Registration is open for the symposium! Symposium space is limited, so please register early.

Link: http://bit.ly/montoya-reg

• General Admission, $20 (with registration)

• Conference Presenters and Students, FREE (with registration)

Friday -- Francisco Aragón, David Campos, Daniel Chacón, Gabe Gomez, Laurie Ann Guerrero, Juan Felipe Herrera, Lee Herrick, Sheryl Luna, Paul Martinez Pompa, Emma Trelles, Felicia Zamora

Saturday -- Marisol Baca, Sara Borjas, Erika Ceballos, Daniel Chacón, Kenneth Robert Chacón, Sarah A. Chavez, Anthony Cody, Ronald Dzerigian, Carlos Espinoza, Stephanie Fetta, Rigoberto González, Cynthia Guardado, Juan Luis Guzmán, Corrinne Clegg Hales, Nancy Hernandez, Tim Z. Hernandez, Lee Herrick, S. Bryan Medina, Michael Luis Medrano, Maceo Montoya, Monique Quintana, Joseph Rios, Teresa Tarazi, Emma Trelles, James Tyner, Robert Vasquez

To Arte Américas (1630 Van Ness Ave, Fresno 93721)

Coming from Southern California: 99 North; Take Exit 132B for Fresno Street; Turn right (east) onto Fresno Street, and continue for 0.6 miles; Turn left (north) onto Van Ness Ave, and continue for 0.4 miles. Arte will be on the right, on the northeast corner of Van Ness and Calaveras.

Coming from Northern California: 99 South; Take Exit 133B for CA-180 East/Kings Canyon; loop onto CA-180 East; Take Exit 57B for Fulton/Van Ness, and keep right; Turn right (south) onto Fulton Street one-way, and continue for 0.3 miles; Turn left (east) on Divisadero; Turn right (south) on Van Ness Ave, and continue for 0.2 miles. Arte will be on the left, on the northeast corner of Van Ness and Calaveras.

Coming from the Holiday Inn Express or the Hilton Garden Inn: Take Shaw Avenue and head west (away from the mountains); Take CA-168 West, and continue for 3.3 miles; Keep right and take Exit 1A for CA-180 West/CA-41; Keep left at the fork, and merge onto CA-180 West/Kerman, continuing for 2.3 miles; Take Exit 57B for Fulton/Van Ness, and keep right out of the loop; Turn right (south) onto Fulton Street one-way, and continue for 0.3 miles; Turn left (east) on Divisadero; Turn right (south) on Van Ness Ave, and continue for 0.2 miles. Arte will be on the left, on the northeast corner of Van Ness and Calaveras.

Parking at Arte: Available in surface lot at northwest corner of Van Ness and Calaveras, in surface lot behind ValleyPBS at southeast corner of Van Ness and Calaveras, or on the street. 

To Library at Fresno State (5200 N Barton Ave, Fresno 93740)

Coming from Southern California: 99 North; Take Exit 131 for CA-41 North/Yosemite, and continue for 2.7 miles; Take Exit 128A for CA-180 East/Kings Canyon for 1.4 miles; Keep left at the fork, and merge onto CA-168 East/Clovis, and continue for 3.4 miles; Take Exit 4 for Shaw Avenue; Turn left (west) onto Shaw, and continue for 1 mile; Fresno State will be on the right.

Coming from Northern California: 99 South; Take Exit 133B for CA-180 East/Kings Canyon; loop onto CA-180 East, continuing for 4.7 miles; Take the forked exit for CA-168 East/Clovis, and continue for 3.4 miles; Take Exit 4 for Shaw Avenue; Turn left (west) onto Shaw, and continue for 1 mile; Fresno State will be on the right.

Coming from the Holiday Inn Express or the Hilton Garden Inn: Take Shaw Avenue and head west (away from the mountains), and continue for 1.4 miles; Fresno State will be on the right.

Parking at The Library: Best to enter campus at the Shaw and Barton entrance. Parking is free on weekends in recommended Lots P30 and P31, with a short walk to the library. If those lots are full, you can park for free near the Shaw and Maple entrance in recommended Lot P1, with a bit longer walk to the library. 

Link to campus map

Map of Fresno State campus

Map of inside Library (customized for symposium)

Map of restaurants near Fresno State campus

Friday evening - Opening Celebration
Location: Arte Américas

6 p.m.
Social hour

6:45 p.m.
Opening remarks and welcome, followed by a keynote by Juan Felipe Herrera

7:15 p.m.
Readings by winners of the Andrés Montoya Poetry Prize

8:45 p.m.
Reception

Saturday morning - Panel Discussions
Location: Library at Fresno State

9 a.m. - 12:30 p.m. (HML 2108)
Registration, check-in, coffee & pastries

9:45 - 11 a.m. (HML 2206)
Panel A - Poetics: Responding to the Poems of Andrés Montoya

11:15 a.m. - 12:30 p.m. (HML 2206)
Panel B - The Gift of Poetry: Teaching the Poems of Andrés Montoya

