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Cholo graffiti in East Los Angeles with Cheech Marin / Part B: Chaz Bojorquez

5/5/2025

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Let’s continue Cheech’s exploration
​of the roots of East L.A. graffiti
and his conversation with…

​
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CHAZ BOJÓRQUEZ:  "Some people date the first graffiti in LA back to the 1930s, when shoeshine boys would mark their spot on the street by writing their names on the wall. There are tags by the Los Angeles River that date back to the ’40s, painted with sticks and tar. Before spray cans were invented, most of the graffiti was made with paint and brush."
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"Chicano gangs were originally formed for protection, in response to racism. When people think of LA gangs, they usually think of drug dealing and violence, but the Chicano gangs were originally more about taking pride in a neighborhood.
​

By 1943, when the riots happened against the Latino zoot suiters, it created the foundations for the Cholo culture. Graffiti was a way to define your identity and say, “This is Latino territory.” This is our roll call, our names written on the wall—that’s what’s called a "placa". Placas are usually placed at the edge of a neighborhood, marking the territory for an individual gang. It says, “This is ours.” When I see a tag, I see a complaint; I see a whole bunch of tags, I see a petition."
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"I lived in the neighborhood of the Avenues gang. I was not a gangster, I was a hippie, my cousins were gangsters in prison, and my friends were surfers—but we were all the same, there wasn’t a distinction that you had to be a gangster to tag. We were always at the same liquor store tagging. You could tell the little guys by the bad handwriting, and they would write low, at eye level. And the older guys, they would write bigger and taller. But was it about being the highest and all that? No, that was not the case. Your tag was allegiance to your community. You never went out of your neighborhood to tag.​

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"The gangs used Old English type because it was seen as the most prestigious. It was on your birth certificate, the newspaper—the LA Times."
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MARIN: "It’s a co-opting of legitimacy and a form of code-switching. Switching from one language to another, one culture to another—the formality and the prestige of that and adapting it to your own style—you say two things at the same time."
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BOJÓRQUEZ: "And then there’s that other style, ‘Teen Angel’. It’s a script, for tattoos and drawings. We used to write beautiful script letters on the side and back windows of lowrider cars, you know, words like “Pillow Talk” or “Sad Boy,” all that stuff."
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​MARIN: “I’m so tired of being alone.”
​

BOJÓRQUEZ: “They use ‘Teen Angel’ for tattoos across the neck. But it would never go up on the walls; nobody does that in the streets.”
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MARIN: "You were studying art while you were tagging, right?"

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BOJÓRQUEZ: "I started taking art classes when I was about fourteen years old, before I was tagging. I was very aware of the art scene of the time—Andy Warhol, the Ferus Gallery guys—but I did not see a Latino face. Then I was going to the Chouinard School of Art in ’67, and again I was very disappointed because I did not see a Latino face anywhere. That’s why I started tagging—for myself."
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MARIN:  “In 1972, the Chicano art collective Asco tagged the outside of LACMA, because the museum didn’t show Chicano artists. Two years later, the museum gave another Chicano group, Los Four, a show. But for the museum, it was barbarians at the gate. It was, “Okay, we’ve shown it once, you’ve had your day.”
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​BOJÓRQUEZ: "Exactly. In art school, I became disillusioned.
I wasn’t getting support from my art teachers or anything like that, I was getting kicked out of school because they didn’t see any value in my fine-art work. So, I said, fuck school, I’m just gonna go back to graffiti at night.

That’s when I came up with the image of Señor Suerte. It mixes a lot of different styles from the ’60s. The skull, of course, is Mexican, from Día de los Muertos. But also at that time, there was the black civil rights movement—I copied that look you saw in movies in the 1970s, like Shaft and Super Fly, with the pimp daddy hat, the fur collar. I liked that look."

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MARIN: "Who doesn’t like that look?"

BOJÓRQUEZ: "I was smoking a lot of dope, so the first drawing had a joint, but then I thought, I’m not gonna put drugs in the street, that’s disrespectful. You know, it was the Latino morality. So I crossed his fingers and took the joint out."
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"The first time I tagged my skull symbol I did it freehand with a spray can, and it came out badly. So I turned to the latest technology of the ’60s—plastics—to cut out a stencil with more detail and total control. My first tag was on the 110 Freeway from downtown LA to Pasadena, when you’re coming out of the freeway tunnels; I tagged the spiral staircase. That was ’69, and it stayed there ’til the Olympics in ’84. Then, about fifteen years after that first tag, I started seeing it tattooed on gangsters from the Avenues gang. It’s become a symbol of protection: If you get shot and have the skull tattooed on you, it will protect you from death. So since then, I put it away, I don’t make T-shirts, I don’t make nothing—it belongs to them, because they live and die for it. It’d be stupid to commercialize that image."
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MARIN: "Is danger part of graffiti? The more dangerous and hard to do, the better—to put it in the spot where you know the guy is fucking rappelling off something to get there?"
​

