Draft:Paul S. Flores

Raised beside the Mexican border, Flores.{{Cite web |title=Paul S. Flores |url=https://paulsflores.art/ |access-date=2024-06-04 |website=Paul S. Flores |language=en-US}} is a Mexican and Cuban American artist whose art draws from his childhood in Chula Vista, California and delves into the intricacies of the immigrant experience. In childhood, his single mom worked diligently to provide for his family and he looked up to his grandmother as a key figure foundational to his becoming— her example taught him unconditional love and she was the first to throw a baseball back and forth with him.

Before beginning his art career, Flores played professional baseball for the Chicago Cubs in 1992. Three years later, Flores completed his bachelor’s degree in Literature and Writing at the University of California San Diego and later moved to San Francisco, California to pursue his MFA in creative writing at San Francisco State University.

While in his MFA program, Flores started the Los Delicados {{Cite web |date=2021-11-19 |title=Los Delicados 25th Anniversary Floricanto |url=https://www.brava.org/all-events/los-delicados |access-date=2024-06-04 |website=Brava for Women in the Arts |language=en-US}}poetry collective alongside Darren J. de Leon. and Norman Zelaya. Together, the group traveled across the nation to perform poetry and found success because of their distinct Word Descarga style— their journey took them to the doorsteps of many talents like New Orleans/New York City legend Steven Cannon, and US Poet Laureate Juan Felipe Herrera,{{Cite web |date=2015-04-17 |title=Playwright Paul S. Flores' PLACAS: The Most Dangerous Tattoo is Coming to San Diego |url=https://sandiegofreepress.org/2015/04/playwright-paul-s-flores-placas-the-most-dangerous-tattoo-is-coming-to-san-diego/ |access-date=2024-06-04 |website=San Diego Free Press |language=en-US}} amongst others. In 2001, the group released “Word Descarga” {{Cite web |title=Los Delicados: Poetas del Sol 25th Anniversary Show - MACLA |url=https://maclaarte.org/events/los-delicados-poetas-del-sol-25th-anniversary-show/ |access-date=2024-06-04 |language=en-US}}and their other works have been taught in classrooms across the nation. Also in 1996, Flores confounded Youth Speaks Inc{{Cite web |title=Youth Speaks |url=https://youthspeaks.org/ |access-date=2024-06-04 |website=Youth Speaks |language=en-US}}. with writer James Kass who was also his colleague in the MFA program at SFSU. Youth Speaks became the largest youth poetry presenting program in the United States and showcases teen poets from around the world at the annual Brave New Voices: (Inter) National Teen Poetry Slam{{Cite web |title=Brave New Voices 2020 |url=https://youthspeaks.org/bravenewvoices/ |access-date=2024-06-04 |website=Youth Speaks |language=en-US}}, also seen on HBO.

In 1995 Flores’ grandmother passed away and he returned to her hometown in Havana, Cuba. There, he connected with family members as well as other artists and his travels became a catalyst for many later works like the celebrated docu-theater piece We Have Iré.{{Cite web |last=Correspondent |first=Andrew Gilbert {{!}} |date=2019-05-09 |title=Afro-Cuban artists' stories emerge in Paul S. Flores' new 'We Have Ire' |url=https://www.mercurynews.com/2019/05/09/afro-cuban-artists-stories-emerge-in-paul-s-flores-new-we-have-ire/ |access-date=2024-06-04 |website=The Mercury News |language=en-US}}

To date, Flores’ works have been performed across the nation and abroad in Cuba, El Salvador, and Mexico. Flores has received many awards–inclusive to the PEN award-winning novelist {{Cite web |title=Awards & Award Winners |url=https://www.pen-oakland.org/awards-winners |access-date=2024-06-04 |website=PEN Oakland |language=en-US}}and HBO Def Poetry Slam{{Cite AV media |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o5Wy_OW7VH4 |title=HBO Def Poetry Star Paul S. Flores @ Mike Geffner Presents The Inspired Word |date=2011-05-11 |last=InspiredWordNYC |access-date=2024-06-04 |via=YouTube}} poet–including the prestigious Doris Duke Performing Artist Award in 2015{{Cite web |title=2015 Doris Duke Artist Awards |url=https://www.dorisduke.org/grants/what-weve-funded/Grant-Recipients/2015-doris-duke-artist-awards/ |access-date=2024-06-04 |website=www.dorisduke.org}}, as well as commissions from various orgs like La Peña Cultural Center, New Jersey Performing Arts Center, Miami Light Project, Creative Capital and the MAP Fund. Today, Flores lives in San Francisco with his children and continues his work as an artist and educator.

