The coolest "gente" in San Anto!!: Today's Press Event for "Una Noche de La Gloria" One night only 10.10.09 Guadalupe Zone

ongoing series: FOTObyHotoagostocuellar

"Break it up...breakdown"

Youth Advocate perform during First Friday Art/Fashion Walk. April 2009.
(this is part of the on-going work-in-progress Foto by Hoto series)

Tepeyac: World Premiere & Reception

On the cover of the Conexion:San Antonio,Texas.

Wow, I really did not see this coming when I was first approached, i just thought it would be a filler story and then to have Melissa Renteria,the writer of the article to come and tell in person, in a very calm manner, "oh you are on the cover" I really honestly was surprised and she caught my reaction of disbelief and laughed as I kept saying "are you serious?". She was very..and I was shocked in a good way. This publicity that raises the profile of local fashion in San Antonio is a"trailer"/tease of the awesome things to come for this community of fashionistas,as we connect daily with other talented designers at different levels in their careers and almost our duty as recognized designers to give an opportunity to the up-and-coming bunch of raw talent in San Antonio, giving these aspiring designers a realistic vision of the fashion industry and the dedicatio n and hard work that go along with this profession. I am honored to have been signaled out as a
Mexicano-americano-chicano gay designer in a very conservvtive town, they call San Antonio the Virgin City...i guess I know why

2 out of 3 ain't bad: "A conversation with Franco Mondini-Ruiz"

Tonight my friend, Franco Mondini-Ruiz was at the San Antonio Museum of Art in San Antonio,
in conversation with David S. Rubin of the museum, wow it was a standing room only after all the seats filled up in the huge auditorium , at I point I was kicked out or asked to leave as i was standing at the very back wall of the space next to the camera guy, like 5 of us standing there were told it was a fire hazard. I just exited one door and came around the other side and saw my friend Patricia who was volunteering at SAMA, she let me hide there for the remainder of the talk and Franco was so sweet and loving to his crowd, he packed them in..and he made me laugh
San Anto's true art hero, Franco has traveled the world promoting his hometown thru his artwork and his book HIGH PINK: Tex-mex Fairy Tale is a best-seller and it was great to celebrate one of our home-grown talents..
Plus I got to see some awesome movers and shaker's in the art world let's see... my dear friend Sandra Cisneros, David Zamora Casas,Terry Ybanez,Norman Avila,Bettie Ward,Chuck Ramirez,Kristy Perez,Felix Padron,Micheal Casey,Will Muniz,La Letty,Lisa Ortiz,Joan Fredrick,
Henry Stien,La Victoria,Jane Madrigal,Angelina Mata,Beto Gonzales,Lloyd Walsh,Kimberly Aubuchon,Arturo Alemeida.plus many more..Okay you get the idea....I did miss the after-party at the old Luigi's on San Pedro.
A Fabulous 1960's Dolce Vita style restaurant featuring Roman summer buffet.
And the 2009 edition of "art of fashion" is set to go in early October. As part of San Antonio"s First ever Fashion Week..exciting

"Miss America" a new play by Jesus Alonzo

Opening night & Gala: Miss America in pictures( a sneak peak)

The Esperanza Peace and Juctice center present Miss America: a Mexicanito Fairy's tale, anew play by Jesus Alonzo, writer of "Jotos del barrio".directed by Maria A. Ibarra, asst. director: Mara Posada,stage mgr: Franco O.,set design: Adriana Garcia, light design: Billy Munoz, wig design: Rene Roberts. here are a few behind the scenes from mISS aMERICA. with more to come.



Miss Kourtney Devereaux, performing after the play as part of a special drag show.on gala night

My awesome friend Mo(aka Maureen) we have known each other since 1983. An educator @ middle school level and also a trained pianist...I love this girl, a true inspiration.
Eli Rios, Video Design for MISS america , I LOVE THIS COOL KAT. we go way back. since the Guadalupe days early 90's.
me & cast member, Javier Simons who plays La Chuy, Miss Texas.

These past 2 nights the play that I have been working on with the costumes & wardrobe opened this weekend to sold-out houses and standing O's from the buena gente(GOOD PEOPLE).
The the first 2 runs are over and we are touching hearts and opening minds through laughter and tears.. I ran into some dear friends and along the way, met new ones,( pictured above) me & Patricia, an educator who is a dear friend and loves collecting my original jewelry.

Play opens tonight

It has been a long time coming and finally it is opening night, long nights with plenty of stress,
I am the costume designer for the show and this is one with many costume changes that involve
detail and time period..I want to thank all the cast, the director Maria A. Ibarra, the writer Jesus Alonzo, my assistants John/John, hair Rene Roberts, make-up Courtney Devareux and our leading lady lengendary Erica Andrews..Show dates June 19th&20th, June 26th&27th
and July 3rd. All shows 8pm @ Esperanza Peace & Justice center, San Antonio, Texas.
Miss America: A Mexicanito Fairy's tale:" We enter the magical world of Chuy, a nine year-old
son of working class immigrants, who dreams of becoming Miss America. chuy loves pagents,
Vicki Carr, and telenovelas..But can Chuy's suenos survive when he comes face to face with the realities of the world? Prejustice against mexicans, immigrants, and worker's. with the help of friends la Virgen de Guadalupe, Miss Texas and a fabulous fairy godmother. Chuy journeys to new realizations of his gender, race, and class and how these aspects of his identidad will shape and be shaped by his rose-colored dreams". well like they say "break a leg"......