Nope, that's not my self portrait, it's José Guadalupe Posada (1852-1913) Calavera Catrina's relief print, circa 1890.

José Guadalupe Posada (b. Aguascalientes, Mexico, 1852; d. Mexico City, 1913), a tireless producer of caricatures and satirical imagery for the penny press that were one of the most popular forms of media in his homeland, has been widely recognized as “the foremost caricaturist, the foremost graphic artist” in Mexico for more than 125 years.

Posada built his career in an era of political repression and lived to see the profound social changes brought by the Mexican Revolution of 1910.

Posada’s pictorial commentary provided a daily diet of information and entertainment to a public for whom images needed to tell the story since literacy was not widely prevalent during the late nineteenth century. Posada’s highly varied images in the popular press included "noticias" illustrating crimes, current scandals, and other sensational stories, but these constitute only a part of his extensive output. Reused and reprinted, sometimes until the printing blocks and plates wore out, his beloved illustrations also encompass religious subjects, ballads, and children’s books and games.

Consider using Posada's work as a "model text" as you work with students- great points for discussion, inspo for printmaking, and telling a story using visuals.

And tell me this doesn't make you move. PALO! performing "Al Monte" is awesome. 

This group from Miami combines Cuban music with Latin Jazz and Funk beats. After years of successfully producing artists such as Celia Cruz, Tito Puente, Ricardo Montaner, Cheo Feliciano, Oscar d’ Leon and Willy Chirino, Roitstein decided to form his own band.

Some of the lyrics in Spanish:

Yo quiero volver al monte donde nace mi camino
Yo quiero volver al monte donde nace mi camino
Y llegar a mi destino guiada por el sinsonte
El sol en el horizonte, el olor a la guayaba
El sol en el horizonte, el olor a la guayaba
Era lo que yo anhelaba, por eso me voy pa'l monte
English Translation:
To the mountain I will return, wait for me there in the hut
I want to return to the mountain where my paths were born
And to arrive at my destination guided by the mockingbird
The son in the horizon, the smell of the guava fruit
It was what I longed for, that's why I'm going to the mountain

Continuing our blog convo from last week, this is the work.  Story.  How important is it to give space in a lesson to tell a story?  To paint a memory?  To compose a photo that captures a place, a feeling, a sense of identity?

As we roll into Hispanic Heritage Month (9/15-10/15), take a look at this video- I will be using it in PLC with 6-12, and you maaaay see it in your monthly department meeting, so I will leave the video here in case you want to use it/share it.

MIDDLE SCHOOL Art and Music Teachers- WE NEED YOU TO tap the shoulders of kids who you think could try out for the 2023 Durfee Musical!!  Please share this flyer with them!

And did you know that Fall River has opened a NEW ART SPACE on South Main? The Ignition Space opened Tuesday, and the artist using the gallery space has some pretty cool work. Jim Charette was there to meet and greet- such a cool guy! They have a form to use the space, it's free for artists, funded by the Barr Foundation through Mass Development/TDI. So excited to see this work take root in our city.

The Ignition Space is now accepting proposals from the community to use the space. Seeking to host exhibitions, workshops, and creative arts programming. Submit proposals through a community request process. Access the booking form here.