Saturday afternoon - Panel Discussions
Location: Library at Fresno State

12:30 - 2 p.m.
Lunch on your own

2 - 5 p.m. (HML 2108)
Registration, check-in, coffee & pastries

2:15 - 3:30 p.m. (HML 2206)
Panel C - Remembering Andrés Montoya: Personal Testimonials

3:45 - 5 p.m. (HML 2206)
Panel D - Revisiting Pákatelas: The Ongoing Influence of Andrés Montoya

Saturday evening - Closing Celebration
Location: Library at Fresno State

5 - 6:30 p.m.
Dinner on your own

7 p.m. (Table Mountain Rancheria Reading Room)
- Winners of student poetry contest read their poems, followed by remarks from Maceo Montoya and Montoya family members

7:30 p.m. (Table Mountain Rancheria Reading Room)
Readings of select Andrés Montoya poems by community members

8:30 p.m. (Table Mountain Rancheria Reading Room)
Reception

Location: Arte Américas

6 p.m.
Social hour

6:45 p.m.
- Opening remarks: Daniel Chacón

- Welcome: Saúl Jiménez-Sandoval, dean of the College of Arts and Humanities at Fresno State

- Keynote: Juan Felipe Herrera, introduced by Lee Herrick

7:15 p.m.
- Readings by winners of the Andrés Montoya Poetry Prize, introduced by Francisco Aragón

- Featuring: David Campos, Gabe Gomez, Laurie Ann Guerrero, Sheryl Luna, Paul Martínez Pompa, Emma Trelles, Felicia Zamora

Letras Latinas commissioned the Andrés Montoya Poetry Prize winners to read “a jury of trees” and then to write between two and four new poems that respond to or dialogue with Montoya’s work. Each of the seven prize winners will read one of their commissioned poems, inspired by Montoya and selected by Aragón, with a second poem of their choosing, for a total of 14 poems honoring Montoya.

8:45 p.m.
Reception

Location: Library at Fresno State

9 a.m. (HML 2108)
Registration, check-in, coffee & pastries

9:45 - 11 a.m. (HML 2206)
Panel A - Poetics: Responding to the Poems of Andrés Montoya
Featuring Stephanie Fetta, Anthony Cody, Ronald Dzerigian, Sara Borjas, Sarah A. Chavez

Montoya’s poems leave a lasting emotional impact--as only powerful truth-telling can do--on his readers. At the same time, these poems contribute significantly to the larger literary and cultural conversation. Five panelists who have studied and lived with these poems will offer a variety of expert critical responses, craft discussions, and more personal responses.

11:15 a.m. - 12:30 p.m. (HML 2206)
Panel B - The Gift of Poetry: Teaching the Poems of Andrés Montoya
Featuring Juan Luis Guzmán, Nancy Hernandez, Teresa Tarazi, Cynthia Guardado

The universal appeal and clarity of Montoya’s poetry, his direct, articulate voice, and the specific local references and imagery that drive these poems unlock an exciting door for our students (even those unfamiliar with or resistant to poetry) to the powerful and essential world of a contemporary poetry that speaks to them and with them. Teachers who teach these poems at various educational levels will share their classroom experiences and offer innovative ideas and suggestions for bringing this poetry to our students. 

Location: Library at Fresno State

12:30 - 2 p.m.
Lunch on your own

2 - 5 p.m. (HML 2108)
Registration, check-in, coffee & pastries

2:15 - 3:30 p.m. (HML 2206)
Panel C - Remembering Andrés Montoya: Personal Testimonials
Featuring Daniel Chacón, Corrinne Clegg Hales, Lee Herrick, Maceo Montoya

Hear personal anecdotes about Montoya as a young man, writer, brother, and student---from panelists who knew him well. The panelists include Montoya’s brother, his closest friend and college roommate, a friend in poetry, and a poetry professor of his. These panelists will share humorous and humanizing stories about Montoya and perhaps shed light on Andres Montoya the friend, brother, and poet.

3:45 - 5 p.m. (HML 2206)
Panel D - Revisiting Pákatelas: The Ongoing Influence of Andrés Montoya
Featuring Marisol Baca, Kenneth Robert Chacón, Monique Quintana, Joseph Rios, Tim Z. Hernandez 

Montoya’s influence transcends region, gender, and genre. These panelists will discuss how Montoya’s work influences their own and explore the reasons why his poetry has had such a far reach. These panelists will talk about connections between Montoya’s work and the work of other poets, and the ways his legacy has been kept alive and will continue to shape future generations of writers.

