Highlights from my trip to view the “Tales From La Vida” art exhibit last weekend in Columbus, Ohio.
The art exhibit took place on the grounds of the Ohio State University at the Billy Ireland Cartoon Library & Museum. There were beautiful banners hanging outside around campus.Standing outside, in front of the museum.The first wall on the left, with an intro to the exhibit. It’s a wall version of the book cover art by Jason Gonzalez, it looks fabulous!Professor Frederick Luis Aldama, the editor of “Tales From La Vida” gave tours of selected artworks, after giving a short presentation which was part of the Community Festival which raised funds for CRIS and ETSS.There I was! My selfie next to my contribution. I didn’t want to leave, it was amazing to see the works exhibited together.Some of my other works on display alongside the TFLV Anthology.TFLV artists Ivan Velez and Juan Argil showcasing some of their other works.Artist J.M. Hunter with some of his prints and other works.After the show, I stopped by the “Melt” bar and grill for one of their famous grilled cheese sandwiches, I had the Macaroni & Cheese Grilled Cheese Sandwich…Can you say AWESOME!Before leaving, I absolutely had to stop by Jeni’s Ice Cream for a scoop of goat cheese & cherry ice cream on their home-made waffle cones with a hint of sea salt. I love Ohio. I can hardly wait to return.
I wanted to share this walk-through video and art show information of the “Tales from La Vida” art show, currently on display at the Billy Ireland Cartoon Library & Museum. I am super-excited to be a part of it and plan to fly out sometime before March to see it. Click on the image to link to their webpage.
Dates/TimesNovember 3, 2018 – March 31, 2019 (Closed Mondays, during exhibit installations, and holidays. Before your visit, see hours for all closings).
LocationRobinson Gallery, Billy Ireland Cartoon Library & Museum
Sullivant Hall, 1813 N. High St.
Columbus, OH 43210
This exhibition features autobiographical short stories situated within the language, culture, and history that inform Latinx identity and life. The work showcases the huge variety of styles and worldviews of today’s Latinx comics creators, including such legendary artists as Jaime and Gilbert Hernandez, Roberta Gregory, and Kat Fajardo. The exhibition is presented in conjunction with the publication of Tales from la Vida: A Latinx Comics Anthology, edited by Dr. Frederick Luis Aldama and published by the Ohio State University Press.My contribution to the work, look for me in Chapter 6!And here is my framed work in the show!
Check out a walk-through of the show, mine is at the 1:36 mark!
Tales from la Vida – A Latinx Comics Anthology Edited by Frederick Luis Aldama
I am super excited to have contributed art & story to this anthology. In the Latinx comics community, there is much to celebrate today, with more Latinx comic book artists than ever before. The story worlds of these artists reach and transform visual and storytelling genres. Tales from la Vida celebrates this space by bringing together more than eighty contributions by extraordinary Latinx creators. Their short visual-verbal narratives spring from autobiographical experience as situated within the language, culture, and history that inform Latinx identity and life. Tales from la Vida showcases the huge variety of styles and worldviews of today’s Latinx comic book and visual creators.
Frederick Luis Aldama is the author, coauthor, and editor of over thirty books, including recently Long Stories Cut Short: Fictions from the Borderlands and Latinx Superheroes in Mainstream Comics. He is Arts & Humanities Distinguished Professor, University Distinguished Scholar, and Director of the award-winning LASER (Latinx Space for Enrichment & Research) at The Ohio State University.
My compliments to Jason Gonzalez (La Mano del Destino) for the incredible cover art. Check out his work here: www.CastleAndKeyPublications.comLook for me in Chapter Six!
I had a great time exhibiting at this year’s Comic-Con in San Diego.
Wakanda Forever! These costumes were awesome.My table partner this year was Cartoon Flophouse’s Michael Aushenker. We are kind of goofing off in this picture.With our visitor, Frederick Luis Aldama who is a Professor of English and Distinguished Scholar at The Ohio State University. He teaches courses on Latinx & Latin American culture including literature, film, TV, music, sports, video games, and comic books. He is the author and editor of thirty-four books, including the Eisner Award-winning “Latinx Superheroes in Mainstream Comics.” Of course, this photo was taken approximately 8 or so hours before winning his Eisner Award at the 2018 Comic-Con! Congratulations Profe, we are so proud of you!The Korean ice cream that I picked up at SomiSomi, San Diego. It’s black sesame & taro swirl with happy toppings. The waffle cone is shaped like a goldfish!The Grady twins were one of my favorite costumes.Just for fun, the Tightrope Girl from Disney’s Haunted Mansion.Black Heroes Matter, the Pink Panther!The highlight of the convention for me was meeting Eric Singer and Tommy Thayer. (Eric Singer though!)Before leaving San Diego, I had to stop at the Boba Bar for a fruit “puffle” made with a delicious waffle, pineapple ice cream, fresh fruit and drizzled with honey. The perfect ending to the perfect day.
