I was born here: Roses are yellow and the Alamo is a blood-tree.

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Challenging the Alamo:  Bihl Haus Arts commemorates five years with multi-media project by Virginia Grise,
2010 Yale Drama Prize recipient

Yellow roses.  Period-costumed women.  Diversity.  Poetry and novels that tell an original story about the Alamo legend.   Almost one hundred women dressed in white solemnly walking to the Alamo. 

Bihl Haus is creating a multi-media tableau that tributes last year's on-site "Remember El Alma," performance at Luminaria with a one-of-a-kind installation (by visual artist Deborah Kuetzpalin Vasquez) and film (by Marisol Riojas), integrated with a staged reading of the poem by Barbara Renaud Gonzalez directed by last year's Yale Drama prize recipient, Virginia Grise.

Evoking the Alamo past, present, and future, this year's Bihl Haus Arts event, titled “I was born here. Roses are yellow and the Alamo is a blood-tree,” retraces the individual and collective memory of the Alamo from a child's point-of-view.  There are no battles, no Alamo closeups, and no lines in the sand -- transporting the audience to the Alamo's beauty and spiritual potential as envisioned by the artists. The love of the land is omnipresent, but from a woman's most passionate and nurturing perspective.  As at last year's performance, this year’s multi-media multi-voice production that reclaims San Antonio's most divisive icon is blazing with talent.   

The public opning reception, on Thursday, March 25th, 6:00-9:00 pm at Bihl Haus Arts, includes the live performance directed by Virginia Grise, an opening reception for the installation by Deborah Vasquez Kuetzpalin, and the film by Marisol Riojas. (suggested donation $5). 

"Remember El Alma," prose-poem written by Barbara Renaud Gonzalez, adapted by Virginia Grise, who directs the cast of five women.  Film by Marisol Riojas.  Camera by Pocha Peña.  Original music composxdd and performed by Rachel Cruz, PhD.  Performers: Marisela Barrera, Monique Cortez, Natalie Goodnow & Olupero Aiyenimelo.  Produced by Kellen Kee McIntyre, PhD., Executive Director, Bihl Haus Arts.