"Maya Talk" and "Rio Yañez" - Blogs I found in my search for Mayan Zombies

I do not know this person, but ran across her blog as I was looking for pictures of Mayan Zombies, my latest obsession in light of falling birds and dead fish all over the planet, in preparation for 2012, aka "The Queztalcoatl Comeback Special." Maya Talk runs quite closely to my view and image of forward-thinking cultural production that is grounded in the social and identity.

I wasn't able to find Mayan Zombies, but I did find Rio Yañez's blog where he shares a whole array of photography, pics, comics, and other forms of art that brings Latinidad and expression SOOO forward to the now. Check it out! I'm really glad I found folks doing future-forward and present expressions that follow the AmericanPupusa vibe!

Cesar Chavez Zombie, quite dope

District 5 Vol 1. By OKDC's Marcus Hedgpeth

"Small art 'zine started as a school project. District 5 is slowly eveolving into a full on local art 'zine and possibly a website. I am proud to present my first attempt at a publication, but hopefully 1 of many to come. The 'zine explores the talents of 5 local artist from, or working out of Washington, DC, each working in a different medium. All photos, writing, and interviews are written by Marcus Hedgpeth, a graphic designer working out of DC, also a native Washingtonian. Meet the DC5"

See Marcus Hedgpeth's work here

Jean Michel Basquiat - A model for the American Pupusa aesthetic

Last year, I had this brief fascination with Fab Five Freddy as a catalyst for Hip Hop culture, art, music, and media... I think he is kinda slept on for his impact as an ambassador of these genres to the mainstream audience. And I owe a debt to him, cause otherwise I wouldn't know of Jean-Michel Basquiat.

I mean, dude was a graffiti artist as well as an artist in the high-brow art world. He is the most successful Black artist in this vein. He is from Haitian and Puerto Rican descent (Dad and Mom respectively). He dated Madonna (eh, that's not really high on my list really). But most importantly, I believe he reinvented the way his contexts and identity is used/presented through his work. If this was his intention or not... I'm not too familiar. But in true 'American Pupusa" fashion (when you are done reading this see my previous post on What is the American Pupusa) I think he broke from the chains of played-out, romanticized tributes to 'heritage' through meanderings and laments to the past, and smearing any sense of "...ness" on top, through, over, and below whatever topic is at play.

Here is a small interview where he addresses culture/identity in his work


Here he is from Downtown 81, doing some writing


I found an online article from Emory University that talks about this here.


Finally, art, graf, rhyming, and DJing all together... Lee Quinones alongside Fab Five meeting up with Jean-Michel...

And who's cool... (2.5)

Banksy