BOJÓRQUEZ: "That’s the style from New York. It’s been taken up by new guys, but that’s not West Coast Cholo. I only tagged in Highland Park, I never went out of Highland Park. One time I did Hollywood because I worked at this job, but otherwise when I see young kids hitting all over the place, that’s New York mentality—me, me, me. It wasn’t our tradition. One writer would write for the group, and our tags were about us."
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​MARIN: "Real little micro-neighborhoods, man. And essentially that particular gang that was in that neighborhood lived and died for their four-square blocks."

BOJÓRQUEZ: "It’s clannish, it’s really clannish."

MARIN: "So at the moment that mass transit comes in, that separates it from marking territory?"

BOJÓRQUEZ: "I don’t see gangsters on trains. I’ve never hit a train. I never see trains."

MARIN: "Well, buses."
​
BOJÓRQUEZ: "Tagging buses, that’s a younger man’s game, from the 1990s. We never hit buses. We didn’t hit churches or buses. When New York–style graffiti started coming in here about the mid-1980s, all the young kids went all New York gaga. The documentary Style Wars came out in ’84, and it changed overnight. There was the excitement of the world movement out of New York.
But I want to say that New York was the first to take graffiti to heart because they took their pieces and put a frame around it and made a gallery, the FUN Gallery and all of that. 
And they changed it into a product—like Haring with his Pop Shop. But it didn’t last. New York is all about “Been there, done it, next thing.” Then there were the anti-graffiti laws, and that closed off the subways. What happened over here was, it just stayed gangster."
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MARIN: “Is that a good thing? Are we supposed to think globally or should we cling to the specificity of our four blocks?”

BOJÓRQUEZ: “What’s unique about LA is that we bring our culture into our graffiti. Cholo culture is Mexican-American culture, and our style carries our culture. To the world graffiti movement—99.9 percent New York–influenced—Cholo is a subculture on the West Coast, but we choose to write with cultural pride in our letters and that’s our strength.”
​

MARIN:”But I think it’s gonna be impossible with every generation, ’cause every generation of kids will interpret it in their own style. Who gets to define what Chicano is? Every generation of Chicanos defines what it means to be Chicano for them, and they have just as much right to say it as a Chicano that grew up in the ’40s does.
The biggest controversy I had when I exhibited my art collection under the title Chicano Vision was using the word "Chicano". “Can we call it Mexican-American art, or Hispanic art, anything but Chicano art?” By definition, it was not art if a Chicano did it; it was agitprop. At the same time, the radical political activist Chicanos, they didn’t want anybody else using that name but them. I was just a fuckin’ dope-smoking comedian. Those Chicanos thought they made up the term in 1968. But I thought, hey, that’s finally a term that defines who I am. I’m not a Mexican, I hated Mexican-American, Hispanic, fuck that. I’m a Chicano.”
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Los Angelenos/Chicano Painters of L.A.:
Selections from the Cheech Marin Collection
​

The Cheech Marin collection is notable for classic examples of Chicano art produced from the inception of the Chicano movement to the present, with a concentration in painting from the 1980s and 90s. This exhibition includes a number of widely exhibited works by such first-generation Chicano artists as Carlos Almaraz, Margaret Garcia, Gilbert “Magu” Luján, Frank Romero, John Valadez, and Patssi Valdez, whose artistic careers began during the Chicano civil rights movement in the mid-1960s to mid-1970s, as well as works by such younger artists as Vincent Valdez and David Flury. Los Angelenos/Chicano Painters of L.A. is a Los Angeles-focused selection of Chicano Visions: American Painters on the Verge, an exhibition of the Marin collection that toured nationally between 2001 and 2007.
​

BOJÓRQUEZ: “I fought for that word "Chicano". And I believe that Cholo graffiti is Chicano art. Chicanos were the hard ones to convince. They said it was anti-Chicano because Chicano was family, religion, farmworkers, border and migration issues, not this bad-boy stuff— “it undermines what we’re doing, it’s not art.” I started out as just a tagger, but then I came to define myself as a graffiti artist—and I really had to defend that word "artist". Now I don’t just work in the arts, I do graphic design—I work in culture.
But the only way to stay where I’m at is to stay pure. I’m always going back to the original letters of Old English to build my foundation, but I include my own style of control of Asian calligraphy. I like the traditions of Cholo and the expressive spirit from Asian philosophy. I came back to my community feeling more like I better get up in my four blocks. I constantly ask myself, how can I paint more pride or strength—how do I add balls to my letters?”
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​ Chaz Bojórquez (b. 1949, Los Angeles)
grew up in Highland Park, where he created a graffiti icon that was adopted by the local gang.
Bojórquez  first encountered graffiti as a young boy while exploring the concrete riverbeds of the Los Angeles River.
The markings he found there introduced him to the Cholo graffiti that Chicano Angelenos had been developing since the 1930s. While a student at Chouinard Art Institute (now CalArts) in the 1960s, he developed his signature character, a stenciled, fedora-wearing skull named Señor Suerte. 

