Andria, The Fat Free Elotera, and I are featured in JEWCY

Jewcy Art: Maya Escobarby Margarita Korol, February 24, 2011

In 2007 we dubbed her the Anti-Feminist Feminist Jewish Latina. We stumbled upon performance artist/ Internet curator/ editor Maya Escobar again at the GA in New Orleans where her video installations were making a Marina Abramovich-style scene near Jewcy’s booth. She uses the web as a platform for engaging in critical community dialogues that concern processes by which identities are socially and culturally constructed. She performs multiple identities, sampling widely from online representations of existing cultural discourses.

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Miguel del Valle Inspires Supporters to Keep Fighting for Reform, Declaring, “This is Chicago!”

repost of press release from www.delvalleformayor.comDel Valle envisions new youth leaders emerging from campaignFebruary 22, 2011 (CHICAGO)-- After an impassioned campaign on behalf of Chicago’s neighborhoods, Miguel del Valle pledged to keep fighting for a citywide progressive agenda.“What will be your role?” del Valle asked a crowd of supporters at his campaign’s Election Night party at Revolution Brewing restaurant. “We’ve started something here. All the young people in this room--there are future leaders here, I know that.”State Senator Iris Martinez and State Representative Cynthia Soto introduced del Valle who welcomed his wife, daughter, and three sons to the stage. The entire family worked on the campaign, from recruiting and organizing volunteers to shooting YouTube videos.“This was a grassroots effort,” Sen. Martinez said. “And it was a victory for everyone in this room.”Del Valle led citywide conversations on issues ranging from neighborhood schools to the parking meter contract. “We set the agenda,” del Valle said. “An agenda that means progress for all, not for some.” A diverse coalition rallied behind that agenda, including seniors, veterans, and high school students.Del Valle has always said that time, not his opponents, was his worst enemy during the race. Tonight, he encouraged his supporters to keep believing in the city they envisioned during the campaign.“Give it time,” he said. “It’s not going to happen overnight. But I have been inspired by the number of people who want change in this city. And we’re not going to get that change without organizing our neighborhoods.”Huddled around tables and on staircases, volunteers continued to discuss a citywide organizing vision for Chicago’s communities. They batted around ideas for new models to improve neighborhoods, formed new relationships, and continued to build the coalition started during del Valle’s campaign.“Chicago is ready for reform,” del Valle said. “I know that because a lot of people did not vote in this election. They feel disgusted about Chicago politics. And we have to give ‘em hope.”

#delValleMural

The #delValleMural is finally complete!#delValleMural, 2011, Acrylic on CanvasI am thinking that after the elections a Chicago Public Library would be a really nice home for the piece.  What do you guys think?

putting final touches on the #delValleMural

The #ChicagoMayor elections are right around the corner...And I am happy to report that I am ALMOST done with the #delValleMural(the hashtag is silent)

Valentines Day LOVE from El Rio

You them saw and loved them last year...Check out the new crop of Valentines by El Rio.and as always:

Happy Valentine's Day to all of my friends, lovers, and drunken makeout partners! El Rio’s Valentine’s Day Cards are back for 2011 like a Sir Mix-A-Lot song! This is the 5th year of my cards and it’s turned into my longest running project. Enjoy!

As always, please post these cards on the pages of your online friends, real life enemies, booty calls, baby daddies, and friends with benefits. - El Rio

#delValleMural in progress

As a community-based performance artist, I find the act of sharing the process equally important to the act of sharing the final product.Here are images from the last week of the #delValleMural unfolding.

Help Maya Help Lolo and Raise Awareness for Domestic Violence

Please support Maya Chinchilla in her efforts to raise $3,000 to send her partner Lolo, her mother Lolita and her daughter to Mexico to reunite with family they lost 34 years ago. Maya wants to use this experience to fight domestic violence and child abuse as well as create spaces for healing and support from our community. For more information about their story go here.

Instead of a birthday party this year with your help I am throwing a fundraiser for Lolo and her family to reunite with her 4 brothers and sisters that were kidnapped from her mother 34 years ago. This is the only thing I want for my birthday so please help make my wish come true!

So far for our silent auction we have:

-Warriors tickets donated by Lisa Marie -a print and several goodies by artist Rio Yañez -3 life coaching sessions valued at $100 each by Carmen Iñiguez & Colibri Coaching -Burlesque class or performance at an event by Cherry Galette -A meal for two at Lubaos Supper club donated by Irina Contreras and Nico Dacumos -Dvds of the films ‘Pura Lengua’ and ‘Viernes Girl’ directed by Aurora Guerrero -A dozen LadyCakes Cupcakes made by Anayvette Ladycakes Martinez

* ANd special Guests!

We will have yummy apetizers and we will be selling Sangria and asking for a $5-20 donation at the door. Please invite your friends and we are still taking auction donations and any other offerings you can think of!

Please share far and wide! More details to come!

GO PUBLIC

"Viaja con Aerolíneas Públicas" ¿Estás cansado de ser perfilado, acosado y tener que mostrar tu identificación cuando vas a, bueno a… cualquier lugar? Vuela en Aerolíneas Públicas y el control de seguridad en tu aeropuerto local será el último lugar donde te pedirán tus papeles. Aerolíneas Públicas vuela sin escalas a destinos amigables como Nueva Jersey, Illinois y el suroeste de Pennsylvania. Te garantizamos que tú mantendrás tu tarjeta de identificación en tu cartera siempre. VIAJA CON AEREOLÍNEAS PÚBLICAS.

@PublicAirways

“Go Public.” Tired of being profiled, harassed and carded on your way to, well… anywhere? Fly Public Airways and the security checkpoint at your local airport will be the last place anyone asks to see your ID. Public Airways flies non-stop to friendly destinations like New Jersey, Illinois and Southeastern Pennsylvania. We guarantee you’ll keep your card in your wallet for good. GO PUBLIC.

