Famed flutist honors Rivera mural

By Catherine LeeThe Guardsman

Internationally acclaimed flutist Elena Duran performed at the City College theater on Aug. 28 at an event hosted by the the Diego Rivera Mural Project.

Diego Rivera’s "Pan American Unity" mural in the lobby of the theater was painted in 1940 for the Golden Gate International Exposition. It is considered a college treasure because it’s one of a handful of Rivera murals painted in America.

The event, which celebrated multiple historic anniversaries - including the Mexican independence bicentennial, the 75th anniversary of the City College’s founding and the 70th anniversary of Rivera's mural - renewed efforts to preserve and restore the "Pan American Unity" mural.

Supporters of the mural’s restoration in the audience included Pattie Gerrie and Magaly Fernandez. Gerrie and Fernandez dressed as Tehuanas, women of high position in old Oaxaca. Wearing elaborately embroidered blouses called huipils, with flowers in their hair, they looked like Frida Kahlo did in her self-portraits.

"I saw the Rivera mural when I was 18, when I went to school here, and it changed my life. I was fascinated by what Frida was wearing, and I found out more,” Gerrie said. “I'm 58 now. I have a large Tehuantepec huipil collection, and I'm photographing them for a book."

Rivera's vision of Mexican and American unity was affirmed on a large backdrop screen, accompanied by jazz arrangements and Duran's stories.

With "Maestro" Luis Zepeda on piano, Duran performed an assortment of music from the golden age of Mexican Cinema. Her repertoire included pieces from movies by Jorge Negrete, Pedro Infante, and Javier Solis.

Between each song, Duran reconnected the dots between Mexico City and Oakland. She emphasised the value of art and education, and the importance of family and social justice in California and Puebla, Mexico by telling stories of her life and work.

Duran was so active during her performance, that she had to remove her necklaces because they were hitting the microphone on her neck. She stomped her foot periodically on the stage for percussive boom, and had plenty of breath in between songs to tell stories and engage with the audience.

"We just came with our ESL teacher, Tina Martin, and didn't have any idea. I never even knew this music before, like on a flute, but I loved it.” City college student Yorka Paredes said.

Advance tickets sold out but many were able to attend with same day ticket sales at the front, according to Karen Grant who sold tickets in the lobby.

"Will did an excellent job of taking it to the community. Ticket sales were very good."  Grant said.

She thought the advance ticket sales could be attributed to the concert’s organization by Will Maynez, director of the Diego Rivera Mural Project.

"We try and come to all the events that Will organizes and they're always this good,"  faculty member, Renato Larin said. Two of his friends who are also faculty agreed.

Duran is a local musician who was born in the East Bay. She learned flute in the Oakland public school system and later studied at Mills College. Her talent has led her  to stages around the world.

She has repeatedly played for the Queen of England. And not only has she played with Paul McCartney, she calls him a friend.

Duran is currently the musical ambassador of Mexico City. She cites great jazz masters as influences, but also gives credit to the “East LA toughness” of Los Lobos.

City College Chancellor Don Griffin thanked Rivera's daughter, Guadalupe Rivera Marin, for giving him a history lesson about the mural. Marin is also the Director of the Diego Rivera Foundation in Mexico City.

Carlos Felix, Ambassador for the Consul General of Mexico and Henry Ramos, a member of the California Community College’s Board of Governors,  thanked the musical performers and mural preservationists for their efforts on behalf of Mexican works of art.

After the performance, the audience lined up to purchase CDs and speak to Duran and Zepeda. Fredy Navas, a City college student from El Salvador, bought three CDs, saying the music had impressed him and he was now a fan.