Thirty years of Chicanos/as working together to create art and
educate others about cultural history will be exhibited in a series
titled “Revolution/Evolution” at Self Help Graphics
& Art located in East Los Angeles.
“We have been regaining our roots through the evolution of
our self-preservation. As a person and culture we are changing to
accommodate our culture from one generation to the next,”
said artist Chuy c/s, who grew up on the east side of Filmore in
Ventura County. “C/s” is a Chicano term that stands for
con safos (literally meaning “with respect”). Chuy c/s
adopted the phrase as a form of respecting the art work of the
artist.
Recycling and reinventing images and words historically
associated with the Mexican and Chicano/a people’s experience
is one of the main themes the artists ““ Chuy c/s, Paul
Botello, Man One, Ernesto de la Loza and Reyes Rodriguez ““
explore in the exhibition series.
Paul Botello and Chuy c/s were inspired to become artists by
their families. Chuy c/s’ older sister was majoring in
Chicano studies at Cal State Northridge while he was still in
elementary school. His uncle was part of the UCSB Teatro de la
Esperanza. Chuy c/s’ family members taught him a historical
perspective of Chicano culture and indigenous figures.
“(Art) is my voice. I use it to create that awareness of
many things I have in my head,” said Chuy c/s.
“I’m still very proud to say I’m a Chicano
artist. That shouldn’t limit my audience to just Chicanos. My
collectors are about 5 percent Chicanos and the rest are all other
ethnicities,” said Chuy c/s.
Chuy c/s will exhibit 15 of 54 paintings of loteria cards (a
traditional Mexican card game) in which he has changed the
traditional images and included words and numbers. The collection
of images represent vital people and events of indigenous, colonial
and Chicano history in Mexico and the United States.
One of the images, “La Familia,” is written in Old
English font and shows a “caution” sign with a black
silhouette of a man, woman and boy with a bandana running
together.
“The caution sign says we’re illegal here and that
to belong we have to be hidden,” Chuy c/s said. “The
bosses don’t want to know if you are illegal. They just want
your cheap labor.”
By adding the Spanish word “familia” (family) and
the number 187 on the piece’s label card (the number of the
proposition passed in California prohibiting health and education
access to undocumented residents), Chuy c/s appropriates this
negative connotation associated with recent Latino immigrants and
turns the image into a positive one.
“We are contemporary Chicanos presenting ourselves in the
U.S. but we still have our Mexican roots,” said Chuy c/s.
Paul Botello, who considers himself a “narrative
artist,” makes both commissioned and private art for his
community. He has also worked on a number of international
projects, including a mural in Germany on which he collaborated
with artists from around the world.
“My art is very musical,” Botello said. “My
lines are sometimes short like staccato notes or they can be (like)
waves or zig-zag.”
Botello will be exhibiting his “Adam & Eve”
painting at Self Help. In the foreground, the Mesoamerican man and
woman transform into spirits. The large pyramids in the middle hide
the looming conquistador, cross and sun in the background.
Man One, the youngest artist in the group, said he started doing
graffitti on the street in 1987 since he did not have after-school
programs to attend. Man One is known for his commercial aerosol art
with Coke, Nike, Adidas and other companies, but also owns a
private gallery called CrewWest. According to the artist, his
biggest goal with his art is to have youth be able to see and
experience art.
“Graffitti is the biggest “˜F-you’ to society
but at the same time you’re creating art work,” he
said. “Graffitti and hip-hop are cultures, not just these
ethnic kids. It’s a culture with (its own) artists which
I’m a part of.”
The opening reception for Revolution/Evolution I is from 7 to 10
p.m. on Saturday, Feb. 8 in the Galeria Otra Vez at Self Help
Graphics & Art, located at 3802 Cesar E. Chavez Ave. The
exhibit will run through March 9. For more info, call (323)
881-6444.