En Camino; 203; AIDS, the Art of Painting with Dan Lopez, Argentine Tango and Sabia Musical Group

And you know I mean you know. I mean. Good evening and welcome to encumber you know I'm a ritzy whens and today we're visiting Guerneville one of the resort areas of northern California. This area is well known for the Russian River which is very popular during the summer months when its waters are full of bathers and canoes. With today's program we bring you a report on AIDS illness that is affecting us one way or another. Our report

provides valuable information for you. We'll also be visiting an extraordinary artist named Dan Loftus who shares his art and philosophy with us. To liven things up. We bring you a segment about the famous dance the tango and we take a look at its origins and to close tonight show represent the meaningful music of Saudia as performed in Berkeley. So friends let's go on with the show. AIDS acquired immune deficiency syndrome is an epidemic that we all must face. No longer can it be considered an illness that only attacks the homosexual and bisexual community. At present we are all at risk of contracting this disease that makes no distinction between races sexes or ages. Presently one out of every seven victims is Hispanic. AIDS is the result of a defect in the immune system's ability to resist certain types of infections such as those caused by common viruses fungi and

parasites. Resistance to certain types of cancer is also diminished when the body loses its ability to fight off infection. Those afflicted with AIDS lose the battle against death. The first cases of AIDS were reported in this country in 1981. The virus comes from tropical Africa and for reasons unknown it became a lieutenant among the residents of the island of Haiti. It is supposed that North Americans on vacation contracted the virus and it arrived in San Francisco. New York and other areas of the United States. Soon afterwards it was propagated around the world. I think that there are misunderstandings in the Hispanic community concerning AIDS because one of the problems is that I think many people feel that disease and what we are finding more and more through statistics that are being kept is that it is not. And that is very prevalent among

people of color. And that should get up a clear signal to people from ethnic backgrounds that this is affecting our community. It's very convenient to point the finger and to just do this in denial. But I think that we can no longer afford that type of comfort. No survivors. For those who've been diagnosed with the mortality rate is one hundred percent. This virus differs from past epidemics that scorched humanity because it is preventable. You can't get AIDS by casual contact. Such as sharing office equipment telephone toilets or other or eating utensils are not contagious nor can you get AIDS by eating in restaurants. It can only be transmitted through blood or semen. You don't have to worry about the casual spread of this. You don't have to worry about

touching or hugging someone who has or sharing the same eating utensils BREATHING THE SAME AIR. In other words don't worry about being around people with. I think that people have not been afraid of me or come into the house. Because I think they have. Most people are aware of the. AIDS by hugging. Or touch or breathing. A study conducted of 600 hospital employees who worked with the patients indicated that not one has contracted the disease even though more than 100 of these workers have accidentally stuck themselves with contaminated needles. The virus is fragile and the disease is not easily transmitted. You're looking at the incidence of AIDS in the areas north of San Francisco. I think you'd be quite surprised to find that Sonoma County has a small and rural a

county as it is has the second highest per capita incidence of AIDS in the state. Second only to San Francisco County quite a bit less in San Cisco County but more than say Well Santa this county in terms of our AIDS cases. We have a lot of AIDS in Sonoma County. Last year at this time we had 60 cases. This year at this time we have a hundred and thirteen cases. We know that the disease is doubling every year. The cases that we're seeing right now we know are spread there spread by I.V. drug use. There's less so they're spread by transfusions through the human population. It is forecasted that by the year 1991 One hundred and forty thousand persons will have died of AIDS and more than 100000 will be requiring medical attention. This forecast is based on present data. I think it's most important regardless of trends of the epidemic to go ahead and take a real

preventive stance here that this is this is a totally preventable disease. If you know how to prevent the transmission or protect yourself from being exposed to the virus. And. I think we need to go ahead and look at the the most desirable fact that if we don't have any significant numbers of people infected in certain groups we need to do everything to maintain that so that it doesn't become any more significant. Hispanics represent one segment of the population most at risk of acquiring AIDS black and Latino. The research shows or at greater risk than usual or say the white heterosexual primarily because they have more heterosexual sexual contact perhaps with people in risk groups. The phenomena of infected blacks and Latinos and the ivory drug using population primarily males and then the women who who have sexual contact with those males are putting themselves at risk of getting infected. And this is

