The New Inspirational Movement

Unificar’, spanish for ‘to Unite!’, from my ‘Car/tunes series’, digital print, ask for size and price. Gracias!

The swarm of cars.
Suddenly it feels as if all the cars on earth were held up right here, the traffic jam having now become second nature to the species hoping to arrive late at the last judgement. Between four and six o’clock there is some respite, the species seems drowsy . . .but suddenly everything moves on again, the advance cannot be stopped. And in the traffic jam, the automobile becomes a prison on wheels, the cubicle where you can study
Radio in the University of Tranquillity.
-Mexican Postcards, Carlos Monsivais

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‘Atracar’, spanish for ‘to stuff oneself!’, from my ‘Car/tunes’ series. 18″x24″ prints are available for $50.00 plus shipping&handleling. Gracias! -rene

“Desire is what transforms Being, revealed to itself by itself in (true) knowledge, into an “object” revealed to a “subject” different from the object and “opposed” to it. It is in and by-or better still, as -”his” Desire that man is formed and is revealed - to himself and to others-as an I, as the I that is essentially different from, and radically opposed to, the non-I. The (human) I is the I of a Desire or of Desire. The very being of man, the self-conscious being, therefore, implies and presupposes Desire. Consequently, the human reality can be formed and maintained only within a biological reality, an animal life. But, if animal Desire is necessary condition of self-consciousness, it is not the sufficient condition. By itself, this Desire constitues only the Sentiment of self. In contrast to the knowlege that keeps man in a passive quietude, Desire dis-quiets him and moves him to action. Born of Desire, action tends to satisfy it, and can do so only by the “negation,” the destruction, or at least the transformation, of the desired object: to satisfy hunger, for example, the food must be destroyed or, in any case, transformed. Thus, all action is “negating.” -Alexandre Kojeve Introduction to the Reading of Hegel

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The roots of this strip began a couple of years ago. It was around the time of San Francisco’s annual Gay Pride events and Mariela and I were looking through the SFWeekly for a schedule of who would be performing on Pride’s Latino stage. While looking through the Weekly we came across an ad for sex toys in the shape of different religious icons. I laughed but Mariela freaked out and couldn’t even bring herself to look at the ad again. Even though she didn’t exactly consider herself Catholic her opinion was clear: You don’t sexualize your personal icons

As Chuck D once rapped “My wanderings got my ass wondering” and as a Chicano I’ve wondered about our iconography and the taboo of eroticizing it. In terms of Chicanoness, I can imagine that it would be very bad to have a fantasy about bustin’ out Alberto Gonzalez; so would the opposite be good? Or maybe I just have the hots for Dolores Huerta?

As far as the whole Peanuts thing goes, I’ve always identified with Charlie Brown. His philosophical ponderings and neurosis always seemed to click with me. With this strip, Charlie Brown is a stand-in for my parents both of whom have taken risks with their artwork and both of whom have told me in some form or another that I’m goin’ to Hell for doing this comic strip. Wimps!

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my alter ego, mero cocinero karimi, went to the minnesota state fair this past august. i don’t know if you Mero or the State Fair, but Mero was created at the Galeria de La Raza in 1997 when I built my first installation piece for a Regeneration project. He is a progressive idealist chef who wants to start the “revolution one kitchen at a time”. He goes around the country trying to raise consciousness: food, cultural, and political. Anyways, he (I) went to the Minnesota State Fair, home of everything on a stick. In response to this stick mentality, he walked around with every presidential candidate on a stick, and asked people which candidate they want on a stick. It was a riot. People would give him (me) their food to try, and it was hard staying in character for 4 hours. Chihuahua!

Go here for the photo

Love to get folks feedback.

The show itself is different than the other live street performance. I can write about that, too…later.

I am doing the show in houston in December and in the Bay May 08, if you want to eat free food.

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This is an “in progress” version of a piece I am working on about Eazy-E and Ofra Haza, two artists that have died of illnessrelated to AIDS. The death of Eazy-E was more profound to me than the violent demises 0f Tupac or Biggie. As a teenager, it made the onslaught of AIDS even more of a reality to me than the deaths of artists and friends from the disease. Almost fifteen years later I can still attest to how much it has changed my life. The project will eventually be a part of a Day of the Dead exhibit that I am a part of.

The final version of this image will have a different and more detailed background. I’m still debating if I should add in Eazy’s famous locs (sunglasses) or leave his eyes revealed. I wanted to show his eyes closed but he’s not nearly as recognizable without the glasses. Anyone have any suggestions?

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yes, still here, and not exactly painting my little heart out… have been experiencing a feeling of unreality for quite some time… i have yet to find my “tribe”. nyc is not what people outside of it think its like. living here is not at all like visiting… yes, been in a couple of big shows, but have not found the “desire” of being here and the expression of that in paint as i expected i would have… still, it is an experience i would not have missed out on for the world… i am so happy that this forum exists, that i may connect with my california roots… i feel that a smiley face is in order at the end of that sentence given the subject matter of so many of the blogs here!

you all should see the tiny place i live and work in. truly amazing. one little room, the size of my living room in sf, and the kitchen is included in this space! i should post some photos. still, it is workable. the painting in the photo i was able to do here. i cannot keep any stretched canvas due to the space, but can work against part of one wall. i will keep in touch and let you know of any more new work… peace and love and happiness to you all, chea

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Weather it’s a brown beret, trenzas with hoop earings, a guayavera, or a Mexican “peasant blouse”, a tool that has been used for generations to express who we are has been our dress. The traditions of our ancestors historically dictated our dress, reconnecting us with our community, creation myths, or the land we stood upon. This expression emerging through our clothing’s form, pattern, color, and material would constantly reinforce, the connection to the culture that we represent.

This has changed in our modern world, especially for Chicanos in the United States. The clothing many of us wear now reflects the convergent cultures we collectively embody, or sometimes a glaring lack of specificity, often making the discernment our of origins difficult. As globalization further permeates many cultures around the world, it becomes an act of resistance to retain one’s distinct cultural heritage. Chicano art today takes on widely different forms as the influences of many different cultures seep into our collective consciousnesses, and our ancestral roots fight for our attention.

This recent painting, ¿De Donde Eres?, is part of a series of paintings that seek to examine this shift in identity expression, as well as the bold act of expressing one’s cultural heritage. Depicting two women of uncertain national origin, the Japanese style kimono is made of traditional Guatemalan textile designs. The juxtaposition of their seemingly incongruous fashion bring into light the power of distinct cultural icons, and the fusion or confusion that can emerge from a globalized “melting-pot”. Their environment reflects their mixed origins and the affects of a seemingly shrinking world.

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Reconstructed Landscapes

In a near future when human civilization is destroy by a natural disaster or by our self’s. Nature will proclaim the lost land destroy by humanity and will reconstruct their landscapes in the concrete cities, destroying what was a civilization of chaos and destruction, giving back the balance of the species. The only essence of us will be the artifacts and ruins that will tell who we were and how we lived.

http://alexoliva.4t.com/
http://gto08.blogspot.com/
http://educaralostopos.blogspot.com

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