¡VIVA LA RAZA!
About the Mattie Rhodes Center’s exhibit ¡Viva!, which commemorates both Mexican independence and the Mexican revolution, Jenny Mendez, director of cultural arts, says, “A lot of the artwork is very serious and related to the revolution and to the artists’ personal revolutions,” so for the center’s Chicano Cinema Series, “we’re just trying to have fun.” Hence the selection of illuminating, narrative-driven features like Edward James Olmos’ well-regarded 1992 gangster drama, American Me, over the sort of earnestly academic or issue-driven documentaries that might ordinarily be associated with such an event. A $5 donation admits one to the 7 p.m. screening of American Me at the Mattie Rhodes Art Gallery (919 West 17th Street, 816-221-2349) and includes one drink and all-you-can-eat popcorn. ¡Viva! continues through June 18, when another film selection screens at La Esquina (1000 West 25th Street). For more information, see mattierhodes.org.
Fri., May 21, 7 p.m., 2010
