Chicanismo en el arte : [exhibition] May 6-25, 1975, Los Angeles County Museum of Art, Leo S. Bing Center

<3^

%

%

LOS ANGELES COUNTY MUSEUM ^^^^J^^^

5 0715 01051710 2

N

582

t7A8

1T75

no- 3

\

Chicanismo
en el arte

L7 AS

This catalog has been generously supported by Great
Western Savings and Loan Association; Joan Palevsky;
Shiva, Inc.; and a group of Trustees. Los Angeles County
Museum of Art.

Chicanismo en el arte

May 6-25, 1975

Los Angeles County Museum of Art

Leo S. Bing Center— First Level

3

Acknowledgments

Many people have offered enthusiastic concern
and support for this project from its earliest
stages. Others have been generous with planning
advice and have assisted in encouraging young
artists to participate. And from the beginning it
has been a truly cooperative venture with East
Los Angeles College. Sincere gratitude is
expressed to all those listed below who have
made both catalog and exhibition possible.

Margo Albert
James Allen
Carlos Almaraz
Terry Bell
Ruth Bowman
Sister Karen Boccalero
Carlos Bueno
Philippa Calnan
Robert Castaneda
Paul Colon
Kenneth Donahue
Edmund D. Edelman
Patrick Ela
Cecil Fergerson
Camilla Frost
Shifra Goldman
Sid Greenberg
Nancy Grubb
Ruby Hanan
Judith Elena Hernandez
Roger Holquin
Josine lanco-Starrels
Jodee Kishiyama
Raul Lopez
Gilbert Lujan
Tawnee Morlidge
Joan Palevsky
David Ramirez
Esther Renteria
Ralph Rivet
Armando Rodriguez
Richard Santillan
Tom Silliman
Saul Solache
Rexford Stead
Lillian Weiner
Robert Wilson
Carl Vance
Rudy Valles

LIBRARY
LOS ANGELES COUNTY MUSEUM Oi A..:

I

Chicanismo en el arte

If chicanismo is an identifiable though varied
characteristic in art, this show of more than
seventy objects suggests both its vigor and its
diversity. Work by thirty-one young ( 17-26)
Chicano artists was selected from a considerably
larger number of entries. Twelve schools in Los
Angeles are represented, as well as a group
known as Asco. Open to Chicano students
throughout Los Angeles County the juried
exhibition was conceived and developed as a
cooperative project of East Los Angeles College
and the Los Angeles County Museum of Art.

Diversity of approach in both intention and
medium is immediately apparent. Often media
are mi.xed or used innovatively, although
painting, sculpture, printmaking, photography,
and ceramics are also seen traditionally.
Intentions range from primarily formal concerns
to poetic or macabre fantasy to statements of
anger, frustration, indignation, and outrage.

Carlos Barajas (Occidental College) and
Robert Gil de Montes (Otis Art Institute)
explore formal and coloristic alternatives.
Barajas, in an engraving called Obvious, uses a
grid of white dots in relief against a cream
background: and in a cool, almost square
painting, two "windows"— the upper applied to
the canvas is pale green and the lower a
reflective rectangle of opaque white plexiglass
behind the cut out canvas— are surrounded by a
field of close, high-valued hues freely layered in
a drip technique. In Pellon #11 Gil de Montes
alternates short painterly green lines with an
occasional red one in nine rows, the last of tan
and red, held by a continuous green line running
vertically on either side, on a black pellon
ground.

Printmaking with representational references
to barrio life, surreal or symbolic aims, is well
represented by John Otero, Maria De La Rosa,
Theodore Sandoval (California State University,
Long Beach), and Frank Duarte (California
State University, Los Angeles). Three
photographs by Ernie Arbizo (Pomona College)
offer distinct observations: people at mass, a
mannequin in sunglasses and plumed hat amid
a profusion of objects, an old woman asleep,
slumped and disheveled in the rigidity of a
station waiting room seat.

For several artists, portraiture offers a strong
means of communication. Self-Porirali and
Lighting an J Darkness bv Javier Mendez
(California State University, Northridge) convey
brash, flamboyant physical energv checked only
by dedication to a jazzy pointillist technique.

Manuel Samaniego (California State University,
Fullerton) employs some of the vocabulary of
the illustrator to portray both the virility and the
disadvantage of the Chicano male. Yet the
pictorial integrity and emotive conviction of
these single and group portraits place them
beyond illustration.

