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News Archive - Summer 2002 Basque artist Eduardo Txillida dies We were saddened to hear of the death of Eduardo Txillida [Chillida], who passed away in late August at his home in Donosti/San Sebastián following a period of illness. Txillida was probably the best-known contemporary artist of the Basque region. He is renowned for his abstract works, which have been described as “compelling interplays of positive and negative space, interesting rhythms, and a particularly original tension between line and space” (Bill Lasarow, artscenecal.com). His most famous piece is undoubtedly the monumental Wind Combs, set into the rocks along the coast by the city of San Sebastián. Director Joseba Zulaika had recently published a piece on Txillida entitled “Ikarra haundi,” in the Basque newspaper Egunkaria. |
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Lectures presented by visiting scholars The Center for Basque Studies presented two more lectures from our visiting scholars: On August 27, Alberto Alday gave a presentation on “El mito del ‘mayorago’ como origen de la immigración,” a discussion of inheritance patterns among the Basques and their effect on immigration. Alday visited the Center for a month on a CBS summer stipend, to research his Ph.D. dissertation on Navarrese immigration to the Americas, and their ethnic identity maintenance. He is from the Universidad de Deusto, department of Anthropology. On August 29, José Larrañaga spoke on “‘Empresa Vasca’: programa de información económica y empresarial (ETB),” drawing on his work as a journalist and program developer for the Basque television network, Euskal Telebista. Prof. Larrañaga came to UNR on a stipend from the University Studies Abroad Consortium to further his research project on “Información económica audio-visual.” He currently is teaching journalism classes at the University of the Basque Country branch in Leioa. |
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Formal presentation of replica of Oñati Monument held in Reno We recently welcomed Nekane Oiarbide and friends to the Center, where she gave a formal presentation of the replica of the Onati Monument to the Basque Sheepherder and told of the history of the monument’s creation. The replica of the Euskal Artzaiari Monumentua / Monument to the Basque Sheepherder, a sculpture created by Nestor Basterrechea as a “sister monument” to the one located in Reno, Nevada, had been shipped to Reno earlier this year, as was reported on our web site. Ms. Oiarbide was the Project Coordinator for the committee created for the construction of the monument. The Oñati piece is a stylized form of a tree, representing the families of the descendants of sheepherders in the Americas. The thirty-foot-high sculpture is located near the Basque city of Oñati in Urrintxo. The corresponding work in the U.S., dedicated in 1989, depicts in modern style a herder in solitude guarding his flock. It is located at Rancho San Rafael Regional Park in north Reno. We once again extend our heartfelt thanks to the Committee and to Ms. Oiarbide for the gift of the sculpture replica and for their work on behalf of the project. Eskerrik asko! |
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Basque Studies Ph.D. student publishes review Pedro Oiarzabal, Ph.D. student at the Center, has published a review of Paddy Woodworth’s book Dirty War, Clean Hands: ETA, the GAL and Spanish Democracy (Cork University Press, 2001) in Studies in Ethnicity and Nationalism 2:1 (2002) (ASEN, European Institute, London School of Economics and Political Science). |
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Woodworth book on GAL published in Spain Paddy Woodworth’s book Dirty War, Clean Hands: ETA, the GAL, and Spanish Democracy has been translated into Spanish and published by Editorial Crítica under the title Guerra sucia, manos limpias. The book gives an account of Spain’s “dirty war” against ETA. It can be purchased in Spain or ordered from book dealers for 29.50 Euros. |
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Joseba Gabilondo publishes article in anthology Prof. Gabilondo published an article in the collection From Stateless Nations to Postnational Spain / De Naciones sin estado a la España postnacional, edited by Silvia Bermúdez, Antonio Cortijo Ocaña, and Timothy McGovern. His article was on “State Melancholia: Spanish Nationalism, Specularity and Performance. Notes on Antonio Muñoz Molina.” The volume was published by the Society of Spanish and Spanish-American Studies, 2002. |
