Blog Post 8: Panel

¡Printing the Revolution! Virtual Conversation Series: From Black and Brown Solidarity to Afro-Latinidad panel focused on the culture and unity amongst black and brown communities by discussing the lives and works of Malaquias Montoya, Moses Ros, and Favianna Rodriguez. The first artist introduced in the panel was Malaquias Montoya. He was born into a family of farm workers and raised by a single mother that showed him the importance of giving back to the less fortunate. When he was older, he worked at watermelon fields with Japanese Americans who were recently freed from internment camps. When he moved to San Jose, he learned how to silk screen and in 1968 he entered the political field. He created political posters, and even got fired from his job because of his ideals and involvement in politics. However, Montaya continued to create political posters because he knew it was important. Now, he is a strike poster artist in the bay area whose works revolve around topics regarding international solidarity, criminal justice reform and social justice. The second artist featured in the panel was Moses Ros. Ros is an artist, printmaker, architect and a Domican American graphic artist. Growing up, he felt invisible so his work focuses on identity. In fact, he uses aerosol paint and creates large pieces in order to socialize and network with students. Furthermore, he uses bright, and dynamic graffiti colors to give his art more life. The last artist in the panel was Favianna Rodriguez. She is an artist, cultural strategist and activist whose art touches on migration, gender justice, climate change and sexual freedom. These themes were inspired by the people around her. In particular, feminists inspired her to create art about a world she wanted. Additionally, her father and grandma were black and she didn’t see them represented in media, so she aspired to change that. Overall, this panel shed light on the solidarity between black and brown communities. It was interesting to listen to each artist’s background and inspiring to see how they use art to voice and stand up to their beliefs.