Provocative individual objects as well as
interaction resulting in forceful group work
characterize the production of Asco ("nausea").
Much of the work responds sharply to social
conditions in the Chicano community, in Cuba,
in Chile; some of it to the human conditions of
the artists. Some of the work is eclectic, using
the means of surrealism, expressionism, abstract
expressionism, and the modern Mexican
masters, especially Orozco and Siqueiros. Media
are used freely, and are often mixed: collage,
spraypaint, acrylics, unprimed canvas, a stuffed
parrot, wood, wire, plastic, photographs. Images
are often startling in juxtaposition or scale that
reinforces content; Patssi Valdez' melting
chiaroscuro movie screen heads "One. Two and
Three," Gronk's color photograph of Fidel
Castro pasted on the black and white front page
of an American newspaper with an atrocity
headline in "Homage for Los Bons Bons" and
his "Soy un tigre, 1 & 2," a poignant, witty pair
of tiny huts housing intense portrait snapshots.
In Willie Herron's "Me Chingaron" a screaming
figure in violent perspective terrifies with its
mutilated, bloodied face and splayed arms.
Brutality is again the theme of two black and
white canvases of heroic, tortured male torsos by
Jetter Letter called "La Verdad Sobre el Terror
en Chile." Harry Gamboa is represented by
three mixed media pieces and "Cruel Profit," a
color film.

While more paintings and prmts were
submitted than three-dimensional works, two of
the latter are among the more original works in
the show. One is a subtly patterned,
monumental raku bottle by Salvador Perez
(Pomona State College). The other is a fragile,
haunting reliquary swathed in white candle
drippings. It incorporates a photo negative, a bit
of hair, a chain, and a funeral bill. By Richard
Nieblas (California State University, Los
Angeles), it is entitled "Documentation of the
Death of Maria Sega."

As a whole these works by Chicano student
artists not only demonstrate a high degree of
vitality and technical accomplishment, but they
frequently manifest involved attitudes toward lo
chicano that avoid many of the visual cliches

often associated with social commentary or
protest in twentieth century art. Some of the
artists included in this exhibition have begun to
find penetrating ways of expressing emerging
personal and social realities.

J.D'A.

1. Ernie Arbizo
Untitled

w

4. Carlos Barajas
Untitled

6. Ramon D. Cisneros
Untitled

7, Maria C. De La Rosa

Anonymous Faces in a Luncheonette

10. Frank M. Duarte
Untitled

13. Jesse Escobedo
Untitled

XINIOR PEREZ: BARRIO MURAUST.

SUPPORT CHICANOS IN THE ARTS.

15. Ed Fierro

Support Chicanos in the Arts - Ad #2

16. Harry Gamboa. Jr.
-^ / Don V Believe You Loca

20. Rito Garcia
Mis Pantalones

21. David Gonzalez
Painted Rock

^-^ dksapaukckn; las canasja

24. Gronk
Untitled

25. Julio Hernandez
Indiislriul A ris

28. W. Herron III
Me Chini^aron

29. Jetter Letter

La Verdad Sobre el Terror en Chile (1 )

30. Jetter Letter

La Verdad Sobre el Terror en Chile (2)

3L Carlos B. Marquez
Untitled

35. Javier Mendez
Self- Port rail

37-42. Don Miguel Meyka
Sterling silver jewelry

iSiifiiiKI'iii/'^nr'K.M!

43. Robert Gil de Monies
Pellon #11

p^

44. J. Ernest Montoya

Cerveza, Toslada and Chips

1

■^„'-...'^-":c

^

47. Richard Nieblas

Documentation of the Death of Maria Sega

49. John Otero

Viaje a lo Cierto

51. Irma Pena
Mi A buelita

54. Timoteo Ramos
Dia de los Muertos

52. Salvador Perez
Raku Bottle

58. Manuel R. Samaniego
I.V.L.S.

60. Thelma H. Sanchez
Siete Serpienles

63. Theodore Sandoval
La Mara

68. Maricella Segura

Blue Fumed Vase with Serpent

69. Michael Swift

The Wedding Reception

I ^

1 MU 5I:k. I X:.'I -JW.t TO S^IZX iRza:. I :--tU. -ICSSICS .,i; O A5CC A5CC iscf.^j.-- ...-■:■-■ ^:;.:;...: . ]

autl '^iaovetl fro« ny car NO rewor glv«n a rrlond ana I were callad horrible twaes I
^r 6*lj« on REdB. wie cop aaid I «»«U«J llk« graw « -we clown* « vera asked varl
sb4 ,A*U.i.:. -r- -;.iy.i:j/-- -^ Wi^S Old ;e v«rfi« of arr«t for iiwe epperanco that «llon

