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News Archive - Winter 2003–2004 Gabilondo article published in Hispanic Research Journal CBS faculty member Joseba Gabilondo’s article, “The Subaltern Cannot Speak But Performs: Women’s Public and Literary Cultures in Nineteenth-Century Spain,” appeared recently in the Hispanic Research Journal, Feature section (vol. 5, no. 1, February 2003 issue). |
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Gabilondo lectures at Emory University Joseba Gabilondo gave an invited lecture at Emory University in February, sponsored by the Department of Spanish and Portuguese. His lecture was “On the Globalization of Francoism: Melodrama, Uncanny History, and Hispanic Atlantic. Notes on Torrente and All About My Mother.” |
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New Basque club formed in Australia A new Basque club was formed in Australia in January, the Basque Club of North Queensland. The club is presided over by Joe Goicoechea, who is a member of the Center’s Advisory Board. An inaugural meeting in June 2003 of members of the Basque community there brought an encouraging response, and the club was formed with 243 members from throughout the region. They already have incorporated and have plans to purchase an existing building to use as a clubhouse, or Euskal Etxea. Zorionak! |
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CBS faculty publish book reviews Joseba Zulaika published “El territorio de la ambigüedad,” a book review of Ander Gurrutxaga’s La mirada difusa: dilemas del nacionalismo (Irun: Alberdania, 2004), in Revista de Libros for December 2003 (no. 84). In the same issue, visiting professor Jose M. Portillo published “Nacionalismo más allá del ombligo,” a review of La Patria Lejana. El nacionalismo en el siglo XX by Juan Pablo Fusi (Madrid: Taurus, 2004). |
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Artzain-Afaria—Sheepherders’ Dinner—Fundraiser held The Center for Basque Studies Advisory Board held an Artzain-Afaria (Sheepherders’ Dinner) on February 21 to kick off a major fundraising campaign for the Center. The evening featured cocktails and pintxos (appetizers) in the Poolside Terrace of John Ascuaga’s Nugget, followed by an exquisite dinner accompanied by wine from the Basque region. Advisory Board Chair John Echeverria addressed the group of around 150 guests, who had graciously donated funds to our endowment campaign, to tell them about our past successes and plans for the future. The dessert course was enlivened by a performance of traditional Basque dances presented by Zenbat Gara Euskal Dantzari Taldea (see the video), with songs and trikitrixa (diatonic accordion) accompaniment by Genevieve Ysursa. Guests then enjoyed listening to the music of Mercedes Mendive and her band. The evening was a thoroughly enjoyable celebration of Basque culture and cuisine. |
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CBS Advisory Board meets The Center’s annual winter Advisory Board meeting took place on February 21 in Reno. Members attending were John Echeverria (Chair), William Douglass, co-chair, Anita Anacabe-Franzoia, Michonne Ascuaga, Jose Ramon Cengotitabengoa, Pete Cenarrusa, Emilia Doyaga, Jeronima Echeverria, Peter Ernaut, John Ysursa, Joseba Zulaika, and Board Secretary Sandra Ott. They met at John Ascuaga’s Nugget Hotel & Casino, which was also the site later that evening for the first Gala Fundraiser, the Artzain-Afaria. The gala dinner launched a major effort by the Board to raise three million dollars for an endowment for the Center. Board Chairman John Echeverria announced at the dinner that well over a million dollars has already been donated or pledged to the fund. Proceeds from the endowment will provide an annual income to supplement the Center’s University budget, allowing the CBS to expand its research, publication, and outreach mission to further promote Basque culture. |
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Totoricagüena article in Euskonews compares U.S. Basques Gloria Totoricagüena has published an article in the December 12–19 edition of the electronic journal Euskonews & Media, #234, at www.euskonews.com. In “Kaletarrak eta Baserritarrak: East Coast and West Coast Basques in the United States,” she explains how the day-to-day life experiences of Basque urban immigrants and their experiences of maintaining Basque ethnic identity in New York, Miami, and Tampa share little with the communities of the American West. Baserritarrak, literally “those from the farm” or rural, versus kaletarrak, literally, “those from the street” or urban, differences in understanding of life and identity are prevalent in most societies. In Basque Country society, these differences between people of the streets and people of the farms have been transplanted to the new host country of the United States and its east coast “city Basques” and west coast “rural Basques.” Western Basques tend to have a stereotype of the easterners, and the easterners also have many misconceptions of western Basques. This article gives examples of their similarities and differences. |