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Basque Lecture Series: Two lectures featured On Tuesday, August 13, visiting scholar Iñaki Arrieta presented a talk (in Spanish) on “Patrimonio cultural, museos etnográficos, y desarrollo rural.” The lecture took place in Getchell Library on the University of Nevada, Reno campus. Arrieta discussed the transformation of historic buildings, especially in small towns in the Basque region, into tourist attractions such as museums. Dr. Arrieta is a professor in the Anthropology Department of the University of the Basque Country. While at the Center he is compiling a bibliography on museums and also researching their relationship in the Basque region to identity and socio-economic development. Another lecture was presented on Monday, August 19 by José Luis de la Cuesta. He spoke on “Algunas cuestiones controvertidas de la legislación antiterrorista española,” discussing the Spanish laws against terrorism and collaborating activities, as well as proscribed punishments. Dr. de la Cuesta is director of the Instituto Vasco de Criminología in San Sebastián. He is also the president of the International Association of Criminologists, and teaches in the Facultad de Derecho (College of Law) at the University of the Basque Country in San Sebastián. Any interested persons are always welcome to attend our Basque Lecture Series. |
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Director Zulaika participates in seminar in Madrid On July 30, Joseba Zulaika gave a lecture and presentation as part of a seminar on “El curso crítico y el arte contemporáneo: del paradigma histórico al giro etnográfico.” The class was part of the Universidad Complutense de Madrid’s 2002 summer session at El Escorial. Dr. Zulaika’s presentation was titled “El arte como sistema cultural. El paradigma etnográfico,” and featured the works of several Basque artists. He also participated in a roundtable discussion on “El giro etnográfico en el entorno de la globalización, del New Internationalism y de los museos y bienales multinacionales.” Dr. Zulaika’s current research centers on modern museums and their effect on tourism. |
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Joseba Gabilondo publishes essay in anthology Center faculty member Joseba Gabilondo recently published his essay, “Like Blood for Chocolate, Like Queers for Vampires: Border and Global Consumption in Rodríguez, Tarantino, Arau, Esquivel, and Troyano. (Notes on Baroque, Camp, Kitsch and Hybridization),” in Queer Globalizations: Citizenship and the Afterlife of Colonialism, edited by Arnaldo Cruz-Malavé and Martin F. Manalansan IV (New York University Press). |
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Two new lectures in Basque Lecture Series The Center for Basque Studies recently presented two new lectures: On Friday, July 26, Igor Ahedo Gurrutxaga presented “Nacionalismo y políticas de desarrollo e institucionalización en Iparralde” (given in Spanish) at UNR. He discussed the Basque nationalist movement in the French Basque region, and the effort to form a Basque département in the present area of Pyrenées Atlantiques. On Monday, July 29, Joxemi Correa gave a presentation on “Nuevas tecnologías y educación no formal: museos online,” a discussion of the web presence of museums and their usefulness in preparing visitors for their museum experience as well as encouraging and assisting in further research and learning. |
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Martínez de Pancorbo presents lecture on Basque genetics Visiting Prof. Marián Martínez de Pancorbo gave a talk on Basque genetics on Wednesday, July 17 at UNR. The lecture, “El parentesco genético entre Vascos, Georgianos y Bereberes,” discussed genetic research on native populations believed to have linguistic links to the Basques. Dr. Martínez de Pancorbo is a cellular biologist from the University of the Basque Country–Vitoria, Dept. of Zoology and Cellular Dynamics. |
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Basque Lecture Series presents talk on Basque sports Visiting scholar Olatz González Abrisketa lectured on July 16 at UNR on “Apuntes antropológicos sobre el juego vasco de pelota.” Her talk centered on the significance of the game of pelota to Basque culture. González is a Ph.D. candidate in the Department of Sociology at the University of the Basque Country. |
