New Mexico Artisans
Join State Tourism Department
at Harbourfront Centre's Canada Day Festival

Taos woodcarver and santero Carlos Barela and Frederick Aragon - Native American flute player, storyteller and artist - will join the New Mexico Tourism Department at the Harbourfront Centre in Toronto, Canada for Canada Day festivities July 1-3, 2006, thanks to the sponsorship of the US Consulate in Toronto.

Barela and Aragon will perform on the Harbourfront Centre Toronto Star Stage and at the Harbourfront Centre Market Place during the multi-disciplinary festival, "Canada Day: Power of Place."

Harbourfront Centre, on Toronto's waterfront, is an innovative non-profit cultural organization which creates events and activities that enliven, educate and entertain a diverse public with artists and art forms that would not normally be seen in commercial venues.

"The Centre is Canada's largest contemporary cultural centre," said Mark Trujillo, director of North American Tour Trade for the New Mexico Tourism Department (NMTD). "We are pleased to have been invited to participate in the Canada Day Festival. Through the talents of these two gifted performers and our efforts during the festival to promote New Mexico, Canadians will be given an informative and entertaining taste of the Land of Enchantment's incredible culture."

Barela, born and raised in Talpa, is the grandson of internationally famous woodcarver Patrocinio Barela. In Canada, he will demonstrate and explain this traditional craft unique to the Southwest. The santero holds a special place in both the New Mexican Hispanic culture and the arts.

Aragon is of Navajo, Hispanic and Anglo decent. His stories, told in music that embraces the soul, forces reflection on how the decisions we make affect the lives of those around us. In Canada, he will use these musical stories to demonstrate "how this land of contrasts is a reflection of everything that is in all of us."

"Canada remains one of New Mexico's top international markets," NMTD Secretary Michael Cerletti said. "The Harbourfront Centre is an incredible place, bustling with activity all summer long. Canada Day is one of the summer's top events and our presence there again this year keeps us in touch with our neighbors to the north. We are pleased Frederick Aragon and Carlos Barela will be on hand to join in the fun."

Harbourfront Centre along Lake Ontario is a cultural and educational centre for the performing arts, and a major Canadian tourist destination, offering music, dance, theatre, film, readings, visual arts, craft and kids' activities to approximately 2 million people over the course of the summer. The Summer Festivals enjoy very loyal and enthusiastic audiences in numbers averaging 60,000 each week. Approximately 72 percent of the Centre's visitors are from the greater Toronto area.

For more information, Mark Trujillo, 505-827-5832 or mark.trujillo@state.nm.us.

Mike Stauffer, Communications Director, New Mexico Tourism Department
505-827-7379, mike.stauffer@state.nm.us

Sarah Robarts
sarah@ballantinespr.com
310-454-3080 Tel.
310 570 7355 Cell
http://www.ballantinespr.com