WE STILL BE{{Cite web |title=WE STILL BE: Poems and Performances by Paul S. Flores |url=https://www.elmartillopress.com/product-page/we-still-be-poems-and-performances-by-paul-s-flores |access-date=2024-10-31 |website=El Martillo Press |language=en}}

Winner of the American Book Award in 2024.{{Cite web |date=2024-10-19 |title=American Book Award winners named |url=https://www.columbian.com/news/2024/sep/14/american-book-award-winners-named/ |access-date=2024-10-31 |website=The Columbian |language=en-US}}

We Have Iré{{Cite web |last=Lopez |first=Arnaldo J. |date=2019-09-01 |title=We Have IRÉ {{!}} Tenemos IRÉ |url=https://pregonesprtt.org/we-have-ire/ |access-date=2024-10-30 |website=Pregones/PRTT |language=en-US}}

We Have Iré debuted in 2019 and came together from the collaboration of many talents: the play written by Flores, directed by Rosalba Rolón and with original musical compositions by Yosvany Terry, amongst others{{Cite web |last=Navas |first=Danilo |date=2021-09-14 |title=Original Cast Recording of 'We Have Iré' to be Released Sep 18 2021 |url=https://latinjazznet.com/news/original-cast-recording-of-we-have-ire-to-be-released-sep-18-2021/ |access-date=2024-11-03 |website=Latin Jazz Network |language=en-US}}. The docu-theater piece spotlights four experiences of migration from Cuba to the United States and follows the protagonists’ journeys as they make their way and find their voices{{Cite web |last=Correspondent |first=Andrew Gilbert {{!}} |date=2019-05-09 |title=Afro-Cuban artists' stories emerge in Paul S. Flores' new 'We Have Ire' |url=https://www.mercurynews.com/2019/05/09/afro-cuban-artists-stories-emerge-in-paul-s-flores-new-we-have-ire/ |access-date=2024-11-03 |website=The Mercury News |language=en-US}}. The bilingual play is woven together by dance sequences, original video footage, spoken word, and the thematic element of Iré—a Yoruban concept that can be understood as the good brought upon oneself when their actions and self are aligned with goodness{{Cite web |title=Understanding the Meaning of |url=https://mykingsgate.co.za/info/meaning-of-ire-in-yoruba-2443/ |access-date=2024-11-03 |website=mykingsgate.co.za |language=en}}. At its curtain call, We Have Iré transmits a powerful story of triumph and has won multiple awards since its debut.

PLACAS: The Most Dangerous Tattoo{{Cite web |date=2012-10-05 |title=PLACAS: The Most Dangerous Tattoo (2012) - MACLA |url=https://maclaarte.org/placas-the-most-dangerous-tattoo/ |access-date=2024-10-30 |language=en-US}}

Written by Flores and directed by Michael John Garcés, PLACAS details one man’s journey to reunite with his family after surviving civil war in El Salvador and navigating a host of other hardships{{Cite web |last=Hurwitt |first=Robert |date=September 11, 2012 |title='Placas: Most Dangerous Tattoo' review |url=https://www.sfgate.com/performance/article/Placas-Most-Dangerous-Tattoo-review-3857520.php |access-date=October 15, 2024 |website=SF Gate}}. In response to an anti-immigrant political environment, the Central American Resource Center (CARECEN-SF) commissioned PLACAS to help dispel negative stereotypes surrounding Central American men—propelling forward instead an honest telling of life despite the trials that come with immigration, street violence, and incarceration{{Cite web |title=Performing Arts {{!}} Creative Work Fund |url=https://creativeworkfund.org/tag/performing-arts/page/6/ |access-date=2024-11-03 |website=creativeworkfund.org}}. To bring the play to fruition, Flores interviewed 100 gang members from the Bay Area, LA, and abroad in El Salvador and also worked in close collaboration with Alex Sanchez, the founder of LA non-profit Homies Unidos and an ex-gang member{{Cite web |date=2015-04-17 |title=Playwright Paul S. Flores' PLACAS: The Most Dangerous Tattoo is Coming to San Diego |url=https://sandiegofreepress.org/2015/04/playwright-paul-s-flores-placas-the-most-dangerous-tattoo-is-coming-to-san-diego/ |access-date=2024-11-03 |website=San Diego Free Press |language=en-US}}. PLACAS has since toured nationally and held performances in Central America.

