The Sitges DC (Distrito Cultural) Blog Interview

“And beyond Sitges...

The projection of 

The Sitges Quarterly Magazine  makes it possible”

Going through my files I came across this interview from March 2012 and felt it to be as true today as it was three years ago when I created the SQ. I have posted it here because originally it was only available in Spanish and now, through this blog it can be shared to an even wider audience… and, I’m also happy to say the enthusiasm conveyed in the interview for the magazine, its readers and for Sitges still lives in me!

Q & A with Cheyenne Crump

Cheyenne Crump is the editor of The Sitges Quarterly magazine; much more than a magazine about Sitges. It’s a place in which to reflect on the cultural dynamics of business here and of the people, their traditions and their daily lives, the summer effect on the town and the quiet of its corners...The Sitges Quarterly is a firm and clear commitment to promote our profile beyond its borders, bringing Sitges to other environs from a fan, with a cool, refreshing perspective...

It is that Cheyenne has a Sitgetano soul, and this soul has been able to put it in print, a move that certainly deserves our support.

The internationalization of Sitges, our projection abroad may be one aspect that requires more attention to our future—considering our strengths, our knowledge, development, our ability to generate wealth, and connectivity...The Sitges Quarterly magazine can be understood today as a model of action of which we must not lose sight. From Sitges DC, we applaud the importance of this initiative and we congratulate Cheyenne Crump whom I have the pleasure of interviewing at this time.

Sitges DC Blog: What is The Sitges Quarterly and how was it born? How has this idea thrived?

CC: The idea for The Sitges Quarterly magazine was born one day as I walked along the Paseo Maritimo admiring (yet again) the beauty of Sitges and I thought - what could possibly make it a better place? It occurred to me that I knew quite a bit about the town’s history, but lacked in knowledge of day-to-day, current events. Yes, this information is readily available to many people however, nothing was easily accessible for visitors and residents new to Sitges.

Consequently, I thought a local magazine could be a good idea if written in the 3 most widely spoken languages in Sitges, broadening its reach; and when discussing the concept with friends, they all agreed and wished a magazine like that existed. 

Sitges DC Blog: What are the basic objectives of The Sitges Quarterly?

CC: The mission of The Sitges Quarterly is to be an interesting source of information pertaining to contemporary Sitges in Catalan, English and Spanish. We endeavour to inform the diverse population of Sitges and visitors of the town’s history, its present and how it is positioning itself for the future.

We are also committed to using environmentally responsible materials to produce a magazine with beautiful, tasteful graphic design and visually arresting images; featuring a quarterly calendar of events, regular columns, wide-ranging essays, interviews and profiles.

Sitges DC Blog: What is the function of the magazine?

CC: This question, I think refers to the vision we have for the magazine.

Its purpose:

to promote awareness of Sitges life and how we live.

to present a deeper profile of Sitges that can also be used as a guide.

to celebrate the diversity in Sitges and the Catalan culture that we share.

to promote the values of community, cooperation and respect.

to open doors for innovation aimed at environmentally sustainable, healthy living.

Sitges DC Blog: How much of the culture and traditions of Sitges do you think is known beyond our territorial borders?

CC: That’s difficult to answer, Sitges is a relatively known resort town. I believe this aspect of Sitges relates to not only those of us who have come from abroad and made a home here, but also predominately to those Sitgetanos who have moved away, whether to somewhere else in Catalunya, Spain or elsewhere in the world. If Sitges is in your blood (however it got there!), there would be a natural interest in what happens here. And I think the magazine appeals to that interest… I think it can also appeal to tourists who come to Sitges on holiday or for business, in general, and to those who visit year after year.

Sitges DC Blog: Do you think we need a policy that encourages greater visibility of our people outside the Spanish state?

CC: That depends on the aim of the policy. For example, it could be designed to attract opportunities to diversify the local economy. Sitges has, in the past, manufactured shoes, automobile parts and even, spinning reels for fishing rods (carretes) and it would be better economically for us not to be solely dependant on tourism.

Sitges DC Blog: In this sense, there is something in you beyond your role as editor ... a point of activism that seeks to intervene at will to transform, maybe boost the Sitges brand...

CC: I take that as a compliment! Thank you.

Living in a community is about assistance. Today, we use the term networking. Helping one another… as you can tell, I have a love for Sitges. I have always felt embraced here, I am proud to live here. I think it is a very unique place for several reasons, and yes, I seek every opportunity to share it with others—who knows, maybe people who visit will return home and emulate a little of what we have here. That, I think, could help shape the places in which they live, little by little making the world better.

