The University of New Mexico NEWS RELEASE |
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Contact : Carolyn Gonzales 277-5920 April 15, 2008 Event to Honor Ángel González Set for Saturday, April 19 Ángel González, emeritus faculty member in the University of New Mexico Department of Spanish and Portuguese and one of Spain’s most prominent poets and member of a literary generation known for its opposition to the dictatorship of Gen. Francisco Franco, died in January at the age of 82. An event honoring González is set for Saturday, April 19 at 7 p.m. at the National Hispanic Cultural Center’s Bank of America Theater. The memorial event includes personal testimonials of his life and work by friends and colleagues, a reading of his poems and the special appearance of singer songwriter Pedro Avila performing his original compositions based on González’s poetry. Many writers, artists, teachers and others who were friends of González, a lover of late-night chats in the bars and cafes of Madrid, attended his funeral in January. González was a member of the Spanish Royal Academy, the prestigious, official watchdog of the Spanish language, and won awards that included the Asturias Prize for Letters in 1985. His poems addressed issues like freedom and solidarity, and like many intellectuals under the Franco regime, González eventually left Spain. In 1972 he accepted a teaching position at UNM and remained on faculty until 1993, although he frequently traveled back to Spain. |
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