|
One of the great artists of our time - Founding Member of Campo Santo Theatre Company Luis Saguar. Luis was a creative force at Intersection for over 15 years. He was an inspired actor, mentor, writer, teacher, and community hero. He created a vision for theatre that is accessible, alive, and real that has infused every layer of Intersection's programs and so much of the Bay Area cultural community.
|
|
*** Luis was my brother, my friend, my muse...I use to sing the Minnie Ripperton song to him... loving you is easy cuz your beautiful...beacuse he was beautiful...and he would smile that fantastic smile. Working with him was a dream. Magic was made every time he stepped on the stage. Tears and sadness may grace my face, but since he is always in my heart I will smile again...Love you Louie -Margo *** A few words about Luis? We
smoked We
walked "Its
a good addiction, huh mikey" He
measured time "Mikey
I remember him We
laughed We
fished " Sometimes you eat the bear and sometimes the bear eats you" We slept We
were poor in the pocket We
exchanged glances across the meeting table We
invented the Santos Brothers walk We
would combust into "Hey Girl...I'll tell you no lies!" When
he introduced me to Nancy I knew she was the one He
comforted " You have two dogs in your head mikey...which one are you going to feed" We
discussed He was at my side at the hospital He
drove across the bay to I never
raised my voice at him "THIS
IS NOT YOU!" he brought me back I knew
Luis for sixteen years and everday of those sixteen years Do I miss him? He is always with us He
is transformation Grounding and Sacred He
is Sagalicious and I am happy to have shared time with him I love him and his
*** A LETTER TO MY FRIEND LUIS Where and When…July 7th 2009 A train to New London, Connecticut 8:30am Song that I am playing on my ipod... "Keep on walking tall. Hold your head up high. Lay your dreams right up to the Sky. Sing your greatest song. And you'll keep growing on. Take it from me, someday we'll all be free." Donny Hathaway says it best. View from the train…The Atlantic Ocean, little New England Houses, boats, a little girl running, lots of greenery, a mist on the ocean. Thoughts of…Luis, my friend, I don't have the words to express myself at this moment. I am humbled by your grace and your dignity. I am on a train to Connecticut at the moment thinking of you. The years that I have known you! Driving in cars with Sean. Laughing our asses off in dark theaters. Grieving our dear Barbie. Smiling every time you called me Col-diggity. Knowing how much you have always been a voice of support and love. This thing called life still baffles me. Not knowing anything just when you think you do. I have hopes for you today. I hope that you know that love is everlasting. I hope that you know how much you have touched my life. I want you to know that I want your body to be peaceful. I want you to know that your name is always on everyone's tongue with a smile. I hope that you create new memories. I hope that you look up at the sun today. I hope that you listen to the rain. I hope that you kiss your loved ones a million times until your lips hurt. I hope that you laugh so hard that that is the only pain you feel. I hope that you know that you are my brother and I am forever grateful that we have met. I am forever changed. If by chance that we may not speak again on this side of the world know that I look forward to hearing you call me with the crowd of loved ones I am called. As the tears fall my eyes today, I hope that you know all of this. You are my friend. Thank you. Remember how we did "The Body Language" at Barbie's New Year's Eve party? That always makes me smile. And I know that you remember how much I couldn't stop laughing when the lights came up on you, Sean and Margo in that play with you ironing your pants with that "Sunbeam" iron, Sean with a Rubics cube and Margo with a Jheri Curl! I hope that memory makes you laugh that glorious Luis Saga-licous laugh! Until tomorrow and tomorrow and a thousand laughs and I love you. We lift you up. We will lift Nancy and Carmella. Til the end of never. Do the body language!
***
Querido
Luis the Brave *** i only knew him through his work (just
think how many of us there must be) a nuanced character NOT out of central casting and certainly no hipster through him I could step outside my privileged life and grow in my own humanity for the exploration he allowed as my mother would say, he
wasn't a cookie-cutter person luis saguar thank
you. ***
making
sales . . . dope wheelers
*** Destiny's Dance While
Walking In The Mountains, While
Walking Beside The Ocean, While
Walking In The Desert, My Place Is Where Love Calls Me. Dear
Creator, Guide Me On My Walk, No
Longer A Wonderer Or A Wanderer, For
Luis from friend Joana Ukali ***
*** To Everyone at Campo Santo/Intersection for the Arts- Please
accept our heartfelt condolences on the passing of Luis Saguar.