Sitges DC Blog: What future dreams do you have for this publication?

CC: To be used. To be used as an introduction to Sitges. To be used as a guide to Sitges and to be used as a conduit or forum for open communication and for exchanging ideas.

I hope it encourages collaboration—that’s where the interest lies for me. I have the hope of learning from one another, and taking what is best in each of us, and incorporating that into our way of life. 

Sitges DC Blog: Congratulations again, Cheyenne... and the best of luck for The Sitges Quarterly magazine.

____________________

The blog, Sitges DC (Cultural District) created by Lola Cañete, is a space dedicated to culture, but from the private sector... “where I try to highlight the strong cultural dynamism that is in the people from the hand of a strong dose of creativity, innovation and talent... It is primarily a space for debate and reflection on some of the most important issues of culture and have also reflected in a town like ours”. 

www.sitgesdc.blogspot.com

lola.canete@thalasa.net

“The Americanos” are Coming!

To create the next issue of the SQ, our stories have taken us to Illinois (Chicago), New York, Miami, and inside—the Palau Maricel here in Sitges. Here’s a quick glance of some of the places where we researched in order to bring our features to life…

Miami:

Vizcaya is an Italian-inspired villa and gardens, begun in 1910 and completed in 1916. Built by James Deering in a Mediterranean Revival style; today operates as a museum. Upon his death, James Deering left Vizcaya to his half-brother Charles also left his collection to him and his daughters, who donated several of these works to the Art Institute of Chicago. By this time, Charles had left Sitges and his Palau Maricel to create his Florida estate, the Deering Estate at Cutler.

Vizcaya, Miami, Florida

The Stone House
The Deering Estate at Cutler

New York City:

The New York City Freedom Tower stands 541.3248 metres tall (1,776 feet) on the site of the former World Trade Centre. It serves as a beacon of freedom, and demonstrates the resolve of the United States, and the people of New York City.

We researched at the New York Public Library… in particular, the Catalan newspaper published in New York from 1874 until May 1881, La Llumanera de Nova York.

Chicago:

The 24½-acre Millennium Park, which encompasses the Frank Gehry-designed Pritzker Pavilion, ranks among the city's top three tourist attractions.

In the Millennium Park, Chicago

“Cloud Gate” sculptor Anish Kapoor has created a work of art that reflects the splendour that is the Chicago skyline, playing with the light and the sky. It is elegant—balanced on its ends and without any colour of its own. It is interactive art, letting the viewer become part of it with simple acts of walking and turning, changing the visual reflection presented by the sculpture.

The Cloud Gate by Anish Kapoor
Millennium Park, Chicago

Barcelona born artist, Jaume Plensa has created four monumental heads for the 10th anniversary of Chicago's Millennium Park, through December 2015. Also in the park is his white head sculpture, Look into My Dreams, Awilda.

Barcelona Artist, Jaume Plensa

Look into My Dreams, Awilda. 

Note: 

Mr. Plensa's original contribution to the park, "Crown Fountain," two 50-foot-tall glass-lined towers at opposite ends of a shallow pool that project video images of 1,000 Chicago residents. "I'm trying always to create a place where people could meet and share dreams," he said. "And I probably could not find a better landscape for that to happen than the human body”. WSJ.com

Be a Good Boy and Put This On...

In the fourth issue of the SQ, with the theme Sitges Artistic, we included an article about Alpe Conceptes Plastificats (formally known as Alpe)—Pere Viñeta and Tony Luciano.

Tony Luciano and Pere Viñeta (SitgesActiu)

Over the years, the Generalitat of Catalunya has helped them to carry out their projects and also to contact museums in Spain and elsewhere, all the way to the Hiroshima Peace Memorial Museum in Japan.

In the early years and out of love for art, Pere never wanted to be linked to any of his artistic work and kept his identity a secret. This was a way to express his message that everyone can do his or her bit to improve the world. He has always given his ideas, creations and time for free—he doesn’t sell them, and therefore never needs to pay taxes on his works.

On December 18th of last year they both presented an idea and registered with the Ayuntamiento de Sitges (Town hall) for the authorization to use a public space to carry out a new installation in the area near la Frigata. The graphics you see in this post were created for the project.