@PublicAirways

NOW THIS IS GRASSROOTS!!

The Student's @DelValle4Mayor video just made it into the Huffington Post!!

Rahm Emanuel Hit On School Policy By High Schoolers For Del Valle

A group of Chicago high school students has decided to take Rahm Emanuel to task for his education policy.

Cristina Henriquez, Gerardo Aguilar, and Alexandra Alvarez appear in a YouTube video, uploaded Sunday, entitled "Invest in Our Public Schools." The spot attacks Emanuel for his praise of the city's charter schools, and backs rival candidate Miguel del Valle for supporting neighborhood schools.

"I go to Roger C. Sullivan High School," says Henriquez. "This is not one of the schools Rahm Emanuel cares about."

The students, who wrote the script for the video, according to its description on YouTube, also point out what they describe as a factual inaccuracy in Emanuel's portrayal of the city's charters. "When you take out North Side, and you take out Walter Payton, the seven best-performing high schools are all charters."

"Someone didn't do their homework," the video says, listing the seven top schools as reported by the Chicago Tribune. None of them is a charter school.

The video says it has no connection to any candidate, and judging by the del Valle camp's reaction, they seem to be telling the truth. Spokeswoman Joanna Klonsky didn't know much about the video's origins, except to say that "we didn't orchestrate it."

Watch the students take on Rahm:

[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=afonAiiMTm8]

YouTube Video Reel

AM and I are applying to another residency!Unlike our current Wonder Woman Residency, where we applied as Escobar-Morales, this particular program does not accept joint proposals. So we are submitting seperately and hoping (and hoping and hoping) we will both be accepted.I am applying to the #InternetArt section.[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bk54gsndAQY]And she is applying to the Photo section.

Invest in Chicago Public School Students

[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=afonAiiMTm8]On January 30, 2011 Chicago Public school students and graduates (from Chicago's Rogers Park neighborhood) got together to film a grass-roots/guerilla campaign ad to "tell it like it is," and support the best candidate to improve our neighborhood public schools.The footage used is filmed outside of Roger C. Sullivan High School and from WGN's January 27th mayoral debate. The stars and script writers of this ad are Sullivan HS students (in order of appearance) Cristina Henriquez, Gerardo Aguilar, and Alexandra Alvarez.On February 22, 2011 vote to improve our neighborhood schools - Miguel del Valle!http://www.delvalleformayor.comThis ad was not paid for or endorsed by any candidate or candidate's committee. Labor & love donated.Source of top seven high schools: Chicago Tribune

Why did you have to pick this weekend to be a Chicano?

Mayra Ramirez makes my heart pitter patter....(here is a repost of one of her latest posts on her blog Hella Breezys)

It's hard for me to fully express my disappointment and frustration with Arizona's law makers... last week they passed HB 2281 witch bans "Ethnic Studies" in the states K-12 grade classrooms. I cannot emphasize how important it is to be able to learn about the history of our peoples, of our ancestors, and to be able to find pride and empowerment in that. It's such a sad and scary time in both Arizona and the country. Here is a great article about HB 2281 that I found very interesting...

So now I want to share my favorite Save by the Bell episode where Slater finds his Chicano Power!!! I feel it's a great example of why having Ethnic Studies in our classrooms is so crucial...

FUCK ARIZONA'S ETHNOCENTRIC LAWS... WE NEED TO FIGHT FOR THE RIGHT TO LEARN OUR HISTORY, OUR CULTURE AND THE ACCOMPLISHMENTS OF OUR RAZA... TIERRA, JUSTICIA, Y LIBERTAD!!!

RIGHT ON MAYRA!!![youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T0wvG3RMKPc][youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ih1Qmq5Ie5k]And be sure to check out her collaboration with the always amazing Rio Yañez

AM + ME Open Studios

AM and I visit each other's Studios on Are You My Other?AM studioME Studio

gracias a la vida

Recently, I've been feeling pretty blue. My papi, being the wise man that he is, tells me to think about all the wonderful things I have going in my life- a family that loves me, a husband that adores me, a wonderful group friends that support me, and a drive and determination to make art at whatever means possible.He is right- I am a VERY lucky girl.[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0d_h5CZPyjQ]

Gracias a la vida que me ha dado tanto.Me dio dos luceros que, cuando los abro,perfecto distingo lo negro del blanco,y en el alto cielo su fondo estrelladoy en las multitudes el hombre que yo amo.Gracias a la vida que me ha dado tanto.Me ha dado el oído que, en todo su ancho,graba noche y día grillos y canarios;martillos, turbinas, ladridos, chubascos,y la voz tan tierna de mi bien amado.Gracias a la vida que me ha dado tanto.Me ha dado el sonido y el abecedario,con él las palabras que pienso y declaro:madre, amigo, hermano, y luz alumbrandola ruta del alma del que estoy amando.Gracias a la vida que me ha dado tanto.Me ha dado la marcha de mis pies cansados;con ellos anduve ciudades y charcos,playas y desiertos, montañas y llanos,y la casa tuya, tu calle y tu patio.Gracias a la vida que me ha dado tanto.Me dio el corazón que agita su marcocuando miro el fruto del cerebro humano;cuando miro el bueno tan lejos del malo,cuando miro el fondo de tus ojos claros.Gracias a la vida que me ha dado tanto.Me ha dado la risa y me ha dado el llanto.Así yo distingo dicha de quebranto,los dos materiales que forman mi canto,y el canto de ustedes que es el mismo cantoy el canto de todos, que es mi propio canto.Gracias a la vida que me ha dado tanto.