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New publication by Linda White on oral literature Linda White has published “Orality and Basque Nationalism: Dancing with the Devil or Waltzing into the Future?” in Oral Tradition, 16/1 (2001):3-28, a journal released in 2002 that discusses oral literature and orality itself. The article addresses the history of the oral literature of Euskara, bertsolaritza, and the twentieth century push toward written literature. “When we speak of the rush to literacy shifting emphasis from orality to the written word, the elements of the oral art that suffer are the intangibles such as the rapport between artist and audience.” (17) |
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Basque musical group Alboka appears in Reno The group Alboka, founded in the Basque Country in 1994, appeared in Reno on July 19, eve of the Reno Basque Festival. The group is well known in Europe for their performances of acoustic instrumental traditional music. They use a combination of guitars, mandolins, bouzoukis, ttunttun, accordion, alboka, bagpipes, flutes, and crumhorns to perform a carefully chosen selection of dances and airs taken from traditional Basque music collections. The name “Alboka” refers to a Basque folk instrument made from cow horns. The audience greatly enjoyed the lively tunes played by musicians Joxan Goikoetxea (accordion), Alan Griffin (alboka, bagpipes, flute, and other reed instruments), Juan Arriola (fiddle), and Xabi San Sebastián (guitar and vocals). In addition to their many Basque Country performances, Alboka has performed extensively at many international folk festivals including Dranouter (Belgium), Folkfest (Italy), Euromusica (Hungary), Forde (Norway), and Panceltic Music Festival. The group has released three popular CDs over the last several years, available on the Megadenda site. The free concert was sponsored by the Center for Basque Studies with funding provided by the Nevada Arts Council, National Endowment for the Arts, and Reno Zazpiak-Bat Basque Club. |
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Tree carvings exhibit, presentations held in Reno Basque researcher Joxe Mallea Olaetxe presented a talk and slide show at Amaranth Gallery on July 20, the weekend of the Reno Basque Festival, to discuss his research on Basque tree carvings in the nearby Sierra. The talk was given in conjunction with an exhibit of aspen carving rubbings done by Philip and Jean Earl and displayed at the gallery in Reno at 135 N. Sierra St. Two actual carved tree trunks housed in the Basque Studies Library are on loan for the exhibit, through the end of July. On July 21, Philip Earl gave a presentation at the gallery about the art form of aspen rubbings. His wife, Jean, silent-auctioned one of her framed original rubbings, with ten percent of the proceeds being donated to the Center. Prints of the rubbings are available for sale, as well. The exhibit occurs in conjunction with ARTown, a month-long arts festival held in Reno each July. |
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Ander Gurrutxaga lecture presented July 8 Our recent Basque Lecture Series presentation featured Prof. Ander Gurrutxaga, Professor of Sociology from the Universidad del País Vasco, who gave a talk July 8th at UNR on “Dilemas del nacionalismo.” Prof. Gurrutxaga previously served as Vice Minister in the Department of Education of the Basque Government, and has authored several books, including La refundación del nacionalismo vasco (1990) and Estructura y procesos sociales en el País Vasco, (co-author; 1991). In his lecture Prof. Gurrutxaga discussed his forthcoming book, La mirada difusa, in which he discusses the pluralism of Basque society, with people of differing values, religions, and visions for the future. He stated, “To create the future, you need all the pieces of the society, not only the dream of the future.” His book will be published in Fall 2002 |
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Ikasi program held at UNR The Center’s three-day Ikasi program for adults to learn about Basque culture was held June 26–June 28. The program included sessions on the Basque language, history, mythology, music, films, genealogy, and the Bilbao Guggenheim Museum. In the evening, the Basque card game mus was taught and Basque films were shown. Ikasi was presented in conjunction with the annual North American Basque Organizations, Inc., Music Camp for kids, which was held in Reno this year. This brief course on Basque culture was originally conceived as an opportunity for adult relatives of children who attend the music camp, known as Udaleku, to also learn about their Basque heritage. As it was very successful this year, we plan to repeat the program in 2003. See Ikasi 2002 report and photos.
