Robles, Harlow ( Wiki Draft )

Melquiades Dominguez (born October 14, 1978) is a muralist, painter, feminist Chicanx activist, visual artist who lives in the city of South Tuscon, Arizona. Melquiades, who started off painting as a graffiti artist goes by the graffiti name of Melo. They sometimes use a shorter version of their full name and go by Mel. Melo, is known for their exhibits in Arizona and California. Specifically, Viva La Causa in Los Angeles and Calacas, Time of Corn in Phoenix.

BIBLIOGRAPHY

Dominguez is a Chicanx artist who was born in Glendale on October 14, 1978 and raised in El Sereno, California located in the  South East part of Los Angeles. Their preferred pronouns are ( They/ Them/ Theirs). Mel has Mexican heritage from their mother who is from Aguas Caliente and their father who is from Sinaloa. As a child, Mel was raised primarily by their grandparents, their grandfather was the one who played an important role in Mel's development of being able to communication through the use of visual arts. The grandfather also introduce Mel to the Library. Many of Mel’s artworks are depictions of the experiences they had growing up with in East Los Angeles. As a young adult, Mel would hang out on the streets and associate with graffiti artist which eventually led them to becoming a graffiti artist. During this time is when Mel's artistic creativity took shape. Mel was able to compete in the painting of murals just like any other graffiti artist counterpart.

ART

Speaking for the dead

In 2015, University of Arizona forensic anthropologist, Laura Fulginiti, is helping the decease migrants who crossed the US-Mexican border speak by giving them an identity and figuring out their cause of death. By making an exhibit that is hands on and allowing guest to feel the bones (no actual human bones are used) they get a realistic experience of the investigative process. Adding to the gallery are the works of Visual Artists, Melo Dominguez, Cristina Cardenas, Tavo Barrios, Jose Benavides, Marco Antonio Galaviz, Ruben Galicia, Zarco Guerrero, Martin Moreno, Mary Ann Rodrigues-Veatch, Irma Sanchez, And Annette Sexton-Ruiz. The creative paintings and sculptures of these Chicano/a artists brings political and social awareness to the dangerous risk people take when crossing the US/ Mexican border.

Las Gitanas

In 2013, "Las Gitanas" is a painting by Melo that was presented in the Tohono Chul Park's Dia De Los Muertos group show. Melo says that the painting " is a representation of the celebration of the welcoming of the dead, in addition the celebration of culture, life, food and entertainment." At this event, Melo was able to present other art work that they had been working on to represent the culture and traditions of the Mexican people.

REFRENCES

2015 Speaking for the Dead, ASU School of Human Evolution & Social Change, Innovation Gallery, Tempe AZ2013 Dia de los Muertos, Tohono Chul Park Gallery, Tucson, AZ

2013 Dia de los Muertos, Tohono Chul Park Gallery, Tucson, AZ

FURTHER READING

(https://tucson.com/news/local/netos-tucson-chicanx-artist-makes-her-mark/article_3dccc673-a8da-5e2a-bcb8-72e50fedaf1a.html)

http://3storymagazine.com/mel-dominguez/

EXTERNAL LINK

galeriamitotera@gmail.com

http://melodominguez