artists books. Founders of UFORA Rob Mintz and Dalibor Polivka will share and discuss their latest literary and design adventures that were produced in conjunction with OCCCA. Long term collaboration between writer Rob Mintz and designer Dalibor Polivka resulted in art publications, art promotional catalogs, monographs, open call for arts, posters and videos). With Artists Dalibor Polivka, Photographer Annabella Pritchard, Artist and Author Rob Mintz. Curated by Dali Polivka and Rob Mintz at Orange County Center for Contemporary Arts.
TIME: 4:00 - 5:00 PM |
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Santa Ana, California (February 17, 2020) -- Boca de Oro (Mouth of Gold) Festival of Literary Arts & Culture returns for its fourth year with free writing and arts and crafts workshops, panel discussions, author talks and performances on Saturday, March 7, 2020 from 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. throughout Downtown Santa Ana. This year’s theme, “The Spirit of Transformation” with the nine Greek muses was illustrated in a stunning poster by Santa Ana Illustrator and Artist Barbie Godoy.
“What sets Boca de Oro apart from other book festivals is that it is organized by the community for the community, celebrating our local authors, poets, artists and students whose creativity breathe life into our city,” said Madeleine Spencer, literary festival coordinator and co-founder. I am thankful for the opportunity to share my expertise and engage with the future readers, writers, and leaders of America. As I plotted to help them reach their potential, I grew exponentially as well. LitCon 2020 was an absolute success said Marcus Omari of the Poetic Reform Party, who has been a key organizer, mentor and educator for the student Literary Festival that acts as a pipeline into Boca de Oro Festival. “We are deeply grateful for the businesses, galleries, restaurants and creative spaces that have opened their doors to us. Each year, I am so moved by the generosity and enthusiasm everyone feels for this event said festival co-founder Robyn MacNair Visual who is the Performing Arts Coordinator for the Santa Ana Unified School District’s 60 schools.”
With an expected attendance of 7,000 people – many of whom are families with young children - Boca de Oro has expanded its programming with a K-5 Arts Festival put on by Oasis Center International and a Scholastic Book Fair at Birch Park. Santa Ana College has a wonderful set of events this year including, Big Band Performances, Children’s Theater, Poetry Readings, as well as Theater and Media Arts. Visitors can ride a complimentary trolley to visit the various locations hosting performances across all creative disciplines in literature, dance, theatre, speech, and music.
A Boca de Oro app is will be released on iTunes and GooglePlay “SAUSD Arts” so everyone can discover, plan and track events in real-time such as workshops, readings, Lit Con & Poetry Out Loud sponsored by Arts OC at the Wayward Theater, and a Festival of Films at Frida Cinema. The finale of Boca de Oro is a showcase by the by Breath of Fire Latina Theater Ensemble.
SABC and SAUSD are also grateful to Community Engagement for their generous contributions to the festival for the past two years and their new Partner Oasis Center International. The Santa Ana Elks Lodge that have given a sponsorship, will do a reading in the festival and will give out 150 free books to children. Organizers are also thankful for the Newport Friends of the Library’s generous donation of books that will be given away for a dollar a bag at the West End Book Fair.
In total, the Boca de Oro brings 100 authors and poets and 3,000 visual and performing artists to Downtown Santa Ana. “Authors, poets and artists will turn Downtown into a vibrant hub of creativity,” Spencer said. “We see so many attendees who are first-time visitors to our community because of Boca de Oro and once they see the beauty of this place they wonder why they hadn’t discovered the gem of Downtown Santa Ana sooner.”
Among the many authors on hand is Keynote Speaker Zara Raheem, author of The Marriage Clock - named a "must-read book of the summer” by Cosmopolitan, POPSUGAR, Bustle and Book Riot. Festival attendees will also have the chance to meet and hear from Cuban Poet Susannah Rodriguez Drissi; Marytza Rubio, founder of the Makara Center for the Arts; and Hugo Award-Winner Foz Meadows along with many other inspiring local, regional and visiting authors.
For more information please visit: www.BocadeOro.org;
Facebook at www.facebook.com/bocadeorofest or Instagram @BocadeOro
ABOUT BOCA DE ORO FESTIVAL OF LITERARY ARTS & CULTURE
Boca De Oro Festival of Literary Arts & Culture, “mouth of gold” curates diverse and evocative writers, poets, storytellers and artists who present their work through literary readings, workshops, panel discussions, poetry slams, spoken word styles and visual art experiences. A Fringe of the March Downtown Santa Ana Art Walk lead by Downtown Inc., Boca de Oro is a gift from Community Engagement with Santa Ana’s small businesses through the Santa Ana Business Council in partnership with Santa Ana Unified School District, Santa Ana College and the City of Santa Ana.
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