La Tierra Prometida, “The Promised Land,” is the discussion that explained ways the artists used different tools to display their art and promote their work. Gabriel Villa, Eric Garcia, Nicole Marroquin and Salvador Jimenez are artists who have displayed their artwork in Pilsen, along with various neighborhoods.
Villa, of Pilsen, a visual artist originally from El Paso, Texas, self-promotes his work through alternative spaces such as non-profit galleries. In 2007, he self-published “The Art of Gabriel Villa.” His book not only contains a vast amount of drawings and paintings, but photos of his art displays in communities.
In March of 2009, Villa, along with others, painted a mural in Bridgeport, which was destroyed by the Chicago Street & Sanitation Department three weeks later. The order to destroy the mural was given by the 11th ward Alderman James Balcer, Villa said. Villa received an immense amount of support from local and national communities. The destroyed mural gained publicity throughout Chicago.
“The mural made more of an impact when it was destroyed than when it was there,” Villa said.
Eric Garcia, of Pilsen, who is originally from Albuquerque, N.M., is a political and cultural cartoonist/illustrator and teaching artist at the National Museum of Mexican Art. Garcia uses art tools to inform and educate America about the hardships of Mexicans in our country. He chooses different issues that aren’t prominent in the news.
Garcia uses many art venues to display his work, such as Art in Armitage, which is a mock storefront display with artwork that is located on the north side of Chicago. He has published political cartoons from New Jersey to L.A., and Garcia has been asked to lecture at different universities throughout the country. Much of Garcia’s art is displayed at the Art Institute of Chicago.
Community cultural producer, educator and strategist Nicole Marroquin, of Pilsen, believes that creative practice, such as art projects in unusual places, is artwork. Marroquin, who was born in San Antonio, Texas but grew up in Ann Arbor, Mich., has helped bring art to communities.
“You have to participate in the community you want to be apart of,” said Marroquin. She often works with youth in schools, holding class in odd yet interesting alternative spaces such as cornfields and alleys. She works with art through mobile media, such as taking pictures on cell phones of art that is displayed on the streets, critical spatial practices with high school students, who often work in areas of danger, such as unsafe neighborhoods.
Marroquin organized a 12-hour marathon to benefit Pros Arts, a free art studio offered to youth. Creative bowls were made by pottery-making participants and filled with food, but in order to see the art painted on the inside of the bowl, one had to finish their food.
Also a sculptor, Marroquin shows work, such as portraits, for galleries. She often collages people’s faces and bodies.
Salvador Jimenez, of Pilsen, who was born in Jalisco, Mexico, began making art when he came to America. He believes it is better to work in alternative spaces rather than galleries.
“As an artist my goal is to show art work to people so the viewers can see the work and learn through it,” said Jimenez. He is interested in multimedia installations and fine art background displays. Jimenez believes that an artist’s job is to create an art form that will stay in the mind of the viewer forever--even if they don’t know the name of the artist.
Alternative spaces and unconventional methods mainly take place in his neighborhood of Pilsen. Jimenez often enjoys displaying in coffee shops, bars, gyms, local stores, art festivals and the streets. He stresses the importance of self-promotion and networking through other artists, school and communities.
Some of Jimenez’s artwork is displayed in the Robert Morris University gallery and St. Anthony Hospital in Chicago.
“I have no idea what the outcome of my work might be, but I just focus on the main idea,” said Jimenez.
One of the creators of “The Promised Land” event was UIC student Carlos Lopez, 21, of Pilsen, who is majoring in graphic design.
“I was hoping this event would be enlightening for other artists, such as myself and for people who are not Latino,” said Lopez. "I believed I achieved that goal with this discussion."
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