“Proyecto Goma al Greco Sitges 17/5/2015” (The Rubber Project)

Alpe Conceptes Plastificats, has made a call to artists, or anyone—daring all of us to bring out the artist within, and bring a smile in the form of visual poetry to the effort, so that we can all become more accustomed to the use of condoms as prevention, and reduce the risk of contracting or spreading HIV and STIs (STDs).

This travelling exhibition of individual pieces, backed by the Ayuntamiento de Sitges and local businesses, will be displayed on May 17^th. Each person in the group will laminate their artistic piece joining it to the other offerings, then they will be put into a large plastic cylinder or purpose-made condom, wrapping the El Greco statue. And they have asked l’Agrupació de Balls Populars de Sitges “to help put it on”.

After months of planning and discussion, and all the participation in the foreplay… we can’t wait for the unravelling of the condom this May! Who knew putting on a condom could be this fun and take so much planning?

Pere Viñeta i Tony Luciano

Alpe, conceptes plastificats

alpe_critsescrits@yahoo.es

p.ev.iba@hotmail.com

Beyond Ganymede

Logroño, February 19, 2015. Psychologist and columnist of the Sitges Quarterly Magazine, Juan Carlos Uríszar, was asked to give another presentation about his book, Después de Ganímedes*. 

Although Después de Ganímedes has been available to the public since 2012, it's subject of mature gay men transitioning to later life while trying to retain their youthful beauty or attractiveness is still current and will continue to be relevant for years to come as we forge the way with efforts to achieving equality and acceptance for same sex marriage, a relatively new legal option for LGBT people in many countries around the world.

The well-attended event took the audience through a journey of self-awareness, self-acceptance, identity and growth, not to mention the correlation with and brief explanation of the Ganymede** myth itself - all within the chapters of the book.

The timing of the presentation is perfect as I am currently in the final phase of completing the second issue of the GSL-Visión magazine, with its central theme of identity. 

*(Spanish language only) available in stores and on Amazon.com

**English spelling

The Myth of Ganymede

Ganymede is the young, beautiful boy that became one of Zeus' lovers. One source of the myth says that Zeus fell in love with Ganymede when he spotted him herding his flock on Mount Ida. Zeus then came down in the form of an eagle to carry Ganymede to Mount Olympus where he became cupbearer to the gods and given immortality, retaining his beauty forever. 

Rubens "Abduction of Ganymede"

All of Zeus' scandalous liaisons have allegorical meanings. Some sources say that Zeus' affair with Ganymede was a (religious) justification for homosexuality within the Greek culture, yet others state that this is merely a reflection of Greek life at that time. The myth was a model for the Greek social custom of the socially acceptable erotic relationship between a man and a youth. The philosopher Plato also used this myth to justify his sexual feelings towards male pupils.

For a complete telling of the myth go to:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6rJLLV7U-XY

The English language version of the book, Después de Ganímedes (Beyond Ganymede) will be available soon.

Look Who’s Enjoying the Sitges Quarterly Magazine: Alfonso Cuarón

Known for his incredible stories, his films are also very much character driven, engaging the audience to feel their personal, emotional experiences no matter the budget of the film.

Alfonso Cuarón Orozco is the filmmaker of Gravity, Children of Men and of course, Y Tu Mamá También. He is also the director of Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban.

I must admit, although I knew that he is a director held in high esteem and of a few of his earlier films, I’ve been so very busy in research for a new project I’m working on (watch this blog!!), that I didn’t associate him with his Academy award win last year for Gravity. He defeated a group of men including: Steve McQueen (12 Years a Slave), Alexander Payne (Nebraska) and Martin Scorsese (The Wolf of Wall Street). And in doing so, Cuarón became the first Mexican-born director to win an Oscar.

I wasn't even aware of the The Museum of Modern Art (MoMA) Film Benefit honoring him in New York City late last November—considering my research took me to the city not only for the new project, but also for the next issue of The Sitges Quarterly magazine.

                                

                  

Having spoken with him about his films, friends, The SQ magazine and about the stories we cover, it is easy to see why he is a successful writer. He is very personable and focused on to whom he speaks. He is interested in people; a trait that no doubt helps him to write realistic characters and bring them to life on screen. And despite my interrupting him from his writing, he was charming as ever, giving me his full attention.

Enthusiastically, he said that he looks forward to coming to Sitges in order to attend its International Fantastic Film Festival of Catalunya which he’s heard good things about from his good friend, director Guillermo del Toro. I added, “I will hold you to that promise”!

And with the SQ in hand, he’ll know more about us…