On The Hill: I am Alex Nieto{{Cite web |date=2016-10-27 |title=On the Hill: I Am Alex Nieto |url=https://www.brava.org/all-events/2016/10/27/on-the-hill-i-am-alex-nieto |access-date=2024-10-30 |website=Brava for Women in the Arts |language=en-US}}

In March of 2014, four San Francisco police officers opened fire and killed Alex Nieto in the Mission District’s Bernal Heights{{Cite news |last=Solnit |first=Rebecca |date=2016-03-21 |title=Death by gentrification: the killing that shamed San Francisco |url=https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2016/mar/21/death-by-gentrification-the-killing-that-shamed-san-francisco |access-date=2024-11-03 |work=The Guardian |language=en-GB |issn=0261-3077}}. As the shockwaves from Nieto’s death reverberated across the city, Nieto’s family and community members came together in mourning and once more, grappled with the reality of police violence—set amidst the landscape of a rapidly changing city due to gentrification. On The Hill holds this collective grief in one hand and brings forth a retelling with the other—utilizing elements of magical realism to challenge Nieto’s death as finite{{Cite web |last=Noveno |first=Creo |date=2016-10-22 |title=Youth Drama 'On The Hill' Offers Possibilities After Nieto Killing {{!}} KQED |url=https://www.kqed.org/arts/12222464/youth-drama-on-the-hill-offers-possibilities-after-nieto-killing |access-date=2024-11-03 |website=www.kqed.org |language=en}}. Through community collaboration and interview-based workshops for audience feedback, On the Hill came to life with sequences of drumming, dance, spoken word, as well as the energy of Loco Bloco’s youth who took on the play’s roles{{Cite web |date=2016-10-27 |title=On the Hill: I Am Alex Nieto |url=https://www.brava.org/all-events/2016/10/27/on-the-hill-i-am-alex-nieto |access-date=2024-11-03 |website=Brava for Women in the Arts |language=en-US}}

We Have Iré{{Cite web |title=We Have Iré: Paul S. Flores – Miami Light Project |url=https://miamilightproject.com/event/we-have-ire-paul-s-flores/ |access-date=2024-10-30 |website=miamilightproject.com}}

You’re Gonna Cry{{Cite web |last=Wilkins |first=John |date=2016-05-09 |title=Paul Flores' 'You're Gonna Cry' Parallels The Mission in the 1990s with Today {{!}} KQED |url=https://www.kqed.org/arts/11564122/paul-flores-youre-gonna-cry-parallels-the-mission-in-the-1990s-with-today |access-date=2024-10-30 |website=www.kqed.org |language=en}}

On The Hill: I am Alex Nieto{{Cite web |date=2016-09-22 |title=On The Hill: I Am Alex Nieto |url=https://www.marinmommies.com/calendar/hill-i-am-alex-nieto |access-date=2024-10-30 |website=Marin Mommies |language=en}}

Along the Border Lies{{Cite book |last=Flores |first=Paul S. |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=r5laAAAAMAAJ |title=Along the Border Lies |date=2001 |publisher=Creative Arts Book Company |isbn=978-0-88739-478-2 |language=en}}

PLACAS: The Most Dangerous Tattoo{{Cite web |last=Morris |first=Asia |date=2015-04-14 |title=PLACAS: THE MOST DANGEROUS TATTOO a Tale of Civil War, Immigration, Deportation, Prison and Street Violence |url=https://lbpost.com/hi-lo/art/stage-play-to-depict-salvadoran-immigrant-s-experience-reuniting-his-family/ |access-date=2024-10-30 |website=the Hi-lo |language=en-US}}

The Chicano Messengers of Spoken Word{{Cite web |title=The Chicano Messengers of Spoken Word |url=https://storage.googleapis.com/amaliaortiz/chicanomessengers.htm |access-date=2024-10-30 |website=storage.googleapis.com}}

Los Delicados Word with Jimmy Biala{{Cite web |title=Los Delicados' Podcast Descarga |url=https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/los-delicados-podcast-descarga/id1587498260 |access-date=2024-10-30 |website=Apple Podcasts |language=en-US}}

Walter & Elise Haas Creative Work Fund “Somos Esenciales / We Are Essential” (2021){{Cite web |title=Paul Flores and Accion Latina {{!}} Creative Work Fund |url=https://creativeworkfund.org/?portfolio=paul-flores-and-accion-latina |access-date=2024-10-30 |website=creativeworkfund.org}}

