Mission teacher's sculpture in Salt Lake City exhibit

By Edwina P. Garza

The line of people stretches well over a dozen. They are children, young couples and elderly people standing 10 inches tall, all waiting for what could be hours, to greet Jesus Christ, whose hands and feet are extended toward the crowd.

A father swings his son around while his wife waits attentively. A young man guides an elderly blind man, and others stand to the side in awe.

“It’s everyday people,” said Filiberto Gutierrez, a McAllen resident that teaches art at Mission High School. “You can put yourself into their position, and ask yourself, ‘Which one am I?’”

Gutierrez’s artwork, titled “Come Unto Jesus,” earned a purchase award at the Eighth International Art Competition at The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints’ Church History Museum. The artwork is currently featured in an exhibit with other purchase and merit award work, which started in late-March, and will remain there in Salt Lake City until October.

The exhibit competition was titled “Remembering the great things of God” where artists portrayed diverse subjects and themes that cover the Latter-day Saint experience. That includes The Church, family and personal history, the scriptures, gospel teachings, individuals applying religious values in their lives, ancient and modern prophets, and the Savior, according to the museum’s Web site.

Close to 1,400 entries were submitted from 44 different countries. Only 200 were included in the museum’s exhibit.

Gutierrez’s work, which took him eight months to complete, features a total of 36 clay figures.

“I’ve entered two other times before,” he said. “Both times (my submissions) were accepted as part of the exhibition.”

He was also commissioned by The Church to do a nativity scene about two years ago. The request, he said, astonished him, as it’s something he never envisioned for himself as an artist.

“My sculptures are clay, some look like pots with heads and hands,” he said of his work. “Sometimes you really get into it. Sometimes the mood or your inner ganas (desire) get so intense. I think it’s in spurts where anything you create is wonderful, but it doesn’t happen everyday.”

Gutierrez completed his 23rd year of teaching art at MHS recently. An artist for about 30 years, he teaches students drawing, paintings and ceramics along with art history.

When starting a project, Gutierrez said he tries to come up with a general idea, which often births a different result.

“Sometimes, you see the clay and you see what you’re making and you haven’t even touched the clay yet,” he said.

That doesn’t faze Gutierrez. He said artwork that’s spontaneous is more creative and inspired.

“I’m grateful to the museum, and to the family for allowing me time to work and God because he gave me the talent,” Gutierrez said.

Gutierrez has about two years to complete his next entry to the contest. So far, he hasn’t really thought of what he might want to portray.

“It’ll take time to get started,” he said. “Getting started is the hardest part.”

Mission calls special election

The City of Mission has ordered a special election to be held August 22 to fill the unexpired term of former Councilman Celestino Ramirez who passed away May 18.

The position up for election is Councilmember for Place One, and the unexpired term will expire in May 2010, when the place will again be up for election.

The filing period for this election is June 9 through June 16. Any qualified candidate may file for the position before 5 p.m., June 16 with the city secretary at Mission City Hall, located at 1201 E. 8th Street. As of press time, only Maria Elena Ramirez, wife of the deceased Councilman Ramirez, had filed for the position.

Ballots by mail may be requested from the city secretary between June 23 and August 14. Early voting will be held by personal appearance at Mission City Hall on weekdays beginning August 5 and ending Tuesday, August 18.

Father's Day Giveaway

Readers of the Progress Times will have the chance to win $100 cash plus a four pack of mid-field seat tickets to see a RGV Dorados game at the Dodge Arena just in time for Father’s Day.

The tickets provide mid-field seating for the Dorados vs Bossier-Shreveport Battlewings on Saturday, June 20. Game time is 7:30 p.m. The ticket and cash package is a value of over $200.

Readers may register to win the game tickets and cash by filling out the contest entry form in today’s edition of the Progress Times and delivering the form to any of the contest sponsors listed in the ad in today’s newspaper. Entry forms will also be available at each of the locations listed in the ad. Or the form can be downloaded in PDF format and printed out by going to the Progress Times Web site www.progresstimes.net. Readers are allowed to register at all five sponsors, but only one entry is allowed per person per store location. For example, a reader is allowed to register at all three Walmart locations listed in the ad, as well as each of the locations listed for each sponsor, but only one entry per location. Must be 18 years of age or older to win. All entries must be received by Wednesday, June 10.

Participating stores where readers may register include Juancho’s Bar & Grill, Mission Plaza Pharmacy, IBC Bank, TLC Pharmacy, and Walmart.

Notice to political candidates

Filing deadline for upcoming City of Mission special election is Tuesday, June 16. It is the policy of the Progress Times that the filing deadline is also the deadline to submit candidacy announcements for the news section of this newspaper.

This newspaper’s policy has been and remains that we will not publish political announcements submitted to our office after the filing deadline for that particular election, other than paid advertisements.

The deadline to submit announcements by candidates running in this special election is 5 p.m., Tuesday, June 16.

Timely candidacy announcements are published in the news section of this newspaper free of charge. The candidate is allowed to submit anything he wishes relative to his qualifications, education, professional, career and family background, as well as his vision relative to the office he seeks. Announcements may be edited for space considerations.

Candidates may drop off their announcement, along with a photo at our office 1217 N. Conway, Mission, or email it to news@progresstimes.net. Candidates are asked to include the name of the person submitting the announcement and a daytime telephone number.

