Dr. Seuss once wrote "Do you like green eggs and ham? I do not like them, Sam-I-Am," not suspecting that 55 years later, Andres Roemer, Mexico's Consul General to San Francisco, would organize a big, week-long festival with a variation on the name: MEX I AM.
Doing thorough research, we reached a vice consul over the weekend, who said: "Nothing to do with Dr. Seuss, we tried to get a name that says it is a great honor and pride to be Mexican, a strong name that shows the greatness of Mexico, gets your attention and makes you think about it." Mission accomplished.
The second edition of "MEX I AM, Live it to Believe It" runs through July 26 at a variety of venues, presenting a wealth of events, running from musical performances to panel discussions by Mexican neuroscientists, biotech executives, and music critics (Gerardo Kleinburg). It is also about vocal competitions (tenor Mario Rojas) and films (Sundance winner director Natalia Almada, of El General and El Velador).
A musical highlight of the festival is the Ballet/Opera Gala on Wednesday in the Palace of Fine Arts, with dancers Isaac Hernández, Yuan Yuan Tan, and Jurgita Dronina; singers Mario Rojas, Rebeca de Rueda, and Mai-Linh Pham.
The festival is a collaboration between the Mexican Foreign Ministry, the National Council for Culture and the Arts (Conaculta), Mexico’s Ministry of Tourism (SECTUR), and SFJAZZ. Their combined sponsorship makes it possible for most of the week’s activities, including Wednesday's gala, to be open to the public for free.
The festival announcement takes the bull by the horn, calling attention to the "opportunity for Bay Area residents to see and hear for themselves the many positive sides of Mexico that are not a characterization of negative stereotypes. We've heard too much of that from the mainstream media for too long."
Roemer said "We are just bringing a sample of creativity, bringing the best of Mexico which is its people, its flavors, its colors, all around the world." He added:
Mexico and the Bay Area are dynamic examples of mobility and innovation. Through MEX I AM we are affirming this exciting reality. Let’s move together. Let’s be part of this movement. Today, all California is MEX I AM.
Joe D’Alessandro, president and CEO of the San Francisco Travel Association, added: "San Francisco has a long and storied history with Mexico and in July we will see another chapter added to that legacy with an array of events, performances and exhibitions that run the gamut from the culinary to the performing arts."
Tickets are required to concerts through the week at SFJAZZ. Participating artists include GRAMMY winners Natalia La Fourcade (July 23), La Santa Cecilia (July 24), Tania Libertad in a tribute to Chavela Vargas (July 25), and Flaco Jimenez (July 26).
Correction: The original article said Roemer had invited Donald Trump to the festival. Roemer issued a statement Monday about the Trump invitation: "I want to be clear that the press asked me if I would invite him, and that my statement was only in response to [KGO] asking. My answer is 'yes, I would invite him, just as I would invite anyone, there was no special invitation.'"