National Association of Latino Arts & Culture (NALAC) Catalyst for Change Award (2020){{Cite web |date=2023-05-12 |title=Paul S. Flores |url=https://www.nalac.org/members/paul-flores/ |access-date=2024-10-30 |website=www.nalac.org/ |language=en-US}}

Kenneth Rainin Foundation New Program Grant “History Matters in The Mission” (2020)

San Francisco Arts Commission Individual Artist Grant “History Matters in The Mission”  (2020){{Cite web |title=2020 Grantees {{!}} San Francisco Arts Commission |url=https://www.sfartscommission.org/content/2020-grantees |access-date=2024-10-30 |website=www.sfartscommission.org}}

Creative Capital Award "We Have Iré” (2019){{Cite web |title=We Have Iré |url=https://creative-capital.org/projects/we-have-ire/ |access-date=2024-10-30 |website=Creative Capital |language=en}}

SFFILM-Westridge Grant Screenwriting “Placas” (2018){{Cite web |date=2018-11-20 |title=AwardsWatch - Winners announced for Fall 2018 SFFILM Westridge Grants |url=https://awardswatch.com/winners-announced-for-fall-2018-sffilm-westridge-grants/ |access-date=2024-10-30 |website=AwardsWatch |language=en-US}}

The California Endowment Healing Through The Arts (FFSJ) “Pilgrim Street" (2018)

National Performance Network Creation Fund "We Have Iré”  (2018){{Cite web |title=2023-2024 Season |url=https://caramiatheatre.org/2023-2024-season/ |access-date=2024-10-31 |website=Cara Mía Theatre |language=en-US}}

San Francisco Arts Commission Individual Artist Grant “Pilgrim Street" (2018){{Cite web |title=Full Commission - May 7, 2018 - Minutes {{!}} San Francisco Arts Commission |url=https://www.sfgov.org/arts/meeting/full-commission-may-7-2018-minutes |access-date=2024-10-31 |website=www.sfgov.org}}

California Arts Council/Artist in Community (Fathers & Families—FFSJ) "Pilgrim Street” (2018){{Cite web |title=Pilgrim Street |url=http://www.zspace.org/pilgrimstreet |access-date=2024-10-31 |website=Z Space |language=en-US}}

Headlands Center for the Arts Artist in Residence (2018){{Cite web |date=2018-02-23 |title=Paul Flores - Headlands Center for the Arts |url=https://www.headlands.org/artist/paul-flores/ |access-date=2024-10-31 |website=Headlands Center for the Arts - |language=en}}

CCI Investing in Artists Award “We Have Iré” (2017){{Cite news |last=Center for Cultural Innovation |date=October 2, 2017 |title=Press Release: Center for Cultural Innovation Grants Artistic Innovation Awards to Bay Area Performing and Media Artists |url=https://www.cciarts.org/_Library/investing_releases/IA_Press_Release_2017.pdf }}

Walter and Elise Haas Creative Work Fund “We Have Iré” (2017){{Cite web |title=It's Here! We Have Ire Premieres at Yerba Buena Center for the Arts {{!}} Creative Work Fund |url=https://creativeworkfund.org/its-here-we-have-ire-premieres-at-yerba-buena-center-for-the-arts/ |access-date=2024-10-31 |website=creativeworkfund.org}}

MAP Fund “We Have Iré" (2017){{Cite web |date=2017-05-22 |title=We Have Iré (MAP 2017) |url=https://mapfund.org/we-have-ire-map-2017/ |access-date=2024-10-31 |website=MAP Fund |language=en-US}}

Kenneth Rainin Foundation Theater Arts Grant "On The Hill: I Am Alex Nieto” (2016){{Cite web |title=NPN/VAN 2017 Annual Conference in San Francisco, CA |url=https://npnweb.org/site/annualconference2017/attendees/index.html |access-date=2024-10-31 |website=NPN/VAN 2017 Annual Conference in San Francisco, CA |language=en-US}}

Gerbode Hewlett Theater Commissioning Award “Pilgrim Street” (2015){{Cite web |title=Special Awards in the Arts |url=https://www.gerbode.org/special-awards-in-the-arts |access-date=2024-10-31 |website=Gerbode Foundation |language=en-US}}