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Robert Laxalt Distinguished Writer’s Program inaugurated The Reynolds School of Journalism at UNR recently honored the memory of Basque author and journalist Robert Laxalt with the initiation of the Robert Laxalt Distinguished Writer’s Program. In addition to his literary production, Laxalt was founder of the University of Nevada Press, taught journalism at Nevada, and was the university’s first Writer-in-Residence. The inaugural speaker for the program was writer/photographer William Albert Allard, who collaborated with Laxalt on the book A Time We Knew, a photographic essay on the Basque Country (University of Nevada Press, 1990). Allard has published several collections of his photographs and has contributed to National Geographic Society publications for forty years. Allard’s presentation on February 17 included his recent works of Paris and India, as well as a look at the photos and reading of excerpts from his book, Portraits of America. |
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Zulaika interviewed by Diario Vasco, ETB An interview of Director Joseba Zulaika appeared online on the Diario Vasco web site for February 13. Diario Vasco is a popular Basque daily newspaper. Zulaika spoke about Basque Americans’ sentimentalized view of the Basque Country, and knowledge of Basque politics. He also was interviewed for an Euskal Telebista (Basque television) news program. |
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Ph.D. student Arana publishes article Juan Arana, a Basque Studies Ph.D. student at UNR, published the article “Importancia de la estética y el simbolismo en la obra de Jon Mirande,” in the journal biTARTE: Revista cuatrimestral de humanidades (No. 31, Dec. 2003). Arana, who began his studies here in 2003, is researching Basque art and aesthetics. |
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Irish ethnomusicology conference features Basque txalaparta A conference/seminar on Music, Politics and Identity: Exploring Paths to Peace was held on February 25, at the Irish World Music Centre, University of Limerick, Ireland, with the collaboration of the Irish Peace Society Peace Institute. Maria Escribano, a doctoral student of the IWMC in Ethnomusicology researching the Basque instrument txalaparta, spoke on “Music, Politics, and Identity: The Basque Txalaparta.” Also featured were the Basque txalaparta group, Jo Tta Kun. |
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Basque Councilor of Justice Azkarraga speaks at UNR On February 11 the Center welcomed several visiting dignitaries from the Basque Government department of Justice, Employment, and Social Security. Councilor Joseba Azkarraga gave a presentation [see text] in which he discussed the Basque economy, the problem of ETA violence, and a proposal for a new political statute to replace the old Gernika Statute. Afterward several questions from the large audience were answered by Councilor Azkarraga. Other visitors included Pello Irujo, Vice Councilor; Inmaculada de Miguel, Director of International Relations; Arantza F. de Jáuregui, Secretary to the Councilor; Tony Jansson, Interpreter; and Xabier Irujo, head of International Relations for the San Fermin Basque School (Pamplona). Several Basque Country journalists accompanied the group to record the visit for the Basque media. While in Reno, the visitors met with staff of the National Judicial College and the National Council of Juvenile and Family Court Judges, as well as university and government officials. An accord was signed with the National Judicial College for exchange visits of judges from the two communities. The visit to Reno was part of a Western States itinerary which took the group to the Basque communities of Salt Lake City and Boise, and they will continue on to San Francisco before returning to the Basque Country. |
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Monique Laxalt interviewed in Basque press Basque journalist Miel Angel Elustondo published an interview with Basque-American writer Monique Laxalt in Berria, a Basque-language newspaper. The double-page article and photos appeared in a February issue, and also appear on the web in English. Elustondo asked her about her book Deep Blue Memory, published by the University of Nevada Press in 1993, and also about her father, the late Robert Laxalt, the time their family spent living in the Basque Country, her Basque identity, and new writing projects. |
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Linda White article published Linda White’s article on “Narrative Exile: Absence and Desire in Anjel Lertxundi’s Un final para Nora,” appears in the new issue of the Journal of the Society of Basque Studies in America (23:23–27, 2003-2004). |
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Basque University Rectors visit the Center, UNR The CBS was recently honored by a visit from Basque University officials. The visit was arranged by the University Studies Abroad Consortium, which has a close relationship with the Basque University including faculty exchanges and student scholarships. Visiting the UNR campus in late January were Manuel Montero, Rector (Chancellor) of the Basque University/Euskal Herriko Unibertsitatea and an historian specializing in Basque and European history; Adolfo Morais, Director of International Relations, as well as a professor of Applied Mathematics in Engineering; Antonio Rivera, Vice Rector (President) of the Campus of Alava; and Beatriz Casares, Vice Rector of Students at the University of the Basque Country and professor of Criminal Law. Also visiting the campus at this time was Felix Menchacatorre, director of the Bilbao/Getxo program for USAC. While in Reno, the visitors also met with University of Nevada, Reno officials and specialists in their areas of expertise, to network and to discuss administrative topics. The Center for Basque Studies has also had a long relationship with the Basque University, including student exchanges and visiting scholar programs. Two former Rectors spent a year’s sabbatical at UNR following their terms and both remain involved in assisting the Center with various projects. Pello Salaburu serves on the CBS Advisory Board and Goio Monreal is involved with the Basque Classics series; both have contributed significantly in fundraising and other matters. |