Bojórquez’s position as one of the city’s premier Cholo graffiti artists was cemented in 1975 with the publication of photographer Gusmano Cesaretti’s book:
 Street Writers: A Guided Tour of Chicano Graffiti.  
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Working on canvas since 1979, Bojórquez mixes powerful variations on Cholo fonts, informed by his study of Asian calligraphy, with the iconography of the Day of the Dead and other traditional Mexican folk imagery.
An elder statesman of the Los Angeles street scene, he has exhibited widely and has worked on numerous graphic design projects. The monograph 
The Art and Life of Chaz Bojórquez
 was published in 2010.
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CHAZ BOJÓRQUEZ
Draws his inspiration from Los Angeles where he was born, grew up and still lives. He received formal art training at Guadalajara University of Art in Mexico, California State University Los Angeles and the Chouinard Art Institute now known as Cal Arts.
​Under Chinese Calligraphy Master Yun Chung Chiang, Chaz developed a deep understanding for written language. He worked as a commercial artist in advertising and film before concentrating on painting.

Chaz is the “Godfather of Los Angeles Graffiti Art”.


“I put 50 years in of writing. I am an Original. We started this stuff. We not only had the best book... but, it was the very first book” –– Chaz Bojórquez

https://streetwriters.com/pages/the-artist
ARTE POVERA FOTO BOOKS
Independent publishing company dedicated to releasing limited edition photography books rooted in culture.
          
https://streetwriters.com/pages/contact-media-inquiries
CONTACT
Arte Povera Foto Books, Inc.
PO Box 421203
Los Angeles, CA 90042
Email: [email protected]
 
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Genoski, Atlas, and Saturno

11/4/2024

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Murals On The Street:
Resurrection!!!

And then...  once in a while, the Ghost will get restored or repainted or reincarnated
or re-born
and resurrected!!!
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Here’s what happened when
Genoski  and Atlas

from my previous post:
http://www.artandsoulproductions.com/blog/murals-on-the-street-ghosts-genoski-and-atlas
collaborated with
​
Saturno! 

to ReCreate a mural
to replace their last one.


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Beyond Colors and Shapes.
A Fusion of Past, Present, and Consciousness. 

"My latest project has taken my creativity to new heights, painting a mural of enormous dimensions on the main facade of The Regional Library of Blanes, the Catalan town in Spain, where I grew and flourished as an artist."  says Saturno

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"This project represents a return to my roots, an opportunity to merge my passion for art with the place that saw me grow.
The artwork has sparked a sense of awe and excitement among locals, unaccustomed to witnessing this type of artistic expression. The creation process has been a spectacle that attracted both the curious and art enthusiasts alike."


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"This mural has become a gathering point, a place where the community comes together to admire, discuss, and share their appreciation for art. The interaction with the local audience has profoundly enriched my experience as an artist, witnessing people immerse themselves in the visual narrative I've created, establishing an emotional connection with my work."
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"This mural has become a gathering point, a place where the community comes together to admire, discuss, and share their appreciation for art. The interaction with the local audience has profoundly enriched my experience as an artist, witnessing people immerse themselves in the visual narrative I've created, establishing an emotional connection with my work.
More than just an expression of my artistic vision, the mural is also a tribute to the community that witnessed my growth. It's an honor to contribute to Blanes' cultural landscape in this way, reminding everyone of my roots and elevating my art to new heights." 
 -Saturno! 

​
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Murals On The Street: Ghosts!! / ‘Genoski’ and ‘Atlas’

9/2/2024

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Sometimes I come across some really nice mural out there that I want to share with you…
and many times I will document them...
only to have them Painted Out!
Or Tagged over!! Or Defaced!!!
or Destroyed by negligence,
or by time and the weather,

Or Re-Painted! 
They have been Ghosted!!
Here is one now!
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This one is right around the corner from my home and studio!
(The mural went away and was replaced by another one.)

As far as I can tell, this is a collaboration
between two artists!

Genoski and Atlasgraffiti
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Photo by James aka Urbanmuralhunter. https://www.flickr.com/photos/atelier_tee
‘Woman and Rose’
at 3404 Union Pacific Avenue in the Boyle Heights,
Los Angeles, California.