where probably most of the cases of heather or sexual occur in the black and Latino community. As research on AIDS continues various scientific teams around the world are dedicated to finding the solution to this epidemic. But the opinion of medical authorities is that a vaccine or a medicine to cure aids will not be found for at least a few years. To survive this epidemic great caution must be exercised is the fate of AIDS rests in our hands. We have a heterosexual population that is largely infected. How do you make people believe. I think it is important that people spend time and money to educate that other sexually active adults I.V. drug users and that parents teach their children. This is all to be taught in the home to begin upon the school to do it depend upon governments to do it. Again maybe a little foolish. It has to start in the home. People have to teach their friends they have to teach their children. And I think that that's the only way people will be made to believe

the importance of living their life safely and protectively. The best defense against AIDS is information. One of the ways that AIDS is transmitted is through the blood. Those persons who inject themselves with contaminated needles acquire AIDS. It is estimated that 14 to 25 percent of all intravenous drug users are infected with the virus. A good way to avoid getting contaminated is to cease injecting drugs. If it is not possible cleaning the needles and syringes with Chlorine kills the virus. The disease can also be acquired through semen for men as well as women. It is important to be protected by using condoms. It is a simple measure that offers protection from infection and saves lives. This practice is one that by necessity must be incorporated into our lives. It may represent the difference between life and death. The Department of Public Health provides free blood testing for those persons

interested in knowing whether they are infected with AIDS. This test indicates whether or not the antibody to the AIDS virus has been produced in the blood due to exposure to the virus. However it does not show if the person is ill with AIDS. Interested parties can be examined and anonymity can be maintained since the virus is transmitted during pregnancy. More and more infants are being born with AIDS. The statistics don't lie. We are all at risk if we don't take care of ourselves. We must protect ourselves against AIDS. Now as it is a disease that can be prevented. If we only take a small amount of care. Please call us if you have any questions at 7 0 7 5 8 5 eighty five twenty two and we'll be happy to refer you to the appropriate agencies in your area. Now friends lives visit the studios of Dan Lopez in Bodega Bay. We recently spent a very pleasant afternoon with him and next we bring you our

story. Here with the notion of you in the distance lives Dan Lopez reflects his life in his paintings cover all the walls. Dan's life is expressed in his art and it shows the great artistic talent that he possesses. Supporters of the day as you know of course will give us one thing that got us here about his paintings reflect my ideas my thoughts and feelings in my heart I knew I wanted to paint a Latino family. He's manic now you know I mean this is a portrait of my mother I want to just die with all the people that are close to me. These are portraits of the community just like those with a very specific feeling as expressed in each painting he creates his opinion is that an artist looks at the world very differently

and in his case his heart dictates what eventually he transfers onto the canvas. Also the promise that. We will get of that. Painting makes me feel very good but I thought I am comfortable with myself and my feelings and in my heart I know I'm ready. I wonder why I do other things when I like painting. Best of all I lose myself here when I meet people because sign joy so much. Before he creates a mural such as this one entitled circle of humanity. It is

necessary for him to meditate and consider the message that he wants to deliver. After he clarifies a concept the moment arrives when he can begin to visualize the images that he will eventually paint. So. Those are the laws. It's very difficult to know what area of my life with this new price of my heart. I think that it makes your culture has had a view of who you are because being morning to us one uses was a launching point language

and a lot of the things that belong to them like of war here in the Anglo-Saxon culture is it going to hold your hand. When I was reading this book study you Dawlish. I felt that to find one's heart I mean that's what needs to learn is once upon a culture in history a sort of a culture is the blood of a person who it is a history of a person. And when you lose track of who you are yourself lost through with who I think he was he says you know why is my heart I want to find what is lost. And I want to show those things from the culture from the history of Mexican. But you know I know others who grooves in the course of the look of this group. This series is intitled Chicano barrio and it reflects the life that is found in a body.