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Pedro Oiarzabal publishes article Basque Ph.D. student Pedro Oiarzabal published the article “Reconstructing Basque Youth Political Violence” in the latest issue of the Journal of the Society of Basque Studies in America (23:29–45, 2003–2004). |
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 Visiting scholars present final research, bid farewell to CBS Dr. Joseba Etxebeste and Clara Urdangarin presented a few of the conclusions of their year-long fieldwork in the Reno area, and with American Basques in the West, at UNR on January 22. In a presentation on “Games, Play, and Society,” Dr. Etxebeste summarized his experiences at Hug High School with P.E. classes, and as a football coach, pointing out the emphasis on competition, time management, and space control in United States leisure time activities. Clara Urdangarin conducted research with American Basque families investigating their efforts to maintain Basque traditional games and children’s play. She also did fieldwork in Reno elementary, junior high, and high schools regarding students’ leisure activities and their relationship to identity. Joseba and Clara served as instructors for the NABO Udaleku summer camp, and are hoping to return again in the future to repeat that experience and to research Basque Americans in other communities. The couple and their sons, Igon and Beñat, will be returning to the Basque Country this week. We expect to maintain close contact with this family and wish them all a safe return home to Gasteiz and the best of luck with their future endeavors. |
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New Basque Ph.D. student We are pleased to welcome new Basque Studies Ph.D. student Juan Arana, a philosophy student whose research concerns Basque art and aesthetics. Arana has completed studies at the University of Madrid in philosophy, and also has worked in the teaching field. He will be assisting with the Basque Library database project during his term here. |
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Gabilondo attends Almodóvar conference in Spain In December, Joseba Gabilondo attended the Pedro Almodóvar International Conference at the Fine Arts School, University of Castilla-La Mancha, where he presented a paper on “Intellectuals and Sexual Excess: For a Biopolitical and Geopolitical Genealogy of Spanish Intellectuals (from Unamuno to Almodóvar).” Pedro Almodóvar is a well known contemporary Spanish film director, whose films include Women on the Verge of a Nervous Breakdown and All about My Mother. |
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Totoricagüena article features Basque artists in New York Gloria Totoricagüena published an article in the electronic journal of Euskonews and Media #203, “Basque Artists Make Their Mark in the Big Apple.” The works of Amaia Gúrpide Ribio, Iñaki Lazcoz, and Nisa Goiburu are shown, and Totoricagüena gives a history of the Basques’ involvement and development with art in New York. For example, from 1946–48, an all-Basque language cultural review of literature, art, and music, named Argia (Light) was published in New York. It educated and informed the city’s Basques regarding the latest trends in Euskal Herria as well as in other countries, and is one of the few examples of early media published in Euskara in the United States. |
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Gloria Totoricagüena receives prestigious Basque award In December, Dr. Gloria Totoricagüena received the prestigious Vasca Mundial award in Vitoria, Spain, seat of the Basque Autonomous Government. The Vascos Mundiales awards were presented to twenty-five Basques living outside of the Basque Country who were selected and recognized for their international contributions in their own fields of specialty, and for their years of service to promoting Basque culture, politics, history, and society. Totoricagüena was chosen for her influence in international academics, her contributions to promoting the study of the Basque diaspora, and her years of fieldwork on Basque communities in numerous countries. The awards and events were sponsored by DEIA newspaper, Iberia Airlines, and the BBK Bank. Selections were made by academics, media, and business leaders. The President of the Basque Country, Juan José Ibarretxe, held a reception December 18 at the Presidential Palace, Ajuria Enea, in Vitoria-Gasteiz. Recipients then celebrated that evening at a private dinner with the President and other intellectuals, academics, and business leaders of the Basque Country, at the newly inaugurated five-star hotel, the Gran Hotel Domine, in Bilbao. Jesús González Mateos has authored a book with interviews of the award winners. |
