Gregorio Escalante Gallery & La Bodega Gallery
In collaboration, is pleased to announce

Los Four Meets Los 40
Exhibition: April 1 – 11, 2017

Opening: Saturday, April 1, 2017
From 5 – 10 PM

Location: La Bodega Gallery
196 Logan Ave. San Diego, CA 92113
Located a few blocks from the historic Chicano Park

Los Four Meets Los 40 is a group exhibition of contemporary Chicano influenced artists who continue to pave their independent paths while also honoring a legacy spearheaded by Los Four.

In 1969, a group of Mexican-American artists – Frank Romero, Carlos Almaraz, Roberto de la Rocha and Gilbert “Magu” Lujan – became the art collective known as Los Four. They went on to participate in a ground-breaking LACMA exhibition in 1974. (Immediately after the LACMA exhibition, Judithe Hernández joined and made the collective a party of five.) The dedication of Los Four ushered in a new era for Mexican-American artists as they raised an intellectual vanguard and furthered the visibility of the Chicano community.

This exhibition aims to pay tribute to the original four while featuring forty additional artists working in a similar vein. We invite you to witness today’s dynamic, contemporary and stimulating art, inspired by the direction of Los Four. Today’s artists utilize the same vibrant and passionate color pallet to depict the old neighborhoods and faces of the community. The aerosol, which was utilized in the 1974 LACMA exhibition, remains part of the Chicano aesthetic; yet, spraypainting has matured in scope and breadth. New narratives are executed with (and without) the rattle of the spray can. Others continue to fill the many nuances of the Chicano identity with purpose. The story only grows, from national and cultural amalgamation to LGBT voices. Present-day Chicano artists advance a conversation with imagery analogous to the work of Los Four. Cesar Chavez once said, “We need to help teachers and parents cherish and preserve the ethnic and cultural diversity that nourishes and strengthens our community and our nation.” These artists will carry the torch into the future as we renew our commitment to our cultural legacy of richness and diversity. Please join us for this moment of celebration.

Exhibiting Artists include:
Los Four: Carlos Almaraz, Roberto de la Rocha, Gilbert “Magú” Luján, Frank Romero
Los 40: Abel Alejandre, Antonio Pelayo, Asylm, Barbara Carrasco, Block, Bonnie Lambert, Brian M Viveros, Chaz Bojorquez, Checho Perez, CiCi Segura Gonzalez, CR Stecyk, Daniel Gonzalez, Eriberto Oriol, Eric Almanza, Gregg Stone, Gustavo Rimada, Hector Villejas, Jaime Guerrero, Jose Lozano, Leigh Salgado, Linda Arreola, Linda Vallejo, Man One, Margaret Garcia, Mario Ybarra Jr., Mark Bryan, Mark Gonzalez, Oscar Castillo, Pavel Acevedo, Rafael Cardenas, Ricardo Islas, Richard Salcido, Robert Palacios, Roy Gonzalez, Ruben Esparza, Salomon Huerta, Sandow Birk, Sandy Rodriguez, Shizu Saldomando, Sonia Lopez-Chavez, Sonia Romero, Surge, The Beast Brothers, Victoria Delgadillo and Yreina D. Cervantez

This exhibition was inspired by a conversation between Juxtapoz’ co-founder Greg Escalante and Rage Against the Machine’s Zack de la Rocha and is curated by Joshua Ben Paskowitz & Abel Alejandre.

The public is invited to join the artists and many VIP guests from the Mexican-American community on April 1, 2017 from 5-10 pm. Traditional music and refreshments will be served.

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Contact Information: Chris Zertuche
La Bodega Gallery
www.labodegagallery.com
2196 Logan Ave. San Diego, CA 92113
Phone: (619) 255-7036