Espejos
May 22—August 9, 2008
Teresa Ortiz
Espejos 2008 Coordinator and Literary Mentor
Mexican poet and spoken word artist
For me, my poetry is like a painting, in which can visually draw a story, a narrative that tells the story. It is the story of my people, immigrants, indigenous, the story of my roots, of my family, my identity.
Teresa Ortiz grew up in Mexico City and has lived in Minnesota, southern Mexico and Guatemala. Teresa’s writing includes a book of testimonials of Maya women in Chiapas, Mexico, “Never Again a World Without Us,” EPICA, 2001. A poet and spoken word artist, Teresa is a member of the Latino artist collective Palabristas and has performed in many venues throughout the Twin Cities. Her poetry has been included in two chapbooks: “Under What Bandera? Anti-War Poems from Minnesota and Califas,” Calaca Press, 2004 and “Outside the Lines,” Palabristas Latin@ Word Slingers, 2007. Teresa was the poetry mentor for the Espejos 2007 program of Intermedia Arts, and her poem “Espejos” became a symbol for the program. Teresa writes about the Latino immigrants in Minnesota and the indigenous in Chiapas, about the struggles of her people, about her own identity, recreating ancient stories and repainting the beauty of our culture.
Teresa Ortiz nació y creció en la Ciudad de Mexico y ha vivido en Minnesota, el sur de México y Guatemala. Teresa escribió un libro de testimonios de mujeres mayas de Chiapas, México, “Nunca Más un Mundo sin Nosotras,” EPICA, 2001. Poeta y artista de la palabra hablada, Teresa es miembra del colectivo de artistas latinos Palabristas, con quienes ha presentado en varios lugares. Su poesía ha sido incluída en dos cuadernos: “¿Bajo qué Bandera? Ofrendas contra la Guerra de Minnesota y Califas” Calaca Press, 2004, y “Outside the Lines” Palabristas Latin@ Word Slingers, 2007. Teresa fue en 2007 la maestra de poesía en el programa Espejos de Intermedia Arts, y su poema “Espejos” es un símbolo del programa. Teresa escribe sobre los inmigrantes en Minnesota y los indígenas de Chiapas, sobre las luchas de su pueblo y su propia identidad, recreando las historias antiguas y pintando la belleza de nuestra cultura.