was Jk^cused

^Pisin :i

_-^.. -.-B, 2PH -H SC-, SSD fY ... a. F. J
■ a vAAJ UADO. I WAS ZJiaULTED ABUSSD 1

ly

70. Patssi Valdez

Photo Booth Piece

Chicanismo en el arte

1. Ernie Arbizo
Pomona College
Birthdate: March 2, 1952
Untitled
Photography

16 X 14 in.
$20.00

2. Ernie Arbizo
Pomona College
Birthdate: March 2, 1952
Untitled
Photography

16 X 14 in.
NFS

3. Ernie Arbizo
Pomona College
Birthdate: March 2, 1952
Untitled
Photography

16 X 14 in.
NFS

4. Carlos Barajas
Occidental College
Birthdate: June 26. 1952

Untitled
Painting
39 X 42 in.

NFS

5.

Carlos Barajas
Occidental College
Birthdate: June 26. 1952
OBVIOUS

Engraving
34 X 26 in.
$100.00

6.

Ramon D. Cisneros

California State University. Northridge

Birthdate: October 9. 1950

Untitled

Oil on canvas
36x96 in.
$1,000.00

10.

11,

12.

Maria C. De La Rosa

California State University, Long Beach

Birthdate: November 21. 1949

ANONYMOUS FACES IN A

LUNCHEONETTE

Intaglio

17x30 in.

(Contact artist for sale)

Maria C. De La Rosa
California State University, Long Beach
Birthdate: November 21. 1949
CUMULUS FORMATIONS
Lithography and intaglio

13 1/2 X 18 1/4 in.
(Contact artist for sale)

Frank M. Duarte

California State University. Los Angeles

Birthdate: September 9. 1951

GALLERY

Etching. 8/10

8x11 1/4 in.

$50.00

Frank M. Duarte

California State University, Los Angeles

Birthdate: September 9, 1951

Untitled

Etching. 2/10

15 1/8x11 1/8 in.

$50.00

Frank M. Duarte

California State University. Los Angeles

Birthdate: September 9. 1951

SANDWICH

Etching, 1/10

14 1/2 x9 1/4 in.
$50.00

Frank M. Duarte

California State University. Los Angeles

Birthdate: September 9, 1951

ANESTHESIA

Clay, plastic, cotton, wood, metal

9 3/4x6 3/4 in.

NFS

13. Jesse Escobedo

Immaculate Heart College

Birthdate: February 1, 1952

Untitled

Batik, air brush, acrylic

57x37 1/2 in.

NFS

19. Harry Gamboa, Jr.
Asco

Birthdate: November 1, 1951
CRUEL PROFIT
Super 8mm Ektachrome film
1 1 min.
NFS

14. Ed Fierro
Occidental College
Birthdate: June 11, 1954
SUPPORT CHICANOS IN THE
ARTS-AD #1

Graphic design
22 X 18 in.
NFS

15. Ed Fierro
Occidental College
Birthdate: June 11. 1954
SUPPORT CHICANOS IN THE
ARTS AD #2

Graphic design
22 X 18 in.
NFS

^16. Harry Gamboa, Jr.
Asco

Birthdate: November 1, 1951
I DON'T BELIEVE YOU LOCA

Mixed media
12 X 16 in.

$175.00

17. Harry Gamboa. Jr.
Asco

Birthdate: November 1, 1951
EAST LOS: IN BY 9 OUT BY 5
Mixed media sculpture
45 X 27 in.
$200.00

/is. Harry Gamboa, Jr.
Asco

Birthdate: November 1. 1951
DRAWING BORED
Mixed media
24 x 36 in.
S250.00

20. Rito Garcia

California State University, Dominguez

Hills

Birthdate: July 3, 1954

MIS PANTALONES

Oil and spray paint

36 X 42 in.

NFS

21.

22.

23.

24.

