La Luna Mariposa

Last Thursday Joe Segura and Alan Larkin printed up the orange layer for the Mariposa print in preparation for the demo at IUSB. Friday Joe and Alan etched the black plate and printed over the orange base they had printed the day before.






During some of the drying times Joe showed examples of prints his publishing company, Segura Publishing Company, has printed. I showed a few of my relief prints and talked about the ideas that lead up to the image for “Luna Mariposa.” We had a pretty good turnout and the students asked good questions about collaboration, techniques, inspiration, and shop safety.

I’m pretty happy with the results. I still have to go back to edition and sign the prints before they are available for purchase.

Walls and Plates

The wall was completed on October 2 (Feliz Cumpleaños Ama). We’re just waiting on the print framing to be completed so that we can hang them in their spots (the white paper in the pictures). I’m really happy with the outcome of this wall. Thanks to Dolores and Gil for the opportunity to create this piece in their home.




I have been drawing on a couple of litho plates for a demonstration at Indiana University South Bend (details below). IUSB had asked for an image with a Dia de los Muertos theme. I had originally intended to create a different image for the print. However, working on the Luna Mariposa on the wall inspired me to rework the image in lithographic form. The print will be in orange and black which means I have drawn up two plates – one for each color.

(below is part of the press release info)


Demonstration of aluminum plate lithography and the collaborative process in printmaking.
9:30 – 12:30 Friday October 22nd 2010
in the IUSB printmaking workshop
room 101 in the Fine Arts Building

Indiana University welcomes Joe Segura and Ramiro Rodriguez to the printmaking shop on Friday October 22nd for a morning workshop on aluminum plate lithography. Segura and Rodriguez will collaborate to produce a two color lithograph drawn by Rodriguez celebrating the Day of the Dead. The workshop will highlight both the technology of the process as well as reveal the methodology of a printmaker and artist functioning in a collaborative manner. Examples of the work of both artists will be a major part of this presentation.
All students and guests are welcome.

The dragon, the tree and the wall

Another patron has purchased a suite of the Earth Dragon prints. This is the suite of prints pulled from the coffin I created for my installation "Cuentos y Memoria" in 2007.

This print has become a bit of a challenge to frame and exhibit because of it’s 18” x 16’ length. The solution has been to frame up the prints in 4 sections - the three “head” portions of the print in one frame, the two 54” long side prints and the “tree of life/tail” sections separately.

While working out framing logistics and placement options the couple asked if I would be interested in painting some elements from the print designs onto a stairway wall in their home somewhat like what I did in Omaha last year. Here is what the wall looks like after two nights of working on it. The white rectangles are where the framed prints will be hanging.

Dia de los Muertos @ Metropolitan Community College

This is the end...

El Huesudo is nearly complete. I rubbed him down with paste wax last night and put all the dowels into place to hold him together. The skull is the last element needing finishing. Still some details to carve and maybe a bit of guilding on the skull cap.

I'm set to drive out to Omaha this weekend. The weather forecast is looking crappy - rain and possibly snow. I hate driving in wet.

Making lists and checking them off. Pooling supplies and backing up digital files for my presentations: one on my work and ofrenda installation and another on exhibit design/art handling. Looks like I'll be doing another interview for a local TV station too.

I may be able to display the full "Earth Dragon Suite" of prints pulled from the coffin. Sixteen feet of continuous print on the wall. I may be doing some painting on the wall to further emphasize the altar.

I'm excited about setting everything up. Adam, from the gallery, tells me the wall should be painted and ready for the altar to be set up when I come in on Monday. The exhibit reception is Thursday the 15th at The Metropolitan Community College
Elkhorn Valley Campus (829 North 204th Street). The exhibit runs 10/15 - 11/15/09.

Skin walker

I'm finishing up writing and delivering an application for a grant. Fingers crossed.
Working like mad on carving out the wooden skeleton for my Dia de los Muertos installation in Omah, Nebraska. Delivery is the 12th. Yikes!
Work continues on the cd art for the Deal with 44. Deadline is quickly approaching.
Took down "Forma" at Goshen College. Sold a few prints. :)
Picked up the prints from the New Galleries exhibit. Sold one print :) :)
Went to hear Cheech Marin talk about Chicano art and culture.
Was asked to show some prints in the exhibit space at the local civic theater during their run of the Elephant Man. Yes!
Scheduled a solo show for November at the Crossroads Gallery in downtown South Bend, IN. (details to follow...)

The Road to the Dead (take 2)

I'm reworking some of the elements of the Dia de los Muertos installation I showed at the Snite Museum back in 2007. I will be showing the ofrenda installation in Omaha, Nebraska next month. More details to come.