PUBLICATIONS
VELVET NOTES - SUMMER 2025
INSIDE THIS ISSUE -
Rafael Pineda returns with a column on film noir. He begins by sharing the origins of the genre from the political to the technical to the personal.
Next, there is an article by Janeth Velázquez about the border and the potential for art to confront and question the significance of borders. That’s the border between México and the United States at Tijuana where Janeth lives.
Juan Francisco Herrerías finishes this issue with some big thoughts on revolution. Reading this latest contribution from Herrerías should make all of us think about the meaning of a revolution.
Velvet Notes FALL 2024
INSIDE THIS ISSUE -
Rafael Pineda starts us off with his review of _The Return of the Caravels. _It’s really more of a reappraisal of the book by Portuguese author, António Lobo Antunes.
Next, there is an interview with visual artist Pilar Agüero-Esparza. She is a multi-media artist that draws inspiration from growing up in a shoe-making family. The combination of materials derived from her personal history along with painting makes for unique works of art.
Juan Francisco Herrerías reminds us that neoliberalism “is not just a set of ideas and norms”. It includes the language we use to communicate and the way we speak.
Then I interview educator Will Cavada. He teaches a media class at Mt. Pleasanton High School in San Jose.
Charlando con la historia
About The Book
A catalogue of the artist’s solo exhibition Charlando con la historia (Chatting with History) held at Mission Cultural Center for Latino Arts in San Francisco, California from July 8 – August 8, 2023. The artist works in a variety of media including, oil painting, watercolor, gouache, ink, screen prints, and linocut prints.
The exhibition begins with work from the series, The Middle of Somewhere (2007-2008), and continues with work from three more series, Picturing History: Lights, Darks, Cameras and Action (2009-2015), After a Somewhat Prolonged Lapse of Memory (2016-2018), and Warped (2019-2022).
The catalogue concludes with the artist’s latest work drawn from the series, The Velvet Notebooks.
In English and Spanish.
Velvet Notes
About The Magazine
Here’s what you can expect from Velvet Notes: arte, política y cultura. It’s a magazine, published twice a year, that speaks to the place that Eduardo Galeano, the Uruguayan journalist/writer, called Patas arribas, Upside Down. Thoughtful and engaging writings and reflections regarding our fractured moment is what you’re in for. Artists and writers such as, Sara V. Cole, Juan Francisco Herrerías, Lyn McCracken, and Richard T. Rodríguez highlight the debut issue. I’ve heard it said that you shouldn’t talk politics or religion at a party. What fun is that? I think now is the time to talk about everything because it’s all connected. Everything informs everything.
Wherever you are, the playa, your favorite recliner in your bunker, Zooming and Booming, or maybe you’re lounging on your yacht, I think there’s no time to waste. We are living through a sea change. Gotta read more not less. As Sly Stone said, “Push a little harder, think a little deeper, don’t let the plastic bring you down.” And then he said, “STAND, for the things you know are right!” ¡Disfruten!
ANDALUCÍA
About The Book
The region of southern Spain, known as Andalucía, has a rich history and culture with many influences that include native Iberians to the Romans and the Muslim Moors to name a few. From the gorgeous Mediterranean light to the delectable cuisine to the magnificent Alhambra in Granada, this collection of paintings is my attempt to depict all that I found captivating about Andalucía.
THE MIDDLE OF SOMEWHERE
About The Book
A catalogue of the artist’s oil paintings from his series titled, The Middle of Somewhere. The paintings address issues of globalization through the lens of a working class Latino family photo album. Some of the imagery included--those family picnics in the park, maquiladoras, a Pentecostal baptism, the carts of the homeless, and a mariachi band accompanying it all.
The catalogue also includes two beautifully written essays by Dr. Richard T. Rodríguez, UC Riverside, and Dr. Elizabeth Mjelde, De Anza College, in both English and Spanish.