Luis Meets Cherríe Moraga

On Oct 16, 2008 I met the renown Cherríe Moraga @ the University of Urbana-Champaign. It was an honor to be invited personally by the Latina/o Studies Dept. to attend a private writing workshop led by this legend and prophet. All I can say is that her presence and manner of being matches the impact of her words. She is what she writes. Her written works resonate through her voice and out here eyes. She is truly inspiring and motivating.

Lessons Learned from Cherríe Moraga
(a rough translation)

Luis: How do I write past all the introductions and beginnings to stories that seem to endlessly invade my writing. I have many story to tell. But, it seems like every time I start to write all the stories want to be told at the same time.

Cherríe: Don't be afraid to start new stories. Save the beginnings. Trust and know, you will finish them all. You have no other choice. Ask your self at the beginning of each re-write or attempt, "What I really meant to say was..." Nothing shifts in the world until the details are told. Take a risk. Tell the stories que valen la pena. If your not uneasy or on the edge of something you're not writing well. Keep every story grounded in the body.






Gracias a Aide por los fotos, y a todos mis compañer@s en Champaign-Urbana: Miranda, Profe Rodriguez, Abel, Alicia, Judith, Joana, todos. Gracias a Cherríe Moraga y a la facultad de Latin@ Estudies.

- Jose Luis Benavides

Prototypes: Deconstructing Media Representations of Manhood

Swaggerzine, Young Chicago Authors (08)


Caged Bird Canto

Pedro Santana (Inspired by My Bloody Life)

With the specific mission to deconstruct and reconstruct prototype images of men in the media, I was able to focus my energies less on inspiration and more on motif, creating environments and portraits of these characters. Each portrait serves as a platform for these scripted characters to speak freely, highlighting their personal tastes and places of pride. Each character and each piece stands on its own, but through the direction of Swaggerzine’s mission, the larger body of work holds a unique conversation.

Then each character/prototype of a man, as represented through the media, holds a dialogue with the viewer through the straight on gaze of each portrait vs. the fabricated tension television generates between its productions and the invisible audience. These men never see the audience that gazes at them, and these characters never see the social norms pulling around them. As constant subjects of an audiences’ gaze each man becomes agent in his respective environment, the consumer-based media that produces him. Each collage and person plays with the commercial ads that encase and engender them into static and iconographic ideals of manhood.

Lastly, these men and their encased images speak to me. These men tell me, subtly and no so subtly, they know I am watching. It cannot suffice to say that TV and Hollywood raised me. I had no father growing up, save one quiet, hard working tío in the states and an abuelo removed to México, I was captivatedly raised by these men.

I believe collage art allows for the mundane and unnoticed to talk and move. Nothing, then, can be taken for granted.


Pajarito, Peel Me Suave

Latin Lover (Inspired by Rico Suave)

Black Arts Starve

J.J. Evans

Bring Home the

James Evans, Sr.

Affluential Influence

Heathcliff Huxtable

Archie-typical

Archie Bunker


(c) Jose Luis Benavides, all collages and artist statement

Immigrant Nation AUDITIONS

IMMIGRANT NATION: A human rights struggle for the new millennium is searching for spoken word poets for an independent upcoming documentary about the immigration movement. If you are a spoken word poet who has a piece about the immigration movement and are interested in being part of the independent documentary, we will be having auditions on September 5th-12th. Spoken word pieces will be used as a form of artistic involvement within the immigration movement. If you are unable to attend please submit a video link with your spoken word performance to immigrantnation08@gmail.com and a copy of your poem.

AUDITIONS
When: September 5th or September 12th
Where: Radioarte 90.5 FM corner of 18th street and Blue Island
Time: 4pm-7pm

If you are planning to attend please e-mail your name, title of piece, copy of poem, length of performance, and schedule time and date to immigrantnation08@gmail.com, Subject Title: AUDITION. Please be prepared to perform your piece in front of a camera.

If you would like more information please send your questions to immigrantnation08@gmail.com, Subject Title: QUESTION.

This is an independent community production so any assistance and contribution would be greatly appreciated. We need to create our own history and work as a community.