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ABOUT THE HUE
ABOUT THE HUE
It’s not that difficult to find beauty in the desert. I’m not trying to romanticize it; it’s still a harsh place to live in. It’s common to be denied water, shade, or nourishment. Hunger and thirst are the burdens of life in the desert, yet we have agriculture fields and golf courses that exist on our blood and labor. It’s common to be denied a voice, to be told not to speak our language, to have our grievances unheard. In the political landscape, we are invisible. It’s common to be denied a dream. When you’re constantly being told that you can’t go to school, you can’t be what you want to be, or that you can’t be the person you are, you begin to believe it. Not all of us go through the same sh**, but the experiences are similar enough in the eastern valley. We all go through a lot, but we don’t suffer— we struggle. Coming together in our struggle, inspired by our familias, our poverty, our languages, and our collective dreams, is a beautiful action in itself. From this struggle is where The Hue was born.
It still amazes me that a small group of dedicated youth organized and took part in creating this awesome event to showcase the art and culture of the valley. Make no mistake about it: this is an event by the youth for the entire community of the eastern valley, plus any western valley folks who want to check it out, because we’re inclusive like that. There aren’t many examples of works that we can say “We did that, we were a part of that.” I am proud to have taken part in the first annual The Hue festival, and this year’s youth are pushing to make The Hue into the valley’s premiere community music and arts event. The Hue represents a rare opportunity for our eastern valley youth and artists because it is our venue for everything we are. From our local bands, our up-and-coming musicians, our vibrant artists,our forgotten parents who hold more artistic talent than they sometimes get to display, the folks who encompass all aspects of our diverse culture from the legit cuisine to our T.H.U.G.L.I.F.E. tattoos. Every scene the desert has to offer can and will be on display at The Hue. This festival is a celebration of our diverse colors, our east valley cultura, and our artistic and intellectual spirit. This is an event we can call our own.
Victor Gonzalez
http://www.facebook.com/TheHueFest
reposted : Coachella Uninc. 2012
By Alejandra Alarcon, Coachella Unincorporated
Following last year’s launch and successful turnout, expectations are high for the second The Hue Music & Arts Festival, scheduled for April 7, 2012.
The Hue Festival is a youth-led, cultural event promoting a healthier community and showcasing local talented artists and musicians. For Eastern Coachella Valley residents of all ages, the festival is also an event that allows them to express themselves in a safe environment.
“The Hue Festival is about spreading health awareness to the community in a creative way without wearing a vegetable costume,” joked Esperanza Navarro, youth coordinator for Building Healthy Communities.
“The Hue itself means color; color represents different people with their own interests and tastes,” said Denise Torres, a senior at Coachella Valley High School and former participant of the festival. “They all come together in this one space swaying to the music, observing the art.”
Breaking barriers, the Hue festival is a representation of diversity. The Hue has a variety of musical genres, such as ska, metal, indie, and hip-hop and showcases many types of art.
“The most difficult part about organizing this festival is coming to agreements [about what to showcase] because we’re all so different,” Torres said. “Our interests vary and we all want the best possible turn-out.”
The Hue is hoping to have even better attendance for its second year event compared to last year’s crowd estimated at one thousand people. The event will be located at the Dateland Park in Coachella.
Event coordinators Esperanza Navarro and Carlos Gonzalez have been recruiting to engage the youth.
“My job is to stand on the side lines,” Navarro said. “We are there to provide guidance and support. For example, the students might need some kind of permit or any specific arrangements. That’s where the adults help out. There is a lot of work ahead of us but we will have an amazing event.”
The festival’s committee is currently in the process of holding auditions for bands and musicians. As a group, they will all decide who will have the chance to perform.
“This year is going to be bomb diggity,” Torres said. “There will be more art, more lights, and better food than last year.”
2011
“The Hue Music & Arts Festival” will take place Saturday, April 9th from 2 p.m. to 8 p.m. at Dateland Park on Bagdad Ave. in Coachella.
The event was organized by students from Coachella Valley and Desert Mirage High Schools. However, the group is getting help from a major festival organizer – Goldenvoice, the group behind the Coachella Music & Arts Festival, Stagecoach and The Big 4.
Goldenvoice is sponsoring the festival’s headliner, “Voodoo Glow Skulls,” an American Ska Punk band. The festival will also feature other genres of music as well as cultural arts, healthy food and activities.
“This youth-led event is important to the community because people need to see that although we are young, our generation is not hopeless,” said Denise Romero Torres, a planning committee member from Coachella Valley High School. “We are cultured, passionate about music, art, and yes, food.”
http://www.facebook.com/TheHueFest