 Mural by:
 Gino Genoski Gaspara aka @genoski

Gino is a resident artist at Klockwork Tattoo Club.
He is a very talented Tattoo Artist and is very open to tattooing different styles and isn't afraid of large scale graffiti projects.

- and -

Atlasgraffiti aka @atlasgraffiti
Rick Ordonez,
also known as Atlas and known colloquially as
the "kitty cat tagger," is an
American graphic designer and graffiti artist
 from Alhambra, California.[1]


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In early 2010, Atlas transitioned from creating large ornate graphics to drawing stylized cats, particularly on or near
​ Pasadena Freeways.

In an article for LA Weekly, Ordonez was described as
​a “cat-lover" who kept cats as pets.
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Atlas: Los Angeles Graffiti Documentary (2005)
Later that year, Atlas got his own show entitled "Rick Ordonez: Kitty Litter" at Mid-City Arts in November 2010.
Gallery manager Medvin “Med” Sobio stated "I saw them and thought it was something completely different. Everybody’s out there doing big, bad graffiti things [to show that] 'I’m a big, bad guy,’ and here he is, doing cats." Ordonez remained anonymous for the show.


Here is a good interview with Atlas ​about his career as a Vet, VFW, Graffiti Artist and his transition into Fine Art.
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THE CORNERSTORE
Atlas | Transitioning from graffiti to fine art.

And a documentary about his platoon from:

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THE WOUNDED PLATOON
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Joerael / One Down Dog Mural

7/1/2024

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!Murals On The Street!
Often I come across some really nice mural
or hand painted sign out there
that I want to share with you!
  Here’s another One…
( ...Down Dog that is!)   

One Down Dog Mural
- By -
​

J o e r a e l

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"Working with Joerael is a magical, creative and collaborative experience. He has consistently exceeded anything I could have ever dreamed up. Each time I've expanded my business Joerael has come to make it more beautiful, and each time I am blown away by his creations. His work is intentional and inspiring and it breathes life into otherwise bland spaces. I am grateful to have had the opportunity to work with Joerael on many occasions and look forward to our next collaboration...hopefully in the near future!" 
             -Jessica Rosen, Founder One Down Dog

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Yoga + Fitness in Eagle Rock
At the heart of Eagle Rock is our second studio, nestled between and convenient to Glendale, Glassell Park, Highland Park and Pasadena, the middle child that we love oh-so-much. Our signature ODD graffiti marks the spot and you’ll find a friendly staff member ready to greet you at the end of a long hallway. If a place could make an expression, our Eagle Rock studio would constantly smile. 
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MORE
-  j o e r a e l -
MURALS

Selected murals throughout the US.
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"imprinting dimensional states of being"
WASHINGTON,DC 2018

Joerael's epic mural at The Corcoran School of the Arts and Design. This mural spans the length of 2,052 square feet and artistically shares the history of the local Piscataway Tribe.
The Piscataway are 'the people where the rivers bend' and call the DC Bay Area their homeland.
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This work was created in collaboration with members of the Piscataway Tribe. The mural is in honor of the Piscataway people whose ancestral land is currently the United States capital. This work touches upon the complexities and histories of indigenous activism in the DC bay area. Joerael took his time and made sure to hold himself accountable to in-depth research and interviews with the tribe Sebi and Gabrielle Tayac of the Piscataway tribe. Joerael developed relations and learned about the tribe's roots in activism. Joerael also included in each design the diversity of the tribe and the resilience of survival. 
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A deep bow of gratitude for Piscataway Tribal members
Sebi Tayac and Gabrielle Tayac.
​Their contributions, time, and stories supported manifesting the mural into reality.
 
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​
​Sky Railway
​SANTA FE,NM  2020-2021
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Dragon and Wolf murals for Sky Railway in Santa Fe.
photos by Micha Gallegos.

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CONTACT
​Joerael is available for your next project. 

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“My work is survival, love, history, and soul and my guiding intentions are to use my art to transform and activate spaces and energy – to be part of the mosaic of transformation – a mosaic of folks standing up for justice and inclusiveness in their way and through their gifts.”
explains Joerael...
“I remember clearly as a boy in San Angelo, Texas, watching on television as the Berlin wall came down, and being captured by the vibrancy and ephemerality of the graffiti, and sensing the transformative effect art can have on a moment in time and the people experiencing it. And that single experience has informed how I approach my role as an artist.”

- JOERAEL NUMINA
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Murals On The Street: Orphans!

9/25/2023

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Many times I come across some really nice mural or hand painted sign out there that I want to share! So that is what 
Murals On The Street
 is all about.

