euskalkultura.eus

Villa Maria, Argentina.  The National Basque Week in Argentina has returned to Villa Maria after 10 years.  EuskalKultura.com was also present then reporting the events of this huge Basque celebration.  Much time has passed since then and the Euzko Etxea in Villa Maria, founded in 1946, is excited to welcome the numerous Basque visitors coming from all over the country, as well as other south American countries and the Basque Country as well.

The presence of guests from other countries is guaranteed for the first Meeting of South American Basque communities that will take place today  at 9am.  Yesterday we noticed various representatives from El Salvador, Colombia, Uruguay, Brazil, Peru, as well as other from Argentina.  Paperwork problems have resulted in Renato Garcia Egustiza from Cuba and Pedro Arriaga Aguirre of Venezuela not to be able to attend.  They are presidents of the Havana and Caracas Basque clubs respectively.

[Embracing that Land - Lurralde hori besarkatuz is the name of the poetry anthology of Basque poets that was presented last night at the Euzko Etxea in Villa Maria.  Two hundred copies of the book, that is 180 pages long, in its Basque-Spanish edition, have been printed, not for sale but to will be distributed as gifts.  The selection of poems and the book itself was done by the Paco Urondo literary group formed by five poets and lovers of Villa Maria, a task that culminated yesterday with a presentation of the book, the result of a year of work (photo EuskalKultura.com)]

[Members of the Paco Urondo literary group include: Susana Giraudo, Susana Zazzetti, Fabiana Leon, Maria Elena Tolosa and Eduardo Cichy. Their passion for poetry and literature has brought them together with only Maria Elena Tolosa being of Basque origin.  The five have told EuskalKultura.com that the project has been a challenge for them, although it also give them the opportunity to enter into the world of Basque poetry that they were unfamiliar with.  The short poems that they have chosen for the book are provided in bi-lingual form and are based on the selection and translation into Basque of existing works, and in some cases, from Spanish originals.  Susana Giraudo, multi-faceted artist, is seen here explaining everything (seen more clearly in the fourth photo) author of the paintings that hang on the walls in this room (photoEuskalKultura.com)]

[Members of the Paco Urondo literary group, founded in 2005, from left to right: Eduardo Cichy, Susana Giraudo, Susana Zazzetti, María Elena Tolosa and Fabiana León. (photo EuskalKultura.com)]

[Selected poems were done by the following writers: Bernardo Atxaga, Joseba Sarrionandia, Francisco Javier Irazoki, Miren Agur Meabe, Juan Kruz Igerabide, Juan Ramon Madariaga, Gerardo Markuleta, Kirmen Uribe, Tere Irastortza, Castillo Suarez, Rikardo Arregi, Kepa Murua, Gabriel Aresti, Jorge Oteiza and Julia Otxoa. During the presentations some selections were read.  The selection criteria was personal, and had more to do with the taste of the members of the group.  The Director of Basque Communities Abroad, Asier Vallejo, is seen here listening in the first row along with FEVA president Ricardo Basterra, and Marian Elorza the Basque Government’s Secretary General of Foreign Action (photo Euslakultura.com)]

[The group Gozategi, recently arrived from the Basque Country, performed some dances like Aurresku, Fandago and Arin-Arin performed by the local couple Lucia Torillo and Valentin Goratari (photoEuskalKultura.com)]

[A drink to wet the tongue followed the event.  Everyone got together for a group photo at the end in the midst of a great atmosphere with laughter and good humor (photo EuskalKultura.com)]

[Finally, time to eat, and so the crowd dispersed.  Some ate at the Basque club restaurant while others decided to explore other places.  Seen here the exterior of the Basque restaurant in the Euskal Etxea in Villa Maria (photoEuskalKultura.com)]

Weekend Program

We have been asked to relay a small change in today’s program, regarding the choir meeting that was to take place at 8pm at the Leonardo Favio Community Center, but that will now take place at the UNVM (National University of Villa Maria) after the talk on Stateless Nations at 5:30pm.  The program, excepting any error or omission is the following:

Friday, November 8

-8:00-12:00.  Delegation Reception. Place: Bomarraca Room, Antonio Sobral 550.  Delegations who arrive later will also be greeted at the same place

-Euskera exhibit.  Place: Bomarraca Room.  The exhibit will be open to the public for three days

-Play in Basque. Place: Bomarraca Room, time to be confirmed. 

-13:00, Lunch. Place Bomarraca Room.

-9:00-17:00, Latin American Basque community meeting. Place: Auditorium OSDA, Santa fe 1155

-17:30, Talk – “Nations without States.” Place: University of the UNVM, Etnre Rios 1431

-Open exhibit, “Gernika’s 75^th Anniversary.” Place: Leonardo Favio Community Center. The exhibit will be open to the public for three days.

-20:00, Choir meeting. Place: Community Center Leonardo Favio, Av. Gobernador Sabattini 200

-00:00, Public dance with performances by Maral. Place: Bomarraca Room.

Saturday, November 9

-8:00-12:00,  Delegation Reception. Place: Bomarraca Room

-9:00, FEVA meeting. Place: Euzko Etxea, Euskal Herria room.

-12:30, Presentation of the Ikurriña to clubs that have asked for them. Place: Euzko Etxea, Euskal Herria Room.

-13:00, Lunch – Bomarraca Room

-15:00 Library meeting. Place Euzko Etxea in the Library Jose Antonio

-15:00 Kids’ games. Bomarraca room

-17:30 Tamoborrada and Kalejira meeting. Place euzko Etxea

-20:00 Gala. Place: Municipal Amphitheater

-23:30 Dinner. Place Bomarraca Room

-1:00, Public dance performance by Gozategi. Place: Bomarraca room

Sunday, November 10

-10:30 Outdoor mass. Place: Grotto of the Virgin of Pompeya, Av. Libertador San Martin al 500

-11:30 Dances in the Plaza. Place: Grotto of the Virgin of Pompeya

-13:00 Farwell lunch and presentation of HABE diplomas to Basque students.  Presentation of the best decorated alpargata and txapela. Place: Bomarraca room.

-More information and updates will be provided on the club’s website: here.