SanTana’s Fairy Tales is an oral history, storytelling project initiated by author Sarah Rafael García, which integrates community-based narratives to create contemporary fairytales and fables that represent the history and stories of Mexican/Mexican-American residents of Santa Ana (inspired by the Grimms’ Fairy Tales).
The initial exhibition at CSUF Grand Central Art Center in Santa Ana, California presented a multi-media installation with carousel artifacts on loan by the city and a performance was curated in collaboration with local visual, musical, and performance artists. The exhibit showcased bilingual, single-story zines, a fully illustrated published book, an ebook, a large format classical book, graphic art by Sol Art Radio‘s Carla Zarate, an “open book” performance, along with composed music by Viento Callejero‘s Gloria Estrada, who is supported by local singer/songwriter Ruby Castellanos and members of the Pacific Symphony and Transgeneros En Accion/Transgender in Action. The entire collection was translated by poet Julieta Corpus and published by Raspa Press. The ebook was produced by Digitus Indie Publishers. Digital archives were collected and assembled by Mariana Bruno—visit the SanTana’s Fairy Tales website too!
SanTana’s Fairy Tales was supported in part by The Andy Warhol Foundation for the Visual Arts, through a grant supporting the Artist-in-Residence initiative at Grand Central Art Center. Currently a version of the exhibit as it the Center for Study of the Southwest at Texas State University and will be at Northwest Vista College in San Antonio, Texas September 15 thru October 15, 2018.
In the Media, Publications & Events:
Interview with Sarah Rafael García — Kirkus Reviews, September 29, 2017
Sarah Rafael García Captures Santa Ana’s History and Gentrification Through Fairy Tales — KCET, April 25, 2017
Chicana Author Sarah Rafael García Returns Home to Tell “SanTana’s Fairy Tales” — OC Weekly, April 21, 2016
SanTana’s Fairy Tales is available on LibroMobile at Grand Central Art Center, Raspa Press and buy request a your nearby library and bookstore!
Sarah Rafael García 