But some times I can’t find a signature or attribution or tag
(at least one I can read or decipher),
These are 
Orphans! So…
If anyone claims their artwork, mural, throw-up, trophy, hand-painted sign, or can give me the attribution of a piece, I will happily post a blog on the artist and showcase their work!
Here's a fun one I found... 
​in Eagle Rock, California!
​
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Murals On The Street: Orphans?

5/8/2023

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Many times I come across some really nice murals or hand painted signs out there that I want to share with you!

I was out on my bike-ride around the neighborhood the other day, and I happened upon these great Calaveras skulls at a local cantina!

​

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I thought this would be a good example of how mural art can really give a place an identity and create a memorable impact.
​
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I looked and looked for a signature,
but I couldn’t find one.

I asked inside… but no, they don’t know.
​
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​So I went online and looked all over their website.
Not a clue as to their artists!
I even contacted them through their contact page…
No reply!
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Finally!
After several more visits,
I spoke with a general manager, Miguel
who was very helpful
and he got me in touch with the artist:
Michael Petow. 

(Sometimes you just have to be persistent!)


https://www.michaelpetow.com

Art@kalaveras 
​1-949-423-8881
[email protected]


About: Michael Petow (b.1987)
is an American Artist who works in a variety
​ of media including painting, sculpture, photography and murals. 


https://www.michaelpetow.com/contact

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"Nice work Michael!" -RQ

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Pasadena Antique Warehouse Gallery and Events Presents: Roberto Quintana’s ‘Mindscapes’: New Paintings and Retrospective!

4/9/2023

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It’s really cool when one of your favorite local patrons
calls you up!
(I painted his portrait, as a Circus Impresario, on his
Antique Shop several years ago)
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...and he says to you:
“Hey, Roberto … I’m not just an Antique Shop anymore!
I’m set up as an Arts Venue and Events Space now also,
with a stage and a great exhibition space.
Everyone loves your mural!
...and I was thinkin’...
it would be great if you wanted to have an exhibition here!”


Well, what could I say!?
I just happened to have a new series of ‘glass vessel’ paintings I was hoping to exhibit in Italy this year,
(but that all got postponed)
so...  “Yes! Let’s do it!”


Well, one thing led to another,
​and the venue was so great,

I realized that not only could I mount
my new 'Vessels' paintings…
but I could also do a complete retrospective of all of my 'Mindscapes' paintings!
​AND
have some of my friends perform and play!
​How great is that!
​
So here we go!
Set aside the first weekend of June:
Friday, Saturday and Sunday
the 2nd, 3rd, and 4th.
We’ll have a BIG Party!
​

If you’r not on my eMail list, and want to be,
just contact me and I’ll keep you updated,
or
contact the Warehouse.

Peace and love -Roberto Quintana
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Murals On The Street: Shepard Fairey!

3/27/2023

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I many times come across some really nice murals (or hand painted signs) out there that I want to share with you!
This one was sent to me by one of my nieces!


"I thought I'd share one of my favorite murals with you-
- (in Costa Mesa)"  Love
-Kate 💖
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Here are a few articles about the mural and the artist:
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SHEPARD FAIREY PAINTS HIS FIRST-EVER OC MURAL
ON BAKER BLOCK APARTMENTS IN COSTA MESA

by  CYNTHIA REBOLLEDO 
OCTOBER 13, 2017​

​     If you’ve driven down the 55 freeway in Costa Mesa recently you may have seen a mural with a portrait of a young woman at it’s center with the words, “Welcome” at Baker and Pullman streets, on the back of the new Baker Block luxury apartments.
     “Welcome Home” is a 7,000 square-foot mural recently completed (2017) by street artist Shepard Fairey. “The local community, the rebel surf-skate culture and the idea of peace and our need to take care of our environment all inspired me for this piece,” says Shepard Fairey. “But in choosing a theme I considered these things as well as what would have the greatest impact from afar since this was such a great opportunity to have a massive platform. I wanted people driving down the freeway to be able to clearly pick up its message and maybe be inspired, too…The mural represents inclusion, welcoming, community, peace and harmony.”
This is Fairey’s first public mural in Orange County, with a team of three assistants, they were able to complete the mural in six days using 460 cans of spray paint and hand painting the motifs using stenciling.
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Left: Shepard Fairey - Obey Face 3 Series 2. 1996. Screen print on paper / Right: Shepard Fairey - Obey Icon, 1996. Lithograph. Courtesy of the Artist
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A Simple Guide to Shepard Fairey, Obey and his Artwork  May 01, 2018