Location: Library at Fresno State

5 - 6:30 p.m.
Dinner on your own

7 p.m. (Table Mountain Rancheria Reading Room)
- Opening remarks: Corrinne Clegg Hales

- Winners of Your Song: Student Poetry Contest read their poems inspired by Andrés Montoya

Lineup: Frances Rundle (Washington Union High School), Faith Zako (Los Banos High School), Sophia Bautista (Fresno City College), Paul Sanchez (Fresno State)

- Remarks from Maceo Montoya and Richard Montoya

7:30 p.m. (Table Mountain Rancheria Reading Room)
Readings of select Andrés Montoya poems by community members

Lineup: Francisco Aragón, Marisol Baca, Sara Borjas, Erika Ceballos, Carlos Espinoza, Rigoberto González, Corrinne Clegg Hales, S. Bryan Medina, Michael Luis Medrano, Maceo Montoya, Emma Trelles, James Tyner, Robert Vasquez

8:30 p.m. (Table Mountain Rancheria Reading Room)
Reception

Download flyer

A $100 prize will be awarded to each of 3 winners, and winning poems will be published in this year’s issue of Flies, Cockroaches and Poets, the literary journal produced by the Chicano Writers and Artists Association. Winners will also be invited to read their winning poems on April 14 at the Montoya symposium at Fresno State.

Submissions are invited from currently enrolled Central Valley high school students, community college and university undergraduates, and graduate students. Each of the 3 levels will be judged separately. Submissions will be accepted from individual writers, or from teachers (with written permission of the student author).

The judges will be poets Marisol Baca and David Campos.

Marisol Baca is the author of Tremor, a full length collection of poems forthcoming in January 2018 from Three Mile Harbor Press. Marisol’s work has been published in Narrative Northeast, Riverlit, Shadowed: An Anthology of Women Writers, The Acentos Review, and many others. She was born in Albuquerque, New Mexico, and grew up around generations of family in an old adobe house. Her family later settled in Fresno, California. She received her MFA in Creative Writing from Cornell University and won the Robert Chasen poetry award for her poem, Revelato. Currently, Marisol is an English instructor at Fresno City College, and lives with her husband in a house in the center of town. She continues to write and teach, and is busy working on her second book.

David Campos, a CantoMundo Fellow, is the author of Furious Dusk, from University of Notre Dame Press, 2015. It is the winner of the Andres Montoya Poetry Prize 2014. His poems have appeared in The American Poetry Review, Luna Luna, Prairie Schooner, QueenMobs Teahouse, and among many others. He co-founded, alongside poet Michael Luis Medrano, the Pákatelas literary radio show on KFCF 88.1 FM Fresno in 2009, and he served as a co-host and editor until 2011. David earned an MFA in Creative Writing and Writing for the Performing Arts from the University of California, Riverside in 2013. He earned his B.A. in English - English Education Option from California State University, Fresno in 2010. Currently, he lives in Fresno and teaches English at Fresno City College and College of the Sequoias.

Each writer may submit up to 3 poems (no more than 5 pages total).

Each poem must be written in response to, or influenced by, a poem by the late Fresno poet Andrés Montoya.

Poem must be the original, unpublished work of the writer.

Complete an online form with your personal info:
http://bit.ly/FSmontoyapoems

Email your poetry submission to creativewriting@mail.fresnostate.edu with the poem(s) as a single PDF or DOC attachment. The file name should include your last name.

Official Website

Andrés Montoya is the author of two books: a jury of trees, published posthumously in 2017 by Bilingual Press (in conjunction with Letras Latinas, Institute for Latino Studies, University of Notre Dame), and edited by writer Daniel Chacón; and the ice worker sings and other poems (Bilingual Press, 1999), which won first prize in the 1997 UC Irvine Chicano Latino Literary Prize (selected by Francisco X. Alarcon), and also won the American Book Award from the Before Columbus Foundation. His play, El Muerto: Three Conversations, was produced in 1994 (University of Oregon), and his poetry won the 1993 AWP Intro Award.

Andrés graduated from Fowler High School and then graduated from Fresno State, where he served as student body president (1991-92). He earned his MFA in Creative Writing at the University of Oregon in 1994, and he went on to teach writing at several colleges and universities, including University of Oregon, Chabot College, Fresno City College, as well as Fresno State. Andrés was a gifted poet and prose writer, a generous and devoted teacher, and an energetic community and campus leader. He died of leukemia in spring of 1999.

During his years as a student at Fresno State, Andrés was one of the co-founders of the Chicano Writers and Artists Association (CWAA), a student-run organization that sparked a blossoming of Chicano arts at Fresno State and continues to publish a journal, organize readings of prose and poetry, and encourage artistic expression of the Chicano experience. He was a founding editor of the CWAA journal Pachuco Children Hurl Stones (also known as Flies, Cockroaches and Poets) which continues to be a successful annual literary arts journal at Fresno State.

the iceworker sings and other poems, 1999, Bilingual Press, ISBN-13: 978-0927534864

a jury of trees, 2017, Bilingual Press, ISBN-13: 978-1939743190

6 poems from the iceworker sings

constellation

declaration

love at the beginning

three thousand lost kisses

Andrés Montoya Poetry Prize at the Institute for Latino Studies, University of Notre Dame

El Tocolote: Chicano poet's family artistic legacy celebrated