1/

David Gonzalez

Santa Monica City College

Birthdate: November 21. 1953

PAINTED ROCK

Acrylic on stone

5 X 6 in.

NFS

Gronk

Asco

Birthdate: April 29, 1952

SOY UNTIGRE #1 & #2

Mixed media

2 X 2 in.

$75.00

Gronk

Asco

Birthdate: April 29. 1952

HOMAGE FOR LOS BONS BONS

Stamp, paper, photo
23 X 13 in.
$250.00

Gronk

Asco

Birthdate: April 29, 1952

Untitled

Mixed media

2 yards of canvas

$250.00

25. Julio Hernandez

Roosevelt Community Adult School

Birthdate: April 12, 1956

INDUSTRIAL ARTS

Oil on canvas

32 X 46 in.

$125.00

31. Carlos B. Marquez

East Los Angeles College

Birthdate: March II, 1951

Untitled

Pottery

6 X 6 in.

NFS

26. W. Herron III
Asco

Birthdate: June 21. 1951
GRONK & HERRON
Ink

11 X 17 in.
$200.00

32. Carlos B. Marquez

East Los Angeles College

Birthdate: March 11, 1951

Untitled

Pottery

5 X 4 in.

NFS

27. W. Herron III
Asco

Birthdate: June 21, 1951

JOE

Parrot and wood

12 X 12 in,

$300.00

28. W. Herron III
Asco

Birthdate: June 21, 1951
MECHINGARON
Acrylic on canvas
48 x73 in.
$600.00

33.

34.

Carlos B. Marquez

East Los Angeles College

Birthdate: March II, 1951

Untitled

Pottery

6 x 5 in.

NFS

Carlos B.
East Los

Marquez
Angeles College

Birthdate

: March 11,

1951

Untitled

Pottery

5x6 1/2

in.

NFS

29. Jetter Letter
Asco

Birthdate: April 29, 1952

LA VERDAD SOBRE EL TERROR EN

CHILEd)

Acrylic on canvas

53 x 36 in.

$350.00

30. Jetter Letter
Asco

Birthdate: April 29, 1952

LA VERDAD SOBRE EL TERROR EN

CHILE (2)

Acrylic on canvas

53 X 36 in.

$350.00

35. Javier Mendez

California State University, Northridge

Birthdate: January 22, 1952

SELF-PORTRAIT

Acrylic on canvas

44 X 66 in.

NFS

36. Javier Mendez

California State University, Northridge
Birthdate: January 22, 1952
LIGHTING AND DARKNESS
Acrylic on canvas
52 x38 in.
$600.00

37. Don Miguel Meyka

East Los Angeles College
Birthdate: February 12. 1950
FRANCISCO VILLA (RETIRED)
Sterling silver, turquoise
11/2x1 in.
$60.00

43. Robert Gil de Montes
Otis Art Institute
Birthdate: July 14. 1950
PELLON #11
Acrylic on cloth
47 X 63 in.
NFS

38. Don Miguel Meyka

East Los Angeles College

Birthdate: February 12. 1950

EL CUCUY (Chicano folklore boogie man)

Oxidized sterling silver, turquoise

2 1/2x1 in.

NFS

44. J. Ernest Montoya

Long Beach City College
Birthdate: March 7. 1949
CERVEZA. TOSTADA AND CHIPS
Crochet, yarn
8 X 9 '/2 in.
$65.00

39. Don Miguel Meyka

East Los Angeles College

Birthdate: February 12. 1950

CAPTIVE

Sterling silver bracelet

2 1/2 X 1/2 in.

NFS

45. J. Ernest Montoya

Long Beach City College

Birthdate: March 7. 1949

MUSHROOM IN THE PHILIPPINE SURF

Photography

8 X 10 in.

$15.00

40. Don Miguel Meyka

East Los Angeles College

Birthdate: February 12, 1950

ANGELIQUE

Sterling silver pendant

2 1/2 X 1/2 in.

NFS

46. J. Ernest Montoya

Long Beach City College

Birthdate: March 7. 1949

ORANGE GLOW GIRL

Photography

11 X 14 in.

NFS

41. Don Miguel Meyka
East Los Angeles College
Birthdate: February 12, 1950
COMFORT

Sterling silver pendant

1 X 1/2 in.
NFS

42. Don Miguel Meyka
East Los Angeles College
Birthdate: February 12. 1950
OLD MAN OF THE SEA
Sterling silver, nickel band

2 X 5 in.
$125.00

47. Richard Nieblas

California State University. Los Angeles

Birthdate: June 16. 1950

DOCUMENTATION OF THE DEATH

OF MARIA SEGA

Photo negative, wax. chain ensemble

12x5 in.

$500.00

48. John Otero

California State University. Long Beach

Birthdate: February 17. 1952

ALTERNATE VIEW SERIES (No. II)

Lithograph

14x II in.