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Basque Music Camp, “Udaleku,” held in Reno The annual N.A.B.O.-sponsored Basque Music Camp, known as “Udaleku,” was hosted by the Reno Basque Club this year and led by CBS Program Assistant Kate Camino. Some 70 Basque-American youths from clubs throughout the West attended the program to learn Basque music, dance, songs, language, and other aspects of the culture. The event was held June 17–28, and on the final evening the participants gave a presentation featuring the songs and dances they had been practicing throughout the two weeks. Photos by Lisa Corcostegui. From top: Learning Basque songs; practicing the txalaparta; at the Ponderosa Ranch, Lake Tahoe. |
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Linda White publishes article Linda White has published “From Apologists to a Basque-Speaking Universe: The Use of (Foreign) Languages in Basque Literature” in the collection From Stateless Nations to Postnational Spain / De Naciones sin estado a la España postnacional, edited by Silvia Bermúdez, Antonio Cortijo Ocaña, and Timothy McGovern. The volume was published by The Society of Spanish and Spanish-American Studies, 2002. |
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Basque Lecture Series features two speakers this week The week of June 24, the Center featured two speakers. A presentation by Janine Soper of Ursinus College, Pennsylvania on “Grids, Curves, and Narratives: Systems of Interference in Gehry’s Guggenheim Museum Bilbao” was given June 25 at UNR. On Wednesday, June 26 we heard a lecture by John Bieter of Boise, Idaho who is a Ph.D. student in History at Boston College. He discussed an interesting legal case involving a Basque sheepherder and the Western range wars between cattle and sheep interests in a talk entitled “An Asset and Not a Liability: The United States Supreme Court Case of Omaechevarria versus State of Idaho.” |
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S. Ott presents paper in France Sandra Ott presented a paper on the secular and spiritual roles of Basque priests in Iparralde (1934-1943) at an international conference entitled “Religion et Montagne en Europe de l’Antiquite a nos jours” in Tarbes, France, May 30–June 2. The co-organizers are the University of Toulouse, the University of Paris (Sorbonne), and the Centre de Recherches d’Histoire Moderne at l’Ecole des Hautes Etudes en Sciences Sociales in Paris. |
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Cenarrusa, Zulaika quoted in El Magazine (Barcelona) The newspaper supplement El Magazine, which is distributed with several papers throughout Spain, recently contained an article on “Vascos in Idaho.” The article in the May 20 edition discusses Basque culture and its maintenance within the Basque-American population of Boise. Among Basques interviewed for the article were Pete Cenarrusa, the Secretary of State for Idaho and a member of the Center’s advisory board; and Director Joseba Zulaika. Both were quoted for their insights and opinions regarding Basque nationalism. |
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Klasikoak project headed by CBS Advisory Board member A series of classic texts translated into Basque is the goal of the Klasikoak project. Headed by President Pello Salaburu, a member of our Advisory Board, the non-profit group was established in 1991 by a coalition of the BBV Foundation, Basque savings banks, the University of the Basque Country and University of Deusto. Their object is to translate selected classics—“leading works of universal thought that are the basis of Western culture”—and publish them in book form as well as on the Web. Their newly launched site at www.klasikoak.com offers full-text versions of the 69 titles available so far. Authors translated include Seneca, Leviathan, Erich Fromm, Santayana, Rousseau, Lévi-Strauss, de Tocqueville, and many others. We congratulate this group for a remarkable achievement. |
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Ana María Caicoya de Basagoiti dies in Mexico City We have regretfully learned that Sra. Ana María Caicoya de Basagoiti, wife of CBS Advisory Board member José María Basagoiti, passed away on June 6 in Mexico City. All of the staff of the Center extend their heartfelt sympathies to the family of Sra. de Basagoiti. Goian bego! |
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