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A Brief Background of Shepard Fairey
     Shepard Fairey’s​ professional art career began when he attended Idyllwild Arts Academy in Palm Springs, CA and graduating to the Rhode Island School of Design from 1988-1992. It was at this time he found an interest in graffiti, street art and primarily sticker art. What started as a somewhat political somewhat snarky design utilizing a photo of wrestler Andre The Giant, really gave birth to a branding machine that later transformed into the OBEY brand.
     Over the years Shepard Fairey has transformed into one of the most well-known muralist /street artists in the world. His signature propaganda inspired design posters, murals stickers and clothing has continually combined social activism with the OBEY brand even before it was a commercial enterprise. The irony of the brand; “Obey”, is that Shepard has changed the meaning behind the word (at least where the brand and his work is concerned) to support more rebellious acts such as questioning how the world works rather than submitting or obeying what society tells us to think or do.
     Known for “controversial” posters such as 2008 red, white, and blue Obama poster or 2017 of what seems to be an ethnic woman also in red, white, and blue calling out xenophobia. Fairey is not afraid to use his art to display concerns about today’s social and political climate.
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     Shepard Fairey’s latest mural (as of 4/19/2018) ‘American Dreamers’ is a collaboration with Vhils,​ a Portuguese graffiti and street artist. This piece of street art is located on Mack Sennett Studios in Los Angeles and directs attention to people who come to the United States to fulfil the American dream but end up being denied those opportunities of citizenship mainly due to where they immigrated from.
     Whether it is discrimination or racism, economics or politics, immigrants must fight through these obstacles and work twice as hard than American born citizens to be taken seriously. The mural reflects generations of immigrants wanting to make a better life for themselves that they can no longer have in their home country.
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     Shepard Fairey’s gallery art is included in Los Angeles County Museum of Art, Smithsonian Institution in Washington D.C., and Albert Museum in London. Starting in 2007, Fairey has had his art conveyed in exhibitions in places such as New York, Denmark, and Portugal to name a few. Fairey has won awards such as Member and Contributor to the LACMA Graphic Arts Council, Muslim Public Affairs Council, Voices of Courage Media Award, and Art Wynwood Tony Goldman Lifetime Artistic Achievement Award. Recent awards were given in 2017, which indicates that Fairey is not retired and still as relevant today as ever.
​
Where To Find Shepard Fairey’s Work
     While Obey (the brand) was originally considered a more subversive brand only found in skate shops and alternative retail establishments, today it is carried in major retailers around the world. As with Obey brand, today you can see Shepard Fairey’s work in almost any major city, ranging from stickers posted by loyal followers to large commissioned mural works.  By far the biggest concentration of Shepard Fairey’s work is in Los Angeles, California where he lives and works. 


Read/See more here:
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How Punk Influenced Shepard Fairey - Formative Years of Obey Giant in Michigan

Shepard Fairey documentary
‘Obey Giant’
https://obeygiant.com/watch-obey-giant-hulu/
​
"Thanx, Kate!
I really like Shepard Fairey’s work too!

In fact I did a mural a few years ago,
of Octavia E. Butler,
which was heavily ‘influenced’ by Mr. Fairey’s work.
Here’s the link to that project" -RQ

http://www.artandsoulproductions.com/octavia-e-butler-mural1.html
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0 Comments

Murals On The Street! /Jamie Laval in Charlotte, NC!

3/13/2023

0 Comments

 
I sometimes come across some really nice murals
out there that I would like to share with you!
Jamie Laval recently sent me some fun pix
from his visit to Charlotte, NC.​
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“Hey Roberto-
I thought of you ...(recently)… when I went on
a walking mural tour of downtown Charlotte.

They have quite an active guild of
public-art artists there.” 
-Jamie  
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“Thanx, Jamie!
I really enjoy your online Zoom-Concerts,
and especially hearing you ‘Live’ whenever I can!
I encourage everyone to subscribe
to Jamie’s Mailing list and check-out his music.
What a treat!!

www.JamieLaval.com
Subscribe: https://jamielaval.com/mailing-list-signup
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…And a quick GooglieSearch brought up
​ more than a few art groups!…


https://www.guildofcharlotteartists.online/

https://www.charlotteartleague.org/

https://www.givingchallenge.org/organizations/the-charlotte-county-art-guild-inc-dba-visual-arts-center

https://charlottenc.gov/arts-culture/Pages/arts-and-culture-team.aspx

https://charlottecultureguide.com/organization/59/guild-of-charlotte-artists

-AND-
In case you would like a little encore
…of music...
  here are two of Jamie's songs you will
​enjoy hearing:


Witchery Fate Song
(YouTube Video)

Uncle Joe
(YouTube Video)


-PLUS-
Jamie is having a St. Patrick’s concert!

Check it Out!

