Viva la Charreria Mexicana

Documenting A California Tradition

Update

In 2003, Heather Hafleigh received another grant from the California Traditional Arts Advancement Program, through the Fund for Folk Culture, to fund the printing and framing of the photos for the exhibit itself.
"Viva la Charreria Mexicana" opens April 3rd at the Merced Multicultural Arts Center, and runs through June 28th.
From July 1st through the end of September it will be at The Peralta Hacienda in Oakland.
Arte Americas in Fresno - October 7th - December 18th, 2004
The Franco family is donating a saddle, sombrero, belt, boots and traditional costume for the exhibits.

In 2001 The Arhoolie Foundation received a grant from the California Traditional Arts Advancement Program, a program of the Fund for Folk Culture supported by The William and Flora Hewlett Foundation, The James Irvine Foundation and the David and Lucile Packard Foundation, to partially fund Viva la Charreria Mexicana, a project documenting the rich tradition of the charreria in California. Photographer Heather Hafleigh has been documenting a California family as they prepare for and compete in charreadas, offering a view of a centuries-old tradition that has recently been accepted as part of the Olympics. These photographs will be available to researchers and community members through the Arhoolie Foundation Archives and will ultimately be included in an exhibit on charreria on display in venues throughout California.

A Dramatic Tradition Full of Grace

The charrerria, also known as Mexican rodeo, began in 16th century Spain. It was purely entertainment based on the skills of working cowboys. The charreada is a family event - a community celebration that unites young and old, past and future generations. While there is a national federation with rules dictating how each event must be executed the traditional skills are passed down orally or by example from generation to generation. Little boys start learning how to handle a rope at 4 and young girls ride sidesaddle in the arena at a very young age.

Like Western rodeo, they begin with a grand entry desfile, where all the teams enter the arena and give the charro salute. Following are competitive events including the cala which demonstrates the horses training and the rideršs control; piales en el lienzo the roping of wild mares; the escaramuza where teams of eight women wearing the adelita, the traditional dress, ride sidesaddle performing complicated drill patterns at full gallop. Unlike western rodeo where everything is a timed event, the charro tradition is about the beauty and grace of the movements. Rope movements must be exact but beautiful; the escaramuza must show skill but also elegance. It is a competition of cultural traditions as well as of equestrian skill.

Every weekend throughout California, Mexican-Americans gather to watch or perform in charreadas, a celebration of Mexican equestrian skills. The charreada (the actual performance) with its pageantry, costumes and feats of spectacular horsemanship, is the public side of the charreria tradition. The complete tradition includes training the horses in the traditional events, (which differ from the more familiar western rodeo), learning roping skills, making costumes and using the performance to strengthen of cultural ties.

Understanding The Charreria

The charreria is an important part of Californiašs cultural mosaic; however it is little known and understood outside the Mexican community. In order to preserve the presentation of the charreada and introduce the sport to new audiences, documentary photographer Heather Hafleigh will spend a year following the Franco family, owners of a lienzo (arena) in Sunol, California, as they prepare for and compete in charreadas. These photographs, which will ultimately be included in an exhibit about the charreria, will create a greater public appreciation and understanding of this important traditional cultural event.

Goals of the Project

Through participation with the Franco family, Ms. Hafleigh will be able to fully document all the aspects of this rich cultural tradition. She will provide a photographic record to help educate people about the different elements that make up the charredas and encourage participation in future events. Through the documentation of the charreria, Ms. Hafleigh will be able to assemble an exhibit on the rich elements of the tradition and inform communities about the important aspects of this sport. With exhibitions through a variety of venues, the Arhoolie Foundation hopes to present the traditional aspects of this sport as a means of promoting participation.

A key element is documenting the charreria is to preserve and promote a cultural practice of Mexican-American culture hat links them back to Mexico at the time of the Revolution. The charros (horsemen) gained distinction in the 1810 War of Independence from Spain and the 1910 Mexican revolution due to their skill in riding and roping. The charros used their skills to defeat their foes and as community leaders they had the ability to bring together men to form an army. The most famous of all charros was the leader of the Mexican Revolution, Emiliano Zapata who is the model of all contemporary charros. As refugees from the revolution moved north, followed later by other immigrants, the charreria tradition serves as a vital link to the important historical events. To Mexican-Americans, the charreria tradition serves as a powerful symbol of an important period of the history and development of the Mexican.

A Photographer Capable Of Bringing The Tradition To Life

Heather Hafleigh has been photographing for thirty years. For the past seven years she has devoted her expertise solely to documenting contemporary ranchers and craftsmen in California who are carrying on the vaquero tradition. Her work has been exhibited consistently at shows honoring the craftsmen involved in this tradition including the "Cowboy Up" exhibit put on by the Oakland Museum, "Beyond the 98th Meridian: Images of the American West" (Sedona, Arizona) and "Images of the Vaquero and Charro" Northeastern Nevada Museum and "Hecho en Mexico: A Gathering of Gear" Western Folklife Center. News from Native California recently published a portfolio of her work on Indian vaqueros. She began photographing charreadas in 1994.



