SHG Distributes Hundreds of BLM Posters By Dewey Tafoya and Andi Xoch of Ni Santas
By Jennifer Cuevas
In solidarity with the Black Lives Matter (BLM) movement, Self Help Graphics & Art hosted a drive-up BLM poster distribution June 6-7 and June 10-11, where hundreds of Angelenos stopped by over a period of 4 days, to pick up renderings created by Artists Dewey Tafoya and Andi Xoch of Ni Santas. “I was inspired with the idea of creating something that showed both solidarity and unity between Black and Brown folks– a direct message that is also shared by Black Lives Matter [organizers]. The idea came up during a conversation I had with my girlfriend. I asked her what kind of poster she would make that shows solidarity with the BLM movement coming from a Chicano perspective, but that also didn’t take away from their direct message, and she said ‘Orale Black Lives Matter.’ I was like, that’s it,” said Tafoya.
Artist Man One snaps a photo of SHG ED, Betty Avila, as he picks up a BLM poster.
In addition to Dewey’s image, the Ni Santas Collective printed two variations of their poster that not only included the BLM slogan but “Black Trans Lives Matter,” designed by Andi Xoch, SHG’s Print Studio Coordinator and member of Ni Santas.
Noticias Telemundo stopped by SHG one of those days to interview Andi, where she expressed support for BLM, the significance of art in social justice movements, as well as the importance of shifting police funding to reflect the needs of the community. “Queremos saber que ese dinero que va a la policía, que ya no se vaya tanto a ellos, pero que también vaya a la comunidad de color,” said Andi. She also called for Spanish media, such as Telemundo, to create opportunities for black talent who are often unseen in Spanish television and film, despite existing in the Latinx community. Watch the interview here.
Download Dewey’s Órale Black Lives Matter poster in English here and Las Vidas Negras Importan in Spanish here. Download Ni Santas’ Black Lives Matter poster here. For news and advocacy updates, follow us on Facebook, Instagram or Twitter.
Jennifer is SHG’s Communications Consultant and a Cultural Arts Producer with a passion for the arts, social justice and policy.