From my latest article on Artbound KCET: "The week of November 14, 2016, nearly 4,000 students from about 18 schools in the Los Angeles Unified School District participated in walkouts against the president elect’s selection. As in the 1960s and ‘70s, students gathered at landmarks like Mariachi Plaza, Lincoln Park and city hall for rallies. … Continue reading New on KCET, Youth Resistance and Los Angeles Photography
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Juan Gabriel: How he helped families love their queer children– in HOY magazine
In Friday's print edition of HOY magazine in Los ANgeles, reaching thousands of hispanohablantes, I discussed how our working-class immigrant families loved their queer children and neighbors in a way that would not have been possible without Juan Gabriel. Read the whole story in Spanish here, page 13! A HUGE "gracias" to translators Roman Lujan … Continue reading Juan Gabriel: How he helped families love their queer children– in HOY magazine
Entropy–adding to an epic poem with epic girl drama
"Susi stopped being my best friend once she got bangs and a hickey. Because I’ve heard her say it, I can hear her thinking: Ugh, what a wetter. Are all your outfits from the swap meet?" Today at Entropy, read about drama at the bus stop with a girl's momma. Maybe it was me. You'll … Continue reading Entropy–adding to an epic poem with epic girl drama
How Bell Gardens is Banking on Bicycle Club Casino’s Luxury Hotel
The sign illuminates eight lanes of the neighboring 710 Freeway. In contrast to the new monument to luxury, the gritty Long Beach Freeway leads into the post-industrial heart of Southeast Los Angeles. Thousands of eighteen-wheelers trucking in the majority of exports into the United States from the Pacific Rim make this the busiest highway with … Continue reading How Bell Gardens is Banking on Bicycle Club Casino’s Luxury Hotel
Cha Cha Nail Covers Take Over the World
This story is part of KCET Departures' series of articles and essays on the Informal Economies of L.A. and how local entrepreneurs create new opportunities outside of formal economic establishments. Read the whole story here. "Don't wait for everything to be perfectly aligned. I had to earn money and invest in my packaging. Earn more … Continue reading Cha Cha Nail Covers Take Over the World
Allendale Library Reading, Dec. 5, 4-6pm
Worth Gold: Feminism and Leadership at the Miss Bell Gardens Pageant
Bell Gardens City Council members with the 2015 Miss Bell Gardens Court. Photo: City of Bell Gardens"All the court members agreed it was a great experience. One princess, Vanessa Perez from UC Irvine said: 'I've lived in this city all my life. I'm proud to be from here and to get more involved.' Mayor Jennifer … Continue reading Worth Gold: Feminism and Leadership at the Miss Bell Gardens Pageant
Topless women in sheer nightgowns, burning chile, and teenage softball girls in love: my new essay is up!
Read the essay, "Kissing," a chapter from my memoir right now at The Offing. The essay will also be in print later this year in the anthology, Writing the Walls Down: A Convergence of LGBTQ Voices, by Trans-Genre Press. Many thanks to Helen Klonaris, Amir Rabiyah, and Michael Snediker for supporting this work.
“Pets”– a cine poem
For those with philandering fathers or a penchant for the Golden Age of Mexican Cinema, I offer you a cine poem featured on Luna Luna Magazine. Thank you, Ruben Quesada for the feature and Kenji Liu for the editing.
What You See, What You Take With You, in UCLA’s Parrafo magazine
Along with many talented writers, the awesome Sesshu Foster among them, Vickie published a poem in Parrafo magazine's Los Angeles issue. Read an excerpt from her poem below and click the link for the whole enchilada. "What You See, What You Take With You" AFTER MARISELA NORTE'S PHOTOGRAPHS OF LOS ANGELES On … Continue reading What You See, What You Take With You, in UCLA’s Parrafo magazine
A Lover’s Letter to Morrissey
(as shared by Dr. Melissa Hidalgo at Cal State San Bernardino and at the National Association Chicana/Chicano Studies Conference, 2014) Because we craved permission to be despondent in English Desperate for words to hide erections for other boys behind Trapper Keepers, to document Kotex leaks in our journals We needed To be maudlin about being … Continue reading A Lover’s Letter to Morrissey
KCET Communities: “Pioneers of Artistic Revolution: Making Art and Space in Southeast L.A.
As part of an ongoing project about the importance of the 710 corridor in Los Angeles, Vickie Vertiz contributed an article about the arts, teachers, and artists in Southeast Los Angeles, where she grew up. She names a few writers who also document the lives of the people in Southeast L.A., such as Steve Gutierrez's … Continue reading KCET Communities: “Pioneers of Artistic Revolution: Making Art and Space in Southeast L.A.
El Monte Forever: A Brief History of Michael Jaime-Becerra
As the third installment of the Tropics of Meta series, East of East: Mapping Community Narratives in South El Monte and El Monte, in collaboration with the South El Monte Arts Posse, Vickie Vertiz contributed the essay, "El Monte Forever: A Brief History of Michael Jaime-Becerra." The project is an anthology about the diverse histories, communities, and cultures of … Continue reading El Monte Forever: A Brief History of Michael Jaime-Becerra
Swallows Book Release Parties, Bay Area, June 7-9th
Come celebrate the official release of Swallows, my poetry collection just out from Finishing Line Press. Friday, June 7th ScholarMatch & McSweeney's offices, 849 Valencia Street at 19th St., from 7-8 pm Featuring Maya Chinchilla, Emilie Coulson, Kenji Liu, Aimee Suzara and special guests. Saturday, June 8 At Aimee Suzara's Finding the Bones book release … Continue reading Swallows Book Release Parties, Bay Area, June 7-9th
Vértiz Featured on KCET’s Departures
As part of the reading series "LAnguage" at the Last Bookstore hosted by Mike the PoeT Sonkensen, Vickie Vértiz was featured in an article on KCET's "Departures" website. Vickie is thrilled to be included in such an amazing group of women, including Gloria Alvarez, Marisa Urrutia Gedney, Rachelle Cruz, Zoe Ruiz, and many other talented … Continue reading Vértiz Featured on KCET’s Departures