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“Dear friends,
In honor of the St. Pat's season, I'll be paying homage to the musical culture of the Emerald Isle with a day of traditional Irish tunes.
Joining me live in my home studio will be my friends Ivana Carlson (violin) and Sam d'Entremont (Irish wooden flute and penny whistle).
We'll be playing favorite time-honored jigs, reels, and hornpipes from both sides of the pond. I'll also share my reverence for the bagpipe music from Ireland. And on an exotic note, we'll play a short selection of bagpipe tunes from Transylvania!
If you are new to online concerts, [Click Here] to learn more.

Please join us for toe-tapping tunes, stories,
and fun!”
~JAMIE
​
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​Related:

Hi Roberto-
​    I went on another mural walk yesterday in Charlotte and am continually surprised how much public art this city of 880,000 has. The public art consortium in Charlotte is really proactive with funding, commissioning, and promotions.
    For the benefit of your blog readers, here is an interactive guide to the art walks in downtown Charlotte. For each tour, just click on the "Start Walking" button to see images of the murals in that group. -Jamie Laval

                        https://artwalksclt.com/walk


ART: ​https://charlotte.axios.com/
The definitive guide to 70+ Charlotte
street murals, mapped



Top 10 Murals in Charlotte
by heather on February 28, 2021

https://theburksandbeyond.com/top-10-murals-in-charlotte/
0 Comments

A Purple Party… and a Princely Mural!

1/16/2023

0 Comments

 
Murals On The Street!
"Many times I come across some really nice mural, or a hand painted sign out there that I want to share with you!
This one is from my dear friends Daniel and Lois who were back home in Minnesota last May and they sent me this great photo of the street party and unveiling of Hiero Veiga’s ​new mural of TAKAPrince Rogers Nelson-(TAFKAPrince!)" -RQ
​
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​Mural by 33-year-old Hiero Veiga, a Florida street painter known for the rendering on the exterior wall
of Miami’s Museum of Graffiti.
Organizers say the $500,000 Minneapolis project
​has been in the works for seven years.​

​June 3 2022
Purple party: Prince fans celebrate mural completion in downtown Mpls
By Tony Kiene
     On the same day that the Queen of England celebrated her Platinum Jubilee in London, Minneapolis honored its very own monarch: His Royal Badness, Prince Rogers Nelson. A 100-foot-tall mural of our favorite son, painted by internationally renowned artist Hiero Veiga, now looks out over the city’s entertainment district and the legendary music club that Prince established as an international landmark almost 40 years ago.
     Last night’s event, billed as the “Purple Block Party,” saw throngs of people descend on First Avenue North, including many Prince fans from out of state and around the world, here for this weekend’s Celebration 2022 at Paisley Park.
     A little after 9 pm, the dynamic duo behind the mural, also known as the “Crown Our Prince” project, graced the stage for the first time. With the blessings of Prince himself, it was Sharon Smith-Akinsanya, CEO of the Rae Mackenzie Group, and public art expert Joan Vorderbruggen, that conquered a multitude of roadblocks to successfully carry out this seven-year project “across the finish line.”
     Things became a little emotional when they introduced two of Prince’s sisters, Norrine and Tyka Nelson, each of whom spoke to the crowd.
     Tyka mentioned some of the many ways downtown has been important to their family through the years, recounting how she and Prince would often catch the #19 bus over North, and then, with transfers in hand, make a pit stop at Shinders bookstore on Hennepin Ave. before continuing on to their destination.
     Norrine Nelson spoke to the crowd, promising not to cry. She closed by telling those gathered to honor her older brother, “Thank you for loving him. He loved you.”
     Smith-Akinsanya and Vorderbruggen then returned, and after acknowledging the major sponsors, additional contributors, and the three photographers whose images served as the basis for the mural, further hyped up an already electric crowd, before introducing artist Hiero Veiga, 
     The unassuming and soft-spoken muralist did not address the audience, but no doubt felt its love and appreciation as he embraced Vorderbruggen and Smith-Akinsanya.
     Finally, as the opening chords of “Purple Rain” reverberated through the nearby streets and skies above Minneapolis, Veiga’s masterpiece was doused in brilliant light, officially dedicating the mural and fulfilling the promise to 'make Minneapolis shine purple.'
     DJ Mickey Breeze closed out the night with a more adventurous set the second time around consisting of a couple of classic Prince B-sides, including “Violet the Organ Grinder,” in which Prince repeatedly declares, “I’ll die, but I won’t go away.” That certainly rings true to all his fans. And though he didn’t end with it, Breeze’s inclusion of “It’s Gonna Be A Beautiful Night,” recorded live in Paris on the 1986 Parade Tour, proved to be the perfect depiction of the night’s festivities.
Hiero Veiga
a Florida street painter known for the rendering on
the exterior wall of Miami’s Museum of Graffiti. 
​Bio 
“I am obsessed with the practice of my craft.” 
Hiero Veiga grew up in the small boxing town of Brockton, MA
and has been spray painting since he was 12 years old.
With over 21 years of experience, Hiero has evolved from writing graffiti to curating hyper-realistic pieces ranging from portraits, natural scenery, and psychedelic art.