The Bay Area was blessed with an inspired and gifted artist in Luis
and his passing is a loss to us all. Sincerely, John
Fisher *** I had the rare honor of not only watching Luis perform at Intersection, but also of being a student in the acting class he taught at the Shelton Studios. I was thrilled to learn he would be teaching a class as I had seen his radiance in action at Intersection, and thought, "this man can teach me something!" Not only was I lucky enough to benefit from his experience as an actor, but just being in his presence for those ten weeks was inspiring. He was open and honest and affirming to the students, and exuded care and passion for his art and for the art of others. On a few occasions upon arriving early to class, we would stand outside the theater and smoke a cigarette, and he would tell me about the antics of his beautiful new baby, Carmella, and proudly showed me her picture. He delighted in her, and it was so wonderful to see a new father in all his glory. I was not fortunate enough to know him as all of you at Intersection did - all the many years you were blessed to spend in his company, helping build what you have built for this community, for yourselves, for many others to come. But I was lucky to have met him, to have felt his warmth and dedication to any pursuit that put you in the moment, in the NOW. I feel that in any endeavor Luis took part in, he was fully present and bristling with life and great good humor at every moment. I am saddened for all of you at Intersection, as the loss of Luis must leave such a void. But I also know you are all a beautiful family, and that you gave as good as you got from him. Without knowing you all personally, I can feel that, emanating from that little black box theater, every time I come to see you perform. My love and best wishes to all of you, and to his wife and daughter, in your time of sorrow. Maria Ascarrunz *** Luis Saguar was…The Man! I was blessed to know Him…briefly (merely moments throughout His too few years), but significantly, and I recognized immediately the first moment that I met Him, that He was The Man! I first met Him in a small black box theatre in San Francisco. He was the quiet one. The breathtaking, scarred, beautiful one. The elusive, magical, magnetic one. The truly and purely Artistic One. I shyly admired Him from a quiet distance, and knew I was blessed to be in the presence of The Man! The second time, I had the hots for Him, but ended up dating, and falling in love with, his peer - his friend. And that gave me the opportunity to get to know Him better - as an actor, an author, and in more significant ways, as The Man! I joined MANY in the celebration at his wedding, and envied his Beautiful Bride in a Good Way…she got The Man! He drifted away, but His spirit never left me - He will always be The Man! The inspiration of what one could overcome by His superior, and many, examples of…Love! He Loved!!! - freely, openly, honestly and generously - as only The Man could! He possessed a perfect mix of empathy, compassion, understanding, and Respect for all things living - He was The Man! And He's…not a phone call or an email away, but HE - LUIS SAGUAR - will forever remain The Man!...in the hopeful and optimistic part of my heart. Ashé, Amen, Ameen, Aloha, Shalom, Namaste, Blessed Be and Peace. Donna Stone *** ... writing from NYC ... still reeling from the loss of our dear friend Luis ... wish i could be at the celebration of his amazing and remarkable life this Friday .. nevertheless, my spirit will certainly be with all those gathered in gratitude for the gift of his spirit .. which he has always shared so generously .. and which will continue to nourish throughout our lives. I first met Luis in the early 90s ... sitting next to him in Jean Shelton's Script Analysis course. Our bond grew over the years. I never missed a performance of his ... always a transformative experience, as he brought brilliant depth to every role. He invariably lit up the stage ... a true artist. He kindly tipped me to opportunities in film and stage projects .... and he generously encouraged my efforts by attending even the most obscure productions. Spotting his presence in the audience was always a blessing ... as were his post-performance hugs. Recently this nurturing quality of his found expression in his teaching at the Shelton Studios. How very fortunate his students have been to benefit from his passionate gifted expertise, and love of, theatrical storytelling. Luis truly lived "a life in art" .... Stage and Film Actor, Playwright, Teacher, Coach ... an ensemble player ... generous to fellow artists. His dedicated theatre work taught us all the great lessons of Love, Loss, Art and yes, Death. How honored I was to officiate at Luis and Nancy's wedding ... a truely amazing gathering of friends and family. I remember that many of the toasts emphasized the hope for a child ... and, obligingly, sweet Carmela eventually made her entrance. A whole new side of Luis burst on the scene ... that of exceedingly proud and loving father: a truly happy man! I've a picture of he and Carmela over my desk which never fails to cure whatever blues I may be experiencing. Doubtlessly we will all embrace Nancy in the years ahead and surround Carmela with our love and our profound respect for the incomparable legacy of her gifted father. ..... a poem by Spanish Poet Antonio Machado somehow resonates at this time of loss and celebration: HAS MY HEART GONE TO SLEEP? Has
my heart gone to sleep? No,
my heart is not asleep. ======== Dearest
Luis, your enormous heart is not asleep ...
George
Killingsworth
|
|
For
information on supporting Luis' family, contact Sean
San Jose. To share memories, photographs, and stories please
email allofus@theintersection.org |