NALAC Fund for the Arts Individual Arts Grant “Pilgrim Street” (2015){{Cite web |date=2023-05-12 |title=Paul S. Flores |url=https://www.nalac.org/members/paul-flores/ |access-date=2024-10-31 |website=www.nalac.org/ |language=en-US}}

Doris Duke Performing Artist Award: Theater (2015){{Cite web |title=2015 Doris Duke Artist Awards |url=https://www.dorisduke.org/grants/what-weve-funded/Grant-Recipients/2015-doris-duke-artist-awards/ |access-date=2024-10-31 |website=www.dorisduke.org}}

California Shakespeare Theater/Triangle Lab Artist investigator (2015)

KQED Latino Heritage Local Hero Award, KQED and Union Bank (2014){{Cite web |last=Bank |first=Union |title=Union Bank and KQED Honor Two Bay Area Local Heroes during Latino Heritage Month |url=https://www.prweb.com/releases/union_bank_and_kqed_honor_two_bay_area_local_heroes_during_latino_heritage_month/prweb12224214.htm |access-date=2024-10-31 |website=www.prweb.com |language=en}}

The California Endowment Advancing Health Equity Through Arts & Culture "Placas”  (2014){{Cite web |date=2015-04-17 |title=Playwright Paul S. Flores' PLACAS: The Most Dangerous Tattoo is Coming to San Diego |url=https://sandiegofreepress.org/2015/04/playwright-paul-s-flores-placas-the-most-dangerous-tattoo-is-coming-to-san-diego/ |access-date=2024-10-31 |website=San Diego Free Press |language=en-US}}

The California Arts Council Creating Places of Vitality Program “Placas” (2013){{Cite web |title=California Arts Council Announces "Creating Places of Vitality" Grant Recipients |url=https://arts.ca.gov/press-release/california-arts-council-announces-creating-places-of-vitality-grant-recipients/ |access-date=2024-10-31 |website=California Arts Council |language=en-US}}

Zellerbach Family Foundation “Placas" (2013){{Cite news |last=Mission Cultural Center for Latino Arts |date=Jan 31, 2013 |title=San Francisco Arts Commission Mid Year Report |url=https://www.sfgov.org/arts/sites/default/files/Documents/sfac/CAEG_Explanatory_Documents/MCCLAmid.pdf }}

Walter and Elise Haas Creative Work Fund “Placas” (2012)

National Performance Network Creation Fund “Placas" (2012)

Phyllis C Wattis Foundation “Placas” (2011){{Cite web |title=GRANTS AWARDED {{!}} The Phyllis C. Wattis Foundation |url=https://www.phylliscwattisfoundation.org/grants-awarded |access-date=2024-10-31 |website=Wattis |language=en}}

SF Weekly 2011 Best Politically Active Hip-Hop Performance Artist (2011){{Cite web |title=Artist Talk {{!}} "WE HAVE IRÉ" {{!}} MoAD |url=https://www.moadsf.org/event/artist-talk-we-have-ire |access-date=2024-10-31 |website=www.moadsf.org}}

National Endowment for the Arts Theater Grant “Placas” (2011)

Center for Cultural Innovation Investing in Artists Round VI “You’re Gonna Cry” (2010)

Theater Bay Area CA$H Grant “You’re Gonna Cry” (2010)

NALAC Fund for the Arts Individual Artist Grant “You’re Gonna Cry” (2010){{Cite web |date=2023-05-12 |title=Paul S. Flores |url=https://www.nalac.org/members/paul-flores/ |access-date=2024-10-31 |website=www.nalac.org/ |language=en-US}}

Zellerbach Family Foundation/W A Gerbode Foundation Grant “You’re Gonna Cry” (2009)

San Francisco Arts Commission Arts and Communities Grant “Placas”  (2008){{Cite news |last=SFAC |title=San Francisco Arts Commission: Agency Report on District-BasedProgramming |url=https://www.sfartscommission.org/sites/default/files/documents/sfacrepfinalsmall.pdf |pages=3}}

San Francisco Foundation Technology and Changing Demographics Commission, Center for Cultural Innovation (California) Investing in Artists Grant Round III "Representa!” (2008)

Network of Cultural Centers of Color (NCCC) & NPN Artist of Color Residency (2008){{Cite web |title=[Miracle Insider] 'Spanish or English, it's the humanity that shines through.' |url=https://groups.io/g/pdxbackstage/topic/miracle_insider_spanish_or/49808870 |access-date=2024-10-31 |website=groups.io |language=en-US}}

{{reflist}}