Washington, DC – GALA celebrates Verano en GALA, a series of summer presentations of local and international artists that kicks off with Salvatrucans Once Again on July 8 at 8 pm at the GALA Theatre, 3333 14^th Street, NW. In this evening of mixed media, which includes an art exhibit, handmade books, poetry, live performance…and a dance party!, Quique Avilés brings together a group of Salvadoran artists to honor the 25^th anniversary of the 1991 Mount Pleasant Riots.

Returning to the theme of Salvatrucans, his first solo show, Quique Avilés will be featured in Salvatrucans Once Again with Hugo Najera (DJ Mezkla); visual artists Alfredo Herrera and Juan López; and percussionist Iván Navas. The artists examine the significance of a turbulent moment for the Latino community of the Washington Metropolitan Area and its majority Salvadoran population. Over the past 25 years, the area’s Latino community has grown and changed.  Once primarily an immigrant community, it now consists of many Salvadoran-American children who were born here, many of whom have never been to El Salvador but still identify as Salvadoran. Through their art, the five established Salvadoran artists explore their presence in the city and their vision for the community.

This lively and hot evening will be based on Las Tres B’s: Bueno, Bonito, y Barato (Good, Appealing, and Cheap!). Tickets are $10 and a cash bar will be open. Parking is available at the Giant Food garage on Park Road, NW. GALA is one block from the Columbia Heights metro station on the Green and Yellow lines.

Verano en GALA will continue on July 15 and July 16, 2016, with Colombian Paul Arcila in Miss Cuarenta, a hilarious look at failed dates, romances, and divorces by a woman celebrating her 40^th birthday. The piece will be presented in Spanish only.

ABOUT THE ARTISTS

Alfredo Herrera has been in Washington, DC for 30 years, where he has been part of many cultural projects, including LatiNegro, El Barrio Street Theatre, El Día de los Muertos, and other independent projects. He is a mixed media artist using paint and wood as his primary mediums.

Hugo Najera (DJ Mezkla) had his first public DJ show when Quique Avilés dared him to open at the Occupy GALA show in 2012.  As a result, Najera fell in love with non-Western DJ sounds of Tropical Bass, Kuduro, Cumbia Electronica, and Moombahton – music rooted in the rhythms of Latin America and Africa. DJ Mezkla plays these sounds as a way to fight for space where Latinxs, and other people tired of Euro-focused music and gentrification, can be themselves. DJ Mezkla appears on Saturday nights at Marx Café and Bossa Bistro + Lounge.

Iván Navas is an educator who teaches percussion to youth and adults to empower them. He believes the drum is a tool through which people and communities can find healing, motivation, and inspiration.

Juan López has been in Washington, DC since 1989. His primary mediums are paintings, utilizing acrylics on canvas, and drawings using pen and micron pens on paper. His art explores both the surreal and abstract.

Quique Avilés is a poet, actor, and community activist who has been performing in the United States for 36 years. His last one-man show was Sin Pelos En La Lengua. Aviles’ work has been published in various anthologies, and he is the author of the poetry book, The Immigrant Museum. He is now making his own poetry books by hand, and is director of GALA’s Paso Nuevo Youth Program.