Inspiration.

Everything has the possibility to be a form of inspiration. I am working out some projects in my head. I always find myself going back to the work of Cindy Sherman, she did same dope "film stills," that I find inspiring. I pull a little from her, a little from somewhere else, a little from things past, and I squash it all together in hopes that the outcome will communicate things not easy to put into words. Color and light can make or break a foto, heavy concentration in these areas, to me, can at times supercede the lone image.

Over the past weekend Jay and I went to visit family in San Diego, Tx. The madre-in-law was throwing a party that the entire town of San Diego turned out to. If you have family, or you are from South Texas, you know exactly what I'm talking about here. Rancho life is very distinct, South Texas culture is thick, and difficult to articulate. A people rich with tradition and history sustain the communities, towns, and cities of South Texas...and they know how to party.

Orale San Diego, you are king of the Conjunto!

Jay's mom asked us to make the invite for the party...Novela o que? We had very distinct instructions as to what she wanted...we had a little fun with it. The two top fotos I had actually taken at the ranch during our previous visit.

Jay's grandfather owned a cantina for many years, it was destroyed, but the jukebox which held many rare 45's, was passed on to Jay. Rare music of South Texas, rancho music, will now be passed down through the coming generations, and it will all trace back to a small family owned cantina. He played many of the records at the party.

For the Ninas/os.

What a sad thing that I'm not able to keep up with my blog like I use to before. But "smile now, cry later," because there's too many great things clogging the air around me. I'm working 2 jobs, both involve working with youth in two drastically different settings. My perspective on youth education is changing by the day, the wheels in my head turn and strain to understand this system that's suppose to benefit. There is no doubt in my mind that I am impacting these kids, but something bigger must happen. Our inner city schools are a facade of regulation, when you peel back the layers, it seems as if the root just buries itself deeper. It's not up to the school to fix, or heal your children, in fact, it may just add to the problem in some cases. What we need is a radical makeover, but will that happen in this life time? So in the mean time, I have carved out a small part for myself. I know I can't save them all, and I have no illusions that I can, but I can help them to understand that there is hope, and at the same time they need not compromise.

"Every institution of our day, the family, the state, our moral codes, sees in every strong, beautiful, uncompromising personality a deadly enemy; therefore every effort is being made to cramp human emotion and originality of thought of the individual into a strait-jacket from its earliest infancy; not into a well-rounded individuality, but into a patient work-slave, professional automation, tax-paying citizen, or righteous moralist."

-Emma Goldman on Youth Liberation

The Chicana Colective is currently working on community outreach, and our focus, the ninas/os. Stay tuned for details...

SUPPORT!

(Lisa Frank-Briana)

Wonderlady Kristin Gamez, 1/5 of our collective, is 1/4 of Las Hijas de La Chingada. Lisa Frank's (punk/grunge) first show! Check these ladies out here. An all female punk band, RAD. SUPPORT SUPPORT SUPPORT what you want to see more of..

Get to steppin'

The corner of Zarzamora and Menchaca, very close to the middle school I work at.

Dear American Apperal-

You give "American" a bad name, and you add to it's stigmatization. Please refrain from slapping up your ridiculously manufactured images in our neighborhood, our neighborhood does not reflect your cut and paste standard of beauty, nor do we want to. Your game is transparent, and we will not sit down and allow you to brainwash our community. Your gentrification inspired tactics are not welcomed, and are out of place here.

I don't care how soft your t-shirts are, your shiz is played out. Get to steppin' and take your pinche advertisement with you.

We are making this shiz happen.

In retrospect, 2009.

A very small retrospect in fotos. Dear 2009, thank you for picking me up once you kicked me down. Thanks for dropping me off in the middle of nowhere, safely, to return home on my own, somehow, someway, someday.

2010 is for no expectations. Keep it real 2009. I'm out.