Wrestle Mania

National champion coaches help wrestler at Sharyland High School

?Tuesday at 8:30 a.m. at the old Sharyland High Castleman gym, boys and girls put away their sleeping bags, and gear up for day two at wrestling camp. Sounds of grappling smacks into red and white circled mats, as coaching instructions are called out. Rio Grande Valley wrestling athletes may have competed as foes during the season, but at camp they learn and practice as friends and comrades.

The three-day camp was hosted by Sharyland High School June 8, 9 and 10. Athletes from near and far came to take instruction from national champion wrestling coaches Joseph Parisi and Chad Smith from Lindenwood University, in St. Charles, Missouri. The camp has been a good experience for the coaches and athletes.

“I think it’s great how everyone in the community has come together for one camp. I have never been to this part of Texas before and I’m just amazed how friendly and helpful everybody is,” said Coach Smith. “It’s just so outstanding to see everyone trying to build the sport of wrestling down here.”

The summer camp is in its third year. This year, however, has been the largest turn out with 114 athletes taking part. It is a 24- hour camp and campers are allowed to spend the night. There are five three-hour sessions, and a typical day can run from 10 a.m. to 10 p.m.

“Wrestling camp is not fun. It’s hard work. You are basically sweating all day long, but when your team and the group here all go through something hard, they build comradeship with each other,” said Sharyland Head Wrestling Coach James Penbrook. “Here we’re all learning together. The camp is helping us develop a wrestling community in the Valley.”

Helping build wrestling knowledge within the RGV are Coaches Smith and Parisi, who are accomplished in their own right. Coach Parisi was a collegiate, All-American in 1991. Born and raised in Missouri, he started coaching in 1994, and has coached seven national champion teams and has had over 178 All -American individual athletes. He coaches at Missouri Valley, Lindenwood University and is the dean of admissions at the same institution.

“This has been one of the most educational camps I have been to in awhile. When I have been to camps, where you typically get 50 to 70 percent of kids that are eager to learn,” said Parisi energetically. “But 90 percent of the kids here in this room are asking questions. They are eager to learn and they are starving for that technique and knowledge and that’s great!”

Coach Smith agrees with Parisi in their excitement of Valley athletes’ eagerness to learn at the camp. Smith was a three-time Missouri State finalist in high school and a two-time champ. He also was a three-time All-American national champion for Lindenwood University and is the assistant wrestling coach at the college.

“It’s amazing. It’s a great set-up they have for the kids. It’s a great environment for them to learn,” said Smith. “I’m just so excited that they are excited that we’re here. It’s a neat atmosphere.”

A typical session at the camp focuses on things like neutral on their feet wrestling, different take-down techniques, pinning combinations, and some top work. Though most of the lessons are basic learning skills, coaches feel repetition of these techniques will create better wrestlers.

“I think just to be repetitive is what this generation needs. No matter how many times they have done, heard or said something, we have to continue to give it to them, to help them focus on what they are doing,” said Parisi. “They also learn problem-solving skills they are going to learn and use later in life. The more they do it, the more it becomes habit.”

Coach Penbrook is happy with the results he has seen with the camp.

“The improvement these kids have had from the beginning to the end you see it. Here you make friends with all the other wrestlers,” said Penbrook. “And peer pressure is a big thing. My athletes see other kids working hard, so they work even harder. My kids talk about this camp all year, and they do anticipate it.”

Jose Gomez, a 2009 graduate of Sharyland High School, placed third in district and says these summer camps have helped his wrestling career.

“They are really good coaches and teaching us a lot of new tricks that we don’t really see down here. You can really surprise your opponent,” said Gomez. “They teach us one move, and then all the outcomes your opponent will do.”

Gomez hopes to be recruited through the camp and get a chance to show his wrestling skills at Lindenwood University.

“It’s a pretty good camp. I hope they keep doing it. I enjoy being with all my fellow teammates and all the different moves I’m learning,” he said. “Hopefully I’ll get to use them in college.”

Ben Lopez, admissions counselor for Lindenwood University, along with other community leaders helped set-up the camp, and in turn, eight athletes have already been picked up by the university.

“I’m very proud of what I’m doing here, opening the doors for these kids and getting them scholarships,” he said. “So far this year I have given over a million and a half in scholarships.”

Desiree Martinez, 17, PSJA North Raiders, is one of the many athletes who signed on with Lindenwood University. Desiree placed third at regionals and is one of the top eight in the state.

“I like that it’s hands-on training,” said Martinez. “If you need help, the coaches will come assist you. I got to learn a couple of new moves I hope to use in college wrestling.”

She is also anxious to join the wrestling team at Lindenwood University.

“I’m excited, nervous, scared and just mixed emotions. I hope all the moves I have learned stick with me for college,” she said.

Alex Cardenas, 18, jr. at La Joya High School, is grateful about being able to train with other Valley athletes. He was an alternate in this year’s regional tournament.

“They are teaching us a lot of basic moves, keeping it easy, so that is easy to pick up. My partner and I, when we drill, go all out like a competition,” he said. “I think the camp is very professional. Having someone from a higher level teaching us is really good.”

Coaches Smith and Parisi walk around demonstrating and giving instruction. Athletes listen attentively as both the coaches and students demonstrate their passion for wrestling. Wrestling summer camp will be a memory imprinted in the minds of the Valley’s young wrestling athletes.

“I have been to a lot of places and done a lot of these camps, but the hospitality that has been shown, from the plane to now, has been tremendous. There is a community spirit in the Valley that many communities are missing,” said Parisi. “They want to help the youth today, not only as athletes, but as individuals. This community…is committed to its youth.”

Archives | Privacy Policy | About Us | Contact Us | Advertise