Satelín-Torres

Satelín-Torres is an activist group aimed towards building up conscience around culture and identity in Ciudad Satélite. Founded in Ciudad Satélite in 2003 by visual artist Fernando Llanos and radio journalist Uriel Waizel. They were joined in 2004 by writers Melissa Suarez del Real and Lilián Vázquez and graphic designer Nayeli Agatón. As a community of enthusiasts, Satelín-Torres still receives voluntaries interested in helping the comunitary cause, through their own skills, hobbies and jobs.

The site www.satelin-torres.org operating since 2004, gathers a manifesto, pop culture (aided with an extensive graphic database), anecdotes, and essays from both "Satelucos"—born in, or around Ciudad Satélite—and non-Satelucos (mostly "Chilangos", as persons from Mexico City are known), in an effort to rescue information ranging from the foundation of the suburb until the present times, towards a proud future of Ciudad Satélite.

One main aim of the group is to dignify and improve conditions around Ciudad Satélite's main landmark, artist Mathias Goeritz and architect Luis Barragán's Torres de Satélite, that will turn 50 years old between 2007 and 2008.

Publications

On August 2005, the now defunct DF por Travesías, a kind of leisure magazine specialized in Mexico City focused its number 45 on the exposure of the Ciudad Satélite phenomena, by the all-inclusive democratic slogan "Todos Somos Satelucos". The issue, powered by the Satelín-Torres initiative and archives, was claimed by the magazine as its best selling number ever in its three-year lifespan. An unusual "satelucan pride" re-gentrification party was thrown on late August 2005 to celebrate the success. A selection of kitsch 80s songs celebrating the assumed bad taste from "Satelucos" was chosen DJs Mister and Mister a.k.a. (Jorge 'Negro' Hipólito, from Noiselab and Mauricio 'Micro' Esparza, along with visuals by Fernando Llanos.

Prominent Satelucos

Satelín-Torres looks toward building up a list of renowned Satelucos:

Academic figures

Architecture, Design and Engineering

• Enrique Waizel, electronic engineer, network designer, worked for Hewlett-Packard, Microsoft and currently Bell Canada. Founder of Retis.
• Nadia Pacheco, Architect/Color theorists, Along Mathias Gohetirz is responsible of the original color scheme for the Torres de Saltelite
• Miguel De La Torre y Carbó Architect. Participated in the Ciudad Satélite project. Well-known teacher at the UNAM, a theater in the UNAM Facultad de Estudios Superiores de Acatlán bears his name.

Biology and medicine

Milarca C. Kruse-Whatley (b. Llergo). Biomedical writer and editor in the fields of medical and research ethics, University of Montreal alumna.

Entertainment figures

Actors and Actresses

• Ninel Conde, actress, Mexican popular entertainment scene pin-up.
• Evita Muñoz "Chachita", actress from the golden age of Mexican cinema.

Comedians

• 'Beto el Boticario', magician, illusionist, comic on Mexican 70s TV show La Carabina de Ambrosio.
• 'Pompín' Iglesias, comic on Mexican TV.

Producers, screenwriters and creators

• Eugenio Caballero, film producer as art director. Oscar Winner on 2007 - 79th Academy Awards - for Pan's Labyrinth
• Mily Moreno, film producer as art director.
• Melissa Suárez del Real, Satelín-Torres founder, writer and radio host for Radio Internacional de Pocajú.

Record Industry Executives

• Jorge 'Negro' Hipólito, DJ, A&R for Noiselab Records México and band manager for Instituto Mexicano del Sonido.
• Clauzzen Hernández, Record Label Manager and International Marketing Director for Polygram and Universal Music Mexico. Radio host specialized in Gothic rock.
• Luis Estrada, Rock en Espanol A&R and Label Manager for Universal Music Mexico 2001–2005. General Manager of Universal Music Latino in Miami and Los Angeles 2005-to date. Singer/guitarist of punk-rock band Los Lagartos from 1991 to 1999.