	Viva la Charreria Mexicana Documenting A California Tradition Update In 2003, Heather Hafleigh received another grant from the California Traditional Arts Advancement Program, through the Fund for Folk Culture, to fund the printing and framing of the photos for the exhibit itself. "Viva la Charreria Mexicana" opens April 3rd at the Merced Multicultural Arts Center, and runs through June 28th. From July 1st through the end of September it will be at The Peralta Hacienda in Oakland. Arte Americas in Fresno - October 7th - December 18th, 2004 The Franco family is donating a saddle, sombrero, belt, boots and traditional costume for the exhibits. In 2001 The Arhoolie Foundation received a grant from the California Traditional Arts Advancement Program, a program of the Fund for Folk Culture supported by The William and Flora Hewlett Foundation, The James Irvine Foundation and the David and Lucile Packard Foundation, to partially fund *Viva la Charreria Mexicana, a project documenting the rich tradition of the charreria* in California. Photographer Heather Hafleigh has been documenting a California family as they prepare for and compete in charreadas, offering a view of a centuries-old tradition that has recently been accepted as part of the Olympics. These photographs will be available to researchers and community members through the Arhoolie Foundation Archives and will ultimately be included in an exhibit on charreria on display in venues throughout California. A Dramatic Tradition Full of Grace The charrerria, also known as Mexican rodeo, began in 16th century Spain. It was purely entertainment based on the skills of working cowboys. The charreada is a family event - a community celebration that unites young and old, past and future generations. While there is a national federation with rules dictating how each event must be executed the traditional skills are passed down orally or by example from generation to generation. Little boys start learning how to handle a rope at 4 and young girls ride sidesaddle in the arena at a very young age. Like Western rodeo, they begin with a grand entry desfile, where all the teams enter the arena and give the charro salute. Following are competitive events including the cala which demonstrates the horses training and the rideršs control; piales en el lienzo the roping of wild mares; the escaramuza where teams of eight women wearing the adelita, the traditional dress, ride sidesaddle performing complicated drill patterns at full gallop. Unlike western rodeo where everything is a timed event, the charro tradition is about the beauty and grace of the movements. Rope movements must be exact but beautiful; the escaramuza must show skill but also elegance. It is a competition of cultural traditions as well as of equestrian skill. Every weekend throughout California, Mexican-Americans gather to watch or perform in charreadas, a celebration of Mexican equestrian skills. The charreada (the actual performance) with its pageantry, costumes and feats of spectacular horsemanship, is the public side of the charreria tradition. The complete tradition includes training the horses in the traditional events, (which differ from the more familiar western rodeo), learning roping skills, making costumes and using the performance to strengthen of cultural ties. Understanding The Charreria The charreria is an important part of Californiašs cultural mosaic; however it is little known and understood outside the Mexican community. In order to preserve the presentation of the charreada and introduce the sport to new audiences, documentary photographer Heather Hafleigh will spend a year following the Franco family, owners of a lienzo (arena) in Sunol, California, as they prepare for and compete in charreadas. These photographs, which will ultimately be included in an exhibit about the charreria, will create a greater public appreciation and understanding of this important traditional cultural event. Goals of the Project Through participation with the Franco family, Ms. Hafleigh will be able to fully document all the aspects of this rich cultural tradition. She will provide a photographic record to help educate people about the different elements that make up the charredas and encourage participation in future events. Through the documentation of the charreria, Ms. Hafleigh will be able to assemble an exhibit on the rich elements of the tradition and inform communities about the important aspects of this sport. With exhibitions through a variety of venues, the Arhoolie Foundation hopes to present the traditional aspects of this sport as a means of promoting participation. A key element is documenting the charreria is to preserve and promote a cultural practice of Mexican-American culture hat links them back to Mexico at the time of the Revolution. The charros (horsemen) gained distinction in the 1810 War of Independence from Spain and the 1910 Mexican revolution due to their skill in riding and roping. The charros used their skills to defeat their foes and as community leaders they had the ability to bring together men to form an army. The most famous of all charros was the leader of the Mexican Revolution, Emiliano Zapata who is the model of all contemporary charros. As refugees from the revolution moved north, followed later by other immigrants, the charreria tradition serves as a vital link to the important historical events. To Mexican-Americans, the charreria tradition serves as a powerful symbol of an important period of the history and development of the Mexican. A Photographer Capable Of Bringing The Tradition To Life Heather Hafleigh has been photographing for thirty years. For the past seven years she has devoted her expertise solely to documenting contemporary ranchers and craftsmen in California who are carrying on the vaquero tradition. Her work has been exhibited consistently at shows honoring the craftsmen involved in this tradition including the "Cowboy Up" exhibit put on by the Oakland Museum, "Beyond the 98th Meridian: Images of the American West" (Sedona, Arizona) and "Images of the Vaquero and Charro" Northeastern Nevada Museum and "Hecho en Mexico: A Gathering of Gear" Western Folklife Center. News from Native California recently published a portfolio of her work on Indian vaqueros. She began photographing charreadas in 1994. 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