Over the weekend I attended Sorensen Library’s “Attack of the Comic Books” event for Free Comic Book Day. I was tasked with participating in a “Diversity” community chalk project with the kids. We chalked on paper and it got kind of messy!
I started the project by introducing the color wheel and color theory concepts to the kids.Then I invited them up to help chalk a “diverse” superhero universe while enjoying the nice air-conditioned room.At the end of the color theory lesson, we took the project outside and finished it up.
This is a timelapse that I took with my new Hero GoPro camera.
Last Saturday I participated in this year’s Pomona Chalk Festival. The them was “My Favorite Book”. I recently received this wonderful book titled “Latinx Comic Book Storytelling” in the mail from the author Frederick Luis Aldama and it has the cover art of one of my favorite cartoonist of all time, Jaime Hernandez so I decided to chalk it!
“Latinx Comic Book Storytelling” cover art by Jaime Hernandez.Making progress on my chalk square…My finished square, I hope I did Jaime Hernandez justice, Love and Rockets Forever!
Thanks to Kathryn Blackmer Reyes and San Jose State University, Martin Luther King Library for hosting a great exhibit. I am honored to be a part of this exhibit with such talented artists. The Latino comics will be on display in the library through Sept 30th, 5th floor Cultural Heritage Center, at the Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Library. Stop by if you are in the area.
Clockwise left to right: Crystal Gonzalez’s “In the Dark” graphic novel and plush, Gabriela Gamboa’s “Miss Lonely Hearts 2”, Jules Rivera’s “Misfortune High”, Liz Mayora’s “Monstrous Love Stories” and yours truly: Grasiela Rodriguez’s “Lunatic Fringe” and “Spadra”.The art of Jose Cabrera, “Latino Warrior” and Rafael Navarro’s “Sonambulo”.Jandro Gamboa and Bernyce Talley’s “Monty Gomez The Luchador”, Richard Dominguez’s “El Gato Negro” and artwork by Lalo Alcarez.Javier Hernandez’s “El Muerto”, “The Coma”, “Les Vodouisants” and “El Muerto Mishmash”Top row: Jaime Crespo’s “Tortilla”, Bottom: Carlos Saldana’s “Burrito” and unidentified comics (the ones I still need to buy!).
Had a wonderful time at the City of Commerce Library’s 2016 Comic Book Invasion. Had a good children’s workshop and the kids were great! Much thanks to the library for putting on the event.
Had a great superhero mask & cape making workshop for kids.The kids in the workshop enjoyed the opportunity to paint their favorite superhero logos.More children at the workshop.The kids had fun making and wearing the capes.My assistants at the library. The girl kneeling is chalk artist Connie Flores, you can see her chalk work at the yearly Pasadena Chalk Festival on father’s day weekend.The kids were excited to get their little capes made.I even got another kid to read my “Ocean Daydreams” zine at my table.
I am excited to participate in the 2nd Annual Comic Book Invasion at City of Commerce Library next Saturday.
I will be doing a children’s craft activity at 1:25 PM, “Make your own Super Hero Mask & Cape”. This is a free event, bring all the kids! For more information click on the flyer below to link to the Commerce Library website.
Don’t miss my Super Hero Mask & Cape workshop at 1:25 PM.
I was happy to participate in this year’s Latino Comics Expo, which was held at the Long Beach Museum of Latin American Art. There were so many creators to meet and so many great panels to attend all week-end long. Some of the artists also participated in the “Artists Assemble” art show in conjunction with the expo. A great time was has by all. If you missed it, come to the expo next year. Thank you Long Beach Museum of Latin American Art and thanks to everyone who showed up to support the 2016 Latino Comics Art Expo.
My table set-up at 2016 Latino Comics Expo.A Conversation with The Hernandez Brothers, Mario and Jaime Hernandez, creators of Love And Rockets Comic Book Series. This was the only panel I was able to sneak off and watch the whole week-end.My comic characters drawn by comic artist Richard Dominguez, creator of El Gato Negro Nocturnal Warrior.It was an honor to have my table visited by Jaime Hernandez, creator of Love and Rockets Comic Book Series.My haul from the 2016 Latino Comics Expo, Clockwise from Left to Right: Black T-Shirt of El Gato Negro from creator Richard Dominguez, Dia de Los Metros shot glass set from “Muy Nice” by Hortencia Aguirre Ceramics,Mexican Jazz by Israel Francisco Haros Lopez, Gutter Magic colored by Jules Rivera, Book III of Zotz: Serpent And Shield by Daniel Parada, Monty Gomez The Luchador by Sandro Gamboa and Bernyce Talley, Ghost Lady drawing by the one and only Rafael Navarro, The Art of Jaime Hernandez a retrospect of life work by Jaime Hernande, Monstrous Love Stories by Liz Mayorga, and Tortilla Issue Number Four by Jaime Crespo. I also got a sticker from Ofloda Monster!
