Chilenos en el Extranjero

www.carlosarredondo.com

For a website launched in 2008 that offers the richest of first hand personal histories intertwined with the history  of his country – of Chile - that long thin country caught between the mountains and the sea - that lies down the left hand side of South America – take a look at Carlos Arredondo’s Fabula (www.carlosarredondo.com). It  tells the story of how a young  worker in a guitar factory was forced into exile – bearing witness to his extraordinary,   often pragmatic creativity.  It’s a story full of poetry and  song – from becoming part of  Chile's  to composing for Scotland’s  groundbreaking 7:84 Theatre group.  It’s a story filled  with resilience,  purpose  and resourcefulness - that takes you  from way  before Allende’s 1970s Chile to the Pope’s 1982 visit to Glasgow’s Bellahouston Park – from the music of the Whistlebinkies to Galo Ceron -   from the brutal murder of the Gallardo family in Chile to Pinochet’s capture in London  - from singing for Allende's widow Tencha Bussi Allende  to sharing the stage with  Inti Illimani - from appearing at a meeting with Gordon Brown to meeting Dario Fo  - from being a refugee to becoming an unofficial ambassador for his country and for South America..

It’s the story of  a father, husband, friend – teacher, composer – a keeper of his people’s history - illustrated with songs and films, archive  interviews  and reproductions of memorabilia: from posters to letters, bills  to tickets, programmes to photos -  even the  original ‘refugee’ ticket  paid for by the UN  that brought him to the UK.  Above all it’s a story of memory – of  a man and his times – of a people and their country – of groups of friends – of social activism  -  a story to read and enjoy – lyrical and sad  – tragic and moving – funny and fabulous – heart-warming and compassionate – life loving and life enhancing – a story of survival and resistance - the story of Carlos Arredondo.