John--
We’re excited to share that we have partnered with the Armory Center for the Arts to offer a free online art class about democracy, power, and art for youth, ages 14-21. To get ready for the election, young people will be making art and content, led by Armory Teaching Fellows and feature speakers affiliated with We Are California.
To sign up for these classes click here. Students working on zines and art from the class will be featured in our upcoming social media campaign about the 2020 Election.
Sign-up today for yourself or pass this email along to a friend!
Together,
Victor Suarez,
We are California
Here’s more information:
Get Out the Vote - Free Zine Online Class for Young Adults
For ages: 14-21
Saturday, Aug. 8-Thursday, Sept. 3
Class: Saturdays, 11-1pm & Online Open Studio, Thursdays, 3-5pm
Sign-up: armoryarts.org/zine
A popular art form and alternative communication tool for underground scenes like Punk or SciFi fandom, zines are homemade magazines created by individuals or collectives in small editions (usually 1,000 or less) and printed on a photocopier.
Armory Teaching Artists:
William Camargo is a photo-based artist, art educator, community archivist and organizer based in Anaheim, California. He is the founder and curator of Latinx Diaspora Archives, an archive living on Instagram of family photos of the Latinx Diaspora. He is currently serving as the commissioner of Heritage and Culture in Anaheim. A current teaching artist fellow at the Armory Center for the Arts, and recently completed his MFA at Claremont Graduate University. He received his BFA at Cal State Fullerton and an AA in Photography from Fullerton College. http://www.williamcamargo.com/cvpage
Jocelyn Casas’ paintings, sculpture, and installations navigate and negotiate her shifting and multiple identities as Chicanx. An Armory Teaching Artist since 2017, her three goals as an arts instructor draw on her own experiences and aspirations as a student: to provide young people with skills and knowledge of the visual arts throughout history and in the present; to encourage them to exercise critical thinking around their own artmaking processes through self-discovery and the development of an arts vocabulary; and to build their confidence in exercising these skills in order to create a cycle of growth, learning, and respect to be carried into their own communities. Casas earned her M.F.A at Otis College of Art and Design.
Austyn de Lugo (he/him/él) is an LA-based artist of Puerto Rican and Virgin Islander descent. Austyn is especially interested in queer and feminist theory, horror films, pattern and decoration, and political imagery. He creates with a variety of media, including collage, textiles, painting, and drawing. His works embrace the iconic, the tawdry, the vapid, and the flamboyant, as he investigates diva worship, propaganda, and the use of portraiture in art history and our social and political institutions. You can learn more about Austyn at austyndelugo.com or @AustynShambles.
Sergio Hernandez is our resident expert on all things street art — murals, lettering, slap boards, stencils, and more. An accomplished artist and designer, Sergio teaches some of our most popular teen classes, including aerosol art and screen printing. We asked Sergio to share his favorite street artists of all time. From late '60s innovators to contemporary artists who walk the line between graffiti and fine art, this is a super informative survey of how an underground movement found its way into the Strumuseums. Be sure to check out Sergio's website for his line of custom apparel and must-have street art supplies. Be sure to also follow Sergio on Instagram at @ZombieMovement. Speaking of Instagram, click the artists' names below to visit their Instagrams, too.
Joe Sanchez will serve as both a teaching artist and project manager for the Zine. Joe’s work has been exhibited extensively in solo and group shows and appeared in numerous publications. He earned his B.F.A. in California Institute of the Arts’ Photography and Media program. His current creative practice also includes illustration and graphic design. Sanchez has been a Teaching Artist in Armory Center for the Arts’ studio and community-based arts education programs since 2012.
Guest Speakers:
Erika Jimenez grew up in Boyle Heights and is an alumni of InnerCity Struggle’s youth program and Roosevelt High School. Her involvement with United Students inspired her to complete a bachelor’s degree at California State University, and further develop her organizing skills with Students for Quality Education. Upon graduating, Erika returned to Boyle Heights and continued her efforts to make college more affordable through the College for All California campaign. Erika’s organizing journey has led her back to Roosevelt High School where she is currently InnerCity Struggle’s Site Organizer. She is proud to serve as a mentor for young people as they begin to build their own political consciousness and develop their leadership skills to create the change they want to see in the world.
Gloria Gutierrez joined California Calls as an Organizing Coordinator in August of 2018. She works with organizations in San Diego, Coachella, San Bernardino, Los Angeles, Fresno, Merced, and Sacramento coordinating civic engagement programs. Prior to joining California Calls, Gloria organized with residents in the Eastside of Los Angeles fighting the pressures of gentrification by advocating for community-led equitable planning. She has led grassroots land-use organizing campaigns, base building, mobilization, and leadership development programs. Gloria was born, raised and currently lives in Boyle Heights. She received a Bachelor of Science from Cal Poly in Urban and Regional Planning. Her personal values rooted in grassroots efforts and community empowerment directly align with those of California Calls.
Karin Mak (she/hers) is originally from St. Louis, MO. Her parents immigrated to the U.S. from Hong Kong. She joined California Calls in January 2020 as the Digital Strategist. Karin has a background in documentary media production. Her videos have been screen internationally and focus on themes of social justice. She has also taught classes in Asian American Studies at the Claremont Colleges.