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David Río publishes Laxalt article David Río published an article on Robert Laxalt: “Robert Laxalt: A Basque Pioneer in the American Literary West” in American Studies International, 41:3, 2003, pp. 60–81. The issue also featured Laxalt’s picture on the cover. Prof. Río teaches and conducts research on American literature at the University of the Basque Country (Vitoria), Dept. of English Philology. He has been a visiting scholar at the Center for Basque Studies on several occasions and a recipient of the CBS Summer Stipend. During his visits to Reno he met several times with Robert Laxalt, former director of the University Press and a very popular Western writer, particularly among the Basque community. |
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Book on bertsolaritza published by J. Zulaika Joseba Zulaika recently published Bertsolaritzaz bi saio (Two essays on bertsolaritza, or Basque oral poetry) in the Basque Country (Andoain: Bertsolari Liburuak, 2003). The essays are “Bertsolariaren jokoa eta jolasa” (1985), and “Bertsolariak eta idazleak: aita-semearen arteko kondaira zaharra” (2003). |
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Totoricagüena participates in Conflict seminar On December 17, CBS faculty member Gloria Totoricagüena participated as a discussant in the conference and seminar “The Reason of Those Who Are Reasonable: Is There a Solution to the Palestinian-Israeli Conflict?” The event, held in Bilbao, Spain, was sponsored by the Sabino Arana Foundation. Other participants included Sufyan Abuzayda, the Vice Minister of Foreign Relations for the Palestinian Authority, Alberto Spektorowski of the University of Tel Aviv, Ander Gurrutxaga of the University of the Basque Country, and thirty-five other political scientists, sociologists, and specialists in political conflict management. Txema Montero served as coordinator of the two-day conference. Totoricagüena also met with Felíx Carmona and Fernanda de la Rua of the Foral Government of Nafarroa (Navarre), Spain to discuss Nafarroa’s political relations with their diaspora Basque Centers, and to promote the migration and diaspora research of the Center for Basque Studies. |
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Center and UN Press publications at Durango Book Fair Center Director Joseba Zulaika travelled to the Basque Country recently to present several of our publications at the Durango Book Fair, which this year was held from December 4–8. Books featured at our booth included Amatxi, Amuma, Amona: Writings in Honor of Basque Women from the Center for Basque Studies Occasional Paper Series, edited by Linda White and Cameron Watson (2003), as well as several books from the Basque Book Series of the University of Nevada Press. These included the Basque-English English-Basque Dictionary by Gorka Aulestia and Linda White, The Basque Language by Alan King, and four newly published titles: Juan Bautista de Anza by Donald Garate, Possible Paradises by José M. Azcona Pastor, Identity, Culture, and Politics in the Basque Diaspora by Gloria Totoricagüena, and The New World Inside a Basque Village by Juan J. Pescador. This is the first time that the Center has had a booth at the fair, a very popular event featuring Basque books. Over 140,000 people attended this year. The Center’s participation became one of the featured news stories of this year’s book fair, and Dr. Zulaika was interviewed by various newspapers, radio stations, and the Basque television network, ETB. The Center’s presence was also covered by the dailies Berria, El Correo, Gara, Diario Vasco, Deia, and El País as well as by ETB and Euskadi Irratia and Bizkaia Irratia (Basque radio). From now on the main Basque bookstores will be carrying publications of the CBS and the Basque Book Series of the University of Nevada Press. |
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Zulaika presents paper at Barcelona conference On December 10, Joseba Zulaika gave a talk at the Barcelona Modern Museum of Art (MACBA) on “The Guggenheim Museum as a Symptom.” The lecture was organized in conjunction with Santi Eraso, director of Arteleku in Euskadi. |
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Gabilondo comments on “Lord of the Rings” Center faculty member and film researcher Joseba Gabilondo was interviewed by the Reno Gazette-Journal for a December 15 story on the “Lord of the Rings” films. Gabilondo wrote his Ph.D. thesis on Hollywood cinema, and has written several articles on the topic. He stated that the films show that “we don’t want a technology-driven society, we don’t believe in reason anymore…. All the values that somewhat have shaped the twentieth century...are thrown overboard in these films.” The newspaper article heralded the release of the final installment, The Lord of the Rings: the Return of the King, opening in theaters December 17. |
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Hess lecture given December 12 Andreas Hess, Professor of Sociology at University College Dublin, lectured on Friday, December 12 in Getchell Library at UNR. His talk was on “Jesuit Work Ethic? Max Weber and the Basque Country.” The free lecture was sponsored by the Center for Basque Studies. Dr. Hess taught at the University of Sussex and the University of Wales, Bangor before joining University College Dublin in September 2001. His main interests are in social and political theory, comparative politics and sociology, and Basque Studies. Main publications include American Social and Political Thought (Edinburgh UP and New York UP, 2000) and Concepts of Social Stratification: European and American Models (Palgrave Macmillan, 2001). |
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