Fairy Tales for Truth & Justice: A SanTana's Fairy Tales Performance & Installation

About the book and installation:
SanTana’s Fairy Tales is an oral history, storytelling project initiated by author Sarah Rafael García, which integrates community-based narratives to create contemporary fairytales and fables that represent the history and stories of Mexican/Mexican-American residents of Santa Ana (inspired by the Grimms’ Fairy Tales).

The initial exhibition at CSUF Grand Central Art Center in Santa Ana, California presented a multi-media installation with carousel artifacts on loan by the city and a performance was curated in collaboration with local visual, musical, and performance artists. The exhibit showcased bilingual, single-story zines, a fully illustrated published book, an ebook, a large format classical book, graphic art by Sol Art Radio‘s Carla Zarate, an “open book” performance, along with composed music by Viento Callejero‘s Gloria Estrada, who is supported by local singer/songwriter Ruby Castellanos and members of the Pacific Symphony and Transgeneros En Accion/Transgender in Action. The entire collection was translated by poet Julieta Corpus and published by Raspa Press. The ebook was produced by Digitus Indie Publishers. Digital archives were collected and assembled by Mariana Bruno—visit the SanTana’s Fairy Tales website too!

SanTana’s Fairy Tales was supported in part by The Andy Warhol Foundation for the Visual Arts, through a grant supporting the Artist-in-Residence initiative at Grand Central Art Center.

About the Artists:

Sarah Rafael García

Sarah Rafael García is a writer, community educator and traveler. Since publishing Las Niñas in 2008, she founded Barrio Writers and LibroMobile. Her writing has appeared in LATINO Magazine, Contrapuntos III, Outrage, The Acentos Review, among others. Sarah Rafael is a Macondo Fellow, editor for the Barrio Writers anthology and co-editor for the pariahs writing from outside the margins anthology. In 2015, she obtained a M.F.A. in Creative Writing with a cognate in Media Studies.

Sarah Rafael García es escritora, educadora comunitaria y viajera. Desde que publicó Las Niñas en 2008, fundó a Barrio Writers y LibroMobile. Su escritura ha aparecido en LATINO Magazine, Contrapuntos III, Outrage, La Tolteca Zine, The Acentos Review, entre otros. Sarah Rafael es también miembro de Macondo, editora de la antología de Barrio Writers y coeditora de la antología pariahs writing from outside the margins. En 2015, obtuvo un M.F.A. En escritura creativa con un cognado en estudios de los medios.

Carla Zárate Suárez

Carla Zárate Suárez is a graphic journalist and multimedia artist. She began exploring ways of communicating social issues through art when working as a camera person and editor for radio and tv news in Mexicali’s Baja California and produced and directed the Documentary San Vicente Ferrer Mission. In California, she studied acting at the Performing Arts Center and at Cornerstone Institute Theater. She travels with her camera documenting music and social issues and is part of SolArt Radio where she is a producer and graphic designer.

Carla Zárate Suárez es una periodista gráfica y artista multimedia. Comenzó a explorar formas de comunicar temas sociales a través del arte cuando trabajaba como persona de cámara y editora de noticias de radio y televisión en Mexicali Baja California y produjo y dirigió la Misión documental de San Vicente Ferrer. En California, estudió actuar en el Performing Arts Centre y en el Cornerstone Institute Theatre. Viaja con su cámara documentando temas musicales y sociales y forma parte de SolArt Radio donde es productora y diseñadora gráfica.

Gloria Estrada

Latin Grammy nominated Gloria Estrada is a multi instrumentalist, composer, arranger, producer, performer and recording artist. She began playing the guitar at the age of 14. She was self taught up until her studies at Pasadena City College and later received a B.A. in Music at the University of Southern California. She has played and or recorded with: Viento Callejero, Finger Dancers, Carla Morrison, Mitre, Maria Del Pilar, Marisa Ronstadt, Las Cafeteras, and La Santa Cecilia. Music she composed and collaborated on can be heard on film and tv shows such as: Bruising for Besos, Weeds, Entourage, One Tree Hill, The Bridge, and 2501 Migrants.

Latin Grammy nominada Gloria Estrada es un multi instrumentalista, compositor, arreglista, productor, intérprete y artista de grabación. Ella comenzó a tocar la guitarra a la edad de 14 años. Fue autodidacta hasta sus estudios en Pasadena City College y más tarde recibió un B.A. En Música en la Universidad del Sur de California. Ha tocado y / o grabado con: Viento Callejero, Finger Dancers, Carla Morrison, Mitre, Maria Del Pilar, Marisa Ronstadt, Las Cafeteras y La Santa Cecilia. La música en la que compuso y colaboró puede ser escuchada en películas y programas de televisión como: Bruising for Besos, Weeds, Entourage, One Tree Hill, The Bridge y 2501 Migrants.

Ruby Castellanos

Ruby Castellanos developed her musical curiosity in the small town of Aculco de Espinoza. She began singing with mariachis at the local patriotic festivities and in cafés. Once in Santa Ana she formed the string ensemble Estudiantina Recuerdos (2001-2005). In 2005, as a singer/songwriter for Taller Sur, she recorded a collective album including two of her original songs: Fenecer and Me Encuentro. In 2011, Taller Sur was nominated for the OC Music Awards under the category of Best Alternative Latin Band. Castellanos also participated with Tenoch productions in the recording of a live concert as a response to the violent reaction of police at MacArthur Park May 1, 2007. The Songs of Love and Resistance CD was released in 2012. In September 2013, Castellanos released her first solo-recorded EP Todo Sana (Everything Heals) along with two videos.

​Ruby Castellanos desarrolló su curiosidad musical en el pequeño pueblo de Aculco de Espinoza. Comenzó a cantar con mariachis en las fiestas patrióticas locales y en cafés. Una vez en Santa Ana formó el conjunto de cuerdas Estudiantina Recuerdos (2001-2005). En 2005, como cantante y compositora de Taller Sur, grabó un álbum colectivo con dos de sus canciones originales: Fenecer y Me Encuentro. En 2011, Taller Sur fue nominado para los OC Music Awards bajo la categoría de Best Alternative Latin Band. Castellanos también participó con las producciones de Tenoch en la grabación de un concierto en vivo como respuesta a la reacción violenta de la policía en MacArthur Park el 1 de mayo de 2007. El CD de Canciones de Amor y Resistencia fue lanzado en 2012. En septiembre de 2013, Castellanos lanzó su primer solo-grabado EP Todo Sana junto con dos videos.

Red Salmon Arts is a Native American/Chican@/x/Latin@/x-based cultural arts organization with a history of working within indigenous communities of Austin since 1983.