2010 CAM