Singers and popular musicians

• Thalía Sodi, (formerly from Timbiriche) pop singer married to mosic producer Tommy Mottola (she used to live in Club the Golf Bellavista when she was a teenager).
• Aleks Syntek, pop singer and composer.
• Axis, rock band.
• Café Tacvba, Ciudad Satélite "fabulous four" and favourite sons; Rock en Español stalwarts, comprised by Enrique Rangel, Joselo Rangel, Emmanuel del Real and Rubén Albarrán.
• Campo Santo (band), rock band.
• Consumatum Est, rock band.
• Crista Galli, rock band.
• Dildo, rock band.
• Dorado 70, rock band
• El Hombre Bala, rock band.
• Fernando Delgadillo, trova, singer songwriter.
• La Concepción de la Luna, rock band.
• Los Lagartos,rock band.
• Los Güeros de Rancho, rock band.
• Malakatonche, electronica act signed to Noiselab.
• Ramiro del Real, guitarist, singer-songwriter and producer, member of Caradura among other bands
• Renato del Real, multi-instrumentalist, producer
• Resorte, rock band.
• San Pascualito Rey, rock band.
• Sr. Mandrill, electro-funk band.
• The Cosmetics, indie rock band.
• Tatiana, popstar and singer, children's TV entertainer.
• Telekrimen, surf band.
• Víctor Iturbe 'Pirulí', crooner.
• Yucatán a Go Gó, ska band.

Artistic figures

Artists

• Arcángel Constantini, web and digital artist.
• Alex Dorfsman, visual artist.
• Fernando Llanos, Satelín-Torres founder, visual artist.
• Ilián Gonzalez, visual artist.

Photographers

• Dante Busquets, photographer.
• Ana Fantasma, photographer.

Publicists, Graphic Designers

• Nayeli Agatón, Satelín-Torres founder, graphic designer.
• Mauricio 'Micro' Esparza, publicist, graphic designer, DJ, vinyl hunter and collectionist.
• Pablo Pozo, publicist.
• Eduardo Guerrero, Graphic designer, Art Director.

Writers

• Lilián González, Satelín-Torres founder, writer and researcher specialized in Julio Cortázar.

Entrepreneurs

Business

• Lucila Zetina, ex-radio host for Radioactivo 98.5 and Órbita 105.7, Mexico City. Current P.R. for Mixup and Tower Records México Stores.

Historical figures

Politicians

Miguel Alemán

Media

Journalism

• Nino Canún, TV and radio journalist.
• Guillermo Ortega, TV News host.
• Óscar Sarquiz, Music critic.

Radio

• Agustín Peña, radio host and producer. Current cultural contents manager at Ibero 90.9.
• Ricardo Zamora López, radio journalist. Current general manager at Ibero 90.9; host at technology show Dommo, on XEW 96.9 FM, Mexico City.
• Uriel Waizel, Satelín-Torres founder, radio journalist, music critic. Current musical contents manager at Ibero 90.9.

Sports

Bullfighting

• Eulalio López 'El Zotoluco', bullfighter.

Diving

• Fernando Platas, silver medal winner at the 2000 Summer Olympics in Sydney, Australia.

Football (soccer)

• Luis García Postigo, soccer player for Mexican teams Pumas-UNAM, América and Spanish team Atlético de Madrid. He played for the National Team in World Cup USA '94, scoring the two winning goals on the 2-1 to Ireland on the first round.

Track and Field

• Carlos Mercenario, runner/ race walker, silver medal winner at the 1992 Summer Olympics in Barcelona, Spain.

Weightlifiting

• Soraya Jiménez, weightlifter, gold medal winner at the 2000 Summer Olympics in Sydney, Australia.

Ciudad Satélite's Iconography

"Martians" on flyer saucer, space-age famous icons of 50's real estate TV advertising that brought attention to the zone, labeling it as "The Satellite City", the first suburb orbiting around Mexico City.

Extinct landmarks, shops, restaurants, venues

Satelín Torres aims towards recovering the locality's history. Here is a list of extinct venues:

• Apolo Satélite Cinema. The biggest cinema theatre in Ciudad Satélite. The building is now an Office Depot.
• Autocinema Santa Mónica. First and last autocinema in Mexico City.
• Bonanza, burger shop.
• El Castillo del Yorsy, nightclub, live music venue.
• Cinemas Goddard, film house located aside of Plaza Satélite.
• Cinemas Satélite 2001, twin cinemas located towards the southside parking lot of Plaza Satélite before the mall underwent its 1990's renewal.
• High Tower, live music venue.
• Lomas Verdes Ice-ring
• J&J Charlie's, bizarre concept restaurant from the Anderson's Chain.
• Los Comerciales, bizarre concept restaurant from the 70s.
• Pennyland, video arcade at Plaza Satélite. Active from 197? to 198?
• Satélite Rocks, live music venue.
• Skatorama, skate park and half-pipe.
• Paris Londres, mid-size department store later renamed Suburbia.
• Sucomer Bellavista, mid-size grocery and food store located in the heart of Bellavista