Hiero’s unique perspective and experience of light and color is reflected in his distinctive compositions. His current personal work style involves abstract backgrounds and kaleidoscopic designs with Groucho glasses, chattering teeth,
and rubber ducks.

Hiero has participated in countless mural festivals and collaborated with numerous artists in his community. His most prominent works were done in participation with Pow Wow! Mural Festivals, including a mural displayed in the 
Bishop Museum in Honolulu, Hawaii.

Hiero is based in Florida, but you can find his work in the streets, businesses, and galleries across the United States, Jamaica, and Canada.
If you are interested in working with Hiero,
please fill out the contact form or directly send an email.

© 2022 HIERO VEIGA. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.

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​Article By Tony Kiene
Tony Kiene’s experience in the Twin Cities nonprofit and entertainment industries includes work with Minneapolis Urban League, Penumbra Theatre, Hallie Q. Brown, and Pepé Music.
He welcomes reader responses to
​ 
[email protected].
​
​Related Stories:
​
Artist Hiero Veiga now painting Prince mural in downtown Mpls

Honoring Prince: community reactions to new street sign and mural
​

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​“This all reminds me...
​ of the work Christina Rosenthal and I did
for Prince’s nightclub ’Glam-Slam’ in L.A.
​ and at his Paisley Park Studios in MN.
           Here’s a link to that project…" 
 
-RQ


​Glam Slam and Paisley Park Studios

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www.ChristinaRosenthalFineArt.com
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    Picture

       ...to Roberto's Blog!

    ‘Duit-On-Mon
    -Dai-Luna-Prime’

        Roberto has been pestering the ‘Marketing’ staff here at Art and Soul for some time now to get together with ‘Research and Development’ to come up with a fun way for him to share all the great work out there of all the many other talented muralists and artists he's been "influenced by" over the years. ‘Sales’ was totally against the idea! ("How could that possibly improve the bottom-line?!"). ‘Marketing’ remains split, as usual ("We need more data"). ‘R&D’ thought it might be a fun way to "show off a little", and to showcase all those great ideas they keep finding out there on the internet. ‘HR’ said it might be a good way to keep 'The Crew' distracted ("Since they are all so bored since Covid hit, and Roberto is spending more and more time in his studio working on all those silly little easel paintings").
    'The Crew' said: ’'Sure, We've got nothing else going on …but only if we get to share stuff about technique, materials, and equipment." ‘Receivables’ said: "It obviously won’t make more work for us, so why not!". 'Legal' said: "No Way! You are NOT going to reveal where you steal all your ideas from!" (Although Roberto values their legal advice, He rarely listen’s  to their hysterics anyway). So... here we are! Welcome!
    ​

    ‘Duit-On-Mon-Dai-
    Luna-Prime’
    ​     "As the title implies, I will post once a Month (on the first  Monday, more or less). Feel free to leave a family friendly comment. Dialogue and praise is encouraged. Creativity, passion and wonder should be expected. Politics and personal grievances hopefully kept to private emails. And please… no Whining! and no sales pitches either (you can make your own damn blog for that).
       I expect to start becoming a little more savvy with all this social media stuff, but for now ‘Bookmark’ my website and check back every once in a while. I hope you will find it interesting. Don’t be too persnickety over my whimsical spelling and creative punctuations either, my
    Editorial Department is not what it used to be… I am seriously understaffed these days."   
     Peace and Love...
    ​     -Roberto Quintana, WFA

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Permission Statement: The contents of this web site are protected under copyright and other intellectual property laws. All images and text on this web site are copyright 1980-2021 Roberto Quintana dba Art & Soul Productions and/or their respective owners. All of the artwork on this web site has been hand-painted and/or designed by Roberto Quintana, one of his talented associates, or provided by an affiliate or a client. No portion of this web site may be reproduced, duplicated, copied, sold, resold, or otherwise exploited without the express written consent of Roberto Quintana. Any artwork on this web site that resembles your wonderful and precious artwork is purely accidental, and a huge coincidence, really. Oh, and any representation or likeness to anyone famous, living or otherwise, is most likely also an accident. Every effort has been made to give credit where it is due to clients, associates, and affiliates. If I have left you out please contact the studio, let's get this straightened out right away! Students and teachers may quote images or text for their non-commercial school activities. You also have my permission to quote images or text on your non-commercial blog, website, or Facebook page as long as you notify me by e-mail, give credit on your site, and provide a link back to this web site. For use of text or images in traditional, or non-traditional print media, or for commercial licensing rights, please e-mail the studio for permissions.