$50.00

49. John Otero

California State University, Long Beach

Birthdate: February 17. 1952

VIAJE A LO CIERTO

Intaglio

28 X 20 in.

$80.00

55. Manuel R. Samaniego

California State University, Fullerton

Birthdate: September 27. 1950

THE TEACHER

Acrylic and oil on canvas

36 X 74 in.

$375.00

50. John Otero

California State University. Long Beach

Birthdate: February 17, 1952

LIGHTNING STRENGTH

Intaglio

40 X 26 in.

$80.00

56. Manuel R. Samaniego

California State University, Fullerton

Birthdate: September 27. 1950

CATALYST

Oil. acrylic, Budweiser, stain

46 X 30 'in.

NFS

51. Irma Peiia

University of California. Los Angeles

Birthdate': April 25. 1953

MI ABUELITA

Batik

36 X 36 in.

NFS

57. Manuel R. Samaniego

California State University, Fullerton

Birthdate: September 27, 1950

RICHARD

Oil and acrylic on canvas

29 X 36 in.

NFS

52. Salvador Perez

California State University, Pomona

Birthdate: May 30, 1953

RAKU BOTTLE

Clay

23 X 9 in.

NFS

58. Manuel R. Samaniego

California State University. Fullerton

Birthdate: September 27, 1950

I.V.L.S.

Oil and acrylic on canvas

24 X 36 in.

NFS

53. Salvador Perez
Pomona State College
Birthdate: May 30, 1953
PLATTER
Porcelain

14 X 14 in.
NFS

54. Timoteo Ramos
Rio Hondo College
Birthdate: November 24. 1953
DIA DE LOS MUERTOS
Pen and ink

18x24 in.
$25.00

59. Thelma H. Sanchez
East Los Angeles College
Birthdate: September 2. 1950
COBIJA

Weaving
67 X 36 in.
$250.00

60. Thelma H. Sanchez
East Los Angeles College
Birthdate: September 2. 1950
SIETE SERPIENTES

Clay sculpture
4 1/2x7 in.
$25.00

61. Theodore Sandoval

California State University, Long Beach

Birthdate: September 15, 1949

LAS PLACAS DE LA RAZA

Color intaglio print

19 X 16 in.

NFS

68. Maricella Segura

University of California, Los Angeles

Birthdate: May 30, 1950

BLUE FUMED VASE WITH SERPENT

Blown glass

9 X 4 in.

NFS

62. Theodore Sandoval

California State University, Long Beach

Birthdate: September 15, 1949

MARIA MAGENTA

Color intaglio print

16x20 in.

NFS

69. Michael Swift
Otis Art Institute
Birthdate: April 25. 1949
THE WEDDING RECEPTION
Pen and ink drawing
22 X 40 in.
$80.00

63. Theodore Sandoval

California State University, Long Beach

Birthdate: September 15, 1949

LA MARA

Color intaglio print

18 1/4x21 1/4 in.

NFS

70. Patssi Valdez

^ Asco

Birthdate: December 31, 1953
PHOTO BOOTH PIECE
Collage with photographs
11 X 15 in.
$350.00

64. Theodore Sandoval

California State University. Long Beach

Birthdate: September 15, 1949

EL INFIERNO DE LA VIDA

Color intaglio print

35 X 29 in.

NFS

71. Pat,ssi Valdez
Asco

Birthdate: December 31, 1953
ONE. TWO AND THREE
Spray paint on canvas
76 X 54 in.
$400.00

65. Maricella Segura

University of California. Los Angeles
Birthdate: May 30. 1950
SANDBLASTED VASE

Blown glass
5 1/2x3 1/2 in.
$25.00

66. Maricella Segura

University of California. Los Angeles

Birthdate: May 30. 1950

BLUE& RED VASE

Blown glass

10x5 in.

NFS

67. Maricella Segura

University of California. Los Angeles

Birthdate: May 30, 1950

FUMED VASE WITH SANDBLASTING

Blown glass

8x3 1/2 in.

$30.00

72. P. Valdez; Gronk; W. Herron, III; H.
Gamboa, Jr.

Asco

Birthdates: 12-31-53; 4-29-52; 6-21-51:

I1-I-51

ASCO

35mm color slides

NFS

73. Jack A. Vargas
Otis Art Institute
Birthdate: July 17, 1952
BREAKFAST WITH EVARISTO
ALTAMIRANO

Video tape
1.210 ft.
NFS

Selections Conimittee

Leonard Castellanos, Director
Mechicano Art Center

Jeanne D'Andrea, Coordinator

Exhibitions and Publications,

Los Angeles County Museum of Art

Jane Livingston, Curator

Modern Art, Los Angeles County Museum of Art

Thomas Silliman, Director

Vincent Price Gallery, East Los Angeles College

I