This is serious as it out here is a good painting is where I want to show all the things that happen in about a year. I was raised to nobody else to many of the things I saw. I want to express yourself in my paintings with words and those with us. Yes well sources are still with us when this is because when you're on. The road that Dan has traveled has been extensive and the obstacles he has encountered other way fortunately have not succeeded in Dettori him. Though I think that the most profound things that helps me are of course are those

things that come from my heart. To many times I feel very guilty feelings and have a great effect on me as well because the feelings about my family the more specially the feelings about the culture. Because when I see a Mexican or Latino person suffering was not I know why I need to fax me. I want to do something and sometimes I can't express it in any other way. Instead we are more before my mouth. We are fortunate to be able to enjoy Dans art the next time you visit the Mexican village at the Sonoma County Fairgrounds. Look around and take pride in the artistic capacity of our Latino people. Danilo Paris gives us evidence. Then Lopez continues to paint his inspiration is ever present

in our next segment. We feature the Argentine tango the Tango has regained its popularity in recent years both as song and as dance. Let's take a look at its history and its development. It was the largest port in Argentina that tried out its first steps. Do you think the quotidian if you see the tango was influenced by different musical and cultural waves and it could have been an African influence in Oregon. There used to be and still are a lot of mulattoes that gave it the beat and the way that it went on transforming the music of the tango polishing it until it is what it is today. In the beginning the tango was dance only in the bordellos on the outskirts of the city known

as La danced only among prostitutes or with their customers. Tango is not considered the dance for later but after its great success in Paris the tango became very popular. It was a way for the people to express their emotions. NASS a call for some good I think. The tango was born as a choreographed expression in the middle of the last century. It so happens that during mid century due to the arrival of industrial machinery in this city when Osiris needed workers so the people there from the countryside to work and so did a wave of people that came from Europe and the immigrants. They formed a group that settled around the city. They formed a group that eventually needed to express themselves as a social group to define

themselves as a social group because no longer were they residents of the city or of Europe or the Far East. So then a number of expressions became manifest then ended up determining and qualifying this social group and one of these expressions was the tango as dance. I mean you know I think I'm going want to add one I suppose in this case it's done. Come on son. The first tangos did not have lyrics although at times words were improvised. Not only did tango have a sexual choreography but often it represented a duel or fight for a woman's favor. Often times resulting in someone that. Tango acquired its definitive style with the arrival of the German button accordion.

This instrument was incorporated in the orchestras at the beginning of the century and since the button accordion and Tango are one of the same. For what I think I would migrate you need right here. The public sees in the dance something that gives them a lot of enthusiasm it up because they see the rebirth of the couple. Because generally today the dances are performed separately that way. Woman dance is over here just in the man is maybe four meters away. And suddenly they turn their backs on each other. This is not so in the tango tango you dance together. It's an embrace. People see sensualism reflected their love. Maybe it reminds them of how they danced when they were engaged to us or how it could be if one is young people with the opportunity of being close and dancing and being able to say words that in another rhythm are not possible.

You know that I guess you don't want to remind us of. The lyrics of the tango as a song are descriptive. Poetry tango was a complaint. A claim was a personal confidence one gives an understanding friend bangle is sarcasm sentimentalism pride hatred desperation. With tango. You feel. Just. A little bit. Yes. Like I. Said. We're all friends. We hope you've enjoyed tonight's program. We want to remind you that we

still have income you know posters available if you'd like to receive one just give us a call at Channel 22. Our phone number is 7 0 7 5 8 5 8 5. Twenty two. Tonight we leave you with the music of salvia. A group of musicians from Los Angeles recently taped them in concert at lepping in Berkeley and their music as you will hear is very original. Thank you for being with us and we'll see you once again next month here on income you know went on watches. We're going to need

to. Make a big deal with what I want to say. Lower level it may even be a game playing to. See you. I want to go to the door.

MIKE Yeah. With.

Partial funding for this program has been made possible by a grant from the San Francisco Foundation.