A Culmination of Visual Stories created by Mendez High School Students, Fall 2020
Creative Labs is a partnership between SHG and Mendez High School that enhances student engagement by integrating art in the classroom setting. SHG Teaching artists use SHG’s wealth of serigraphs in its archive among many other artistic examples for visual and historical reference that complements and enhances English and American History curriculum resulting in film-making, stop motion animation, collage, zine-making, and more. Classes were led by teaching artists Diego Robles and Gustavo Alberto Garcia Vaca. Learn more about the virtual exhibition below!
Curatorial Statement by Diego Robles
In Collaboration with Mr. Ball’s students
In this Creative Labs, the students from Felicitas and Gonzalo Mendez High School created memoirs that delved into their lives, unearthing personal, identity-formation incidents. The memoirs students generated were inspired by excerpts of the short story they read and analyzed from Always Running: La Vida Loca by Luis Rodriguez.
Mr. Ball led students through a process of self-reflection and thinking that led to diagramming and writing of their memories. I guided them by facilitating the visualization of their written memories by producing storyboards and photographs. Many also re-enacted their memories by performing them and directing siblings to act them out. To do this, students used a free software called Stop Motion Studio on their smartphones. The program allowed them to practice sequential art by re-presenting or weaving together drawings and live-action imagery. Many found ways to creatively add sound or music, as well as graphic design elements like intertitles and credits.
This year presented various hurdles layered by the global pandemic. Yet, the visual and media art integration we were able to accomplish, I hope, served to extend and expand the school curriculum. Students found ways to express through ZOOM and emails the challenges and triumphs they faced while navigating toward finishing their project. Many students, if not all, expressed the novelty of creating artwork like this for the first time.
I want to give a huge thank you to the Artistic Director of Self Help Graphics, Marvella Muro, and the collaboration of Lulu Urdiales. I am indebted to Mr. Ball for always welcoming me into his classroom, and I am graciously humbled by the students who have participated. Thank you all for being my partners in this.
Mr. Ball’s Students’ Artwork
Curatorial Statement by Gustavo Alberto Garcia Vaca
In Collaboration with Ms. Gallego 11th Grade US History class and Mr. Martinez 9th Grade Classes
Throughout the Fall 2020 trimesters, Mendez High School students created artworks directly inspired and in reference to their studies. In Ms. Gallego's US History class, students created artworks inspired by their studies on the US Presidential/local elections and current social justice issues. In Mr. Martinez’s English classes, students created artworks inspired by the literature they read - “Stolen Party,” "Always Running," "Speak" and "Marigolds." In the workshops I conducted, we discussed art-making techniques, art history, contemporary art, SHG legacy artists, as well as current prints made by SHG artists (Martha Carrillo, Andi Xoch, Votan, Luis Genaro-Garcia, WERC, Clover, Shizu Saldamando, Dewey Tafoya, Wayne Perry, Chaz Bojorquez). Students created artworks using a multimedia approach - hand lettering/stencils, drawing, graphic design, collage. The themes students addressed in their artworks include personal voice, self-pride, utopia/dystopia, identity and joy.
PROFILE:
Gustavo Alberto Garcia Vaca is an interdisciplinary artist and writer. His artwork is in the collections of LACMA, MoMA, and the Bibliotheque Nationale de France. His writing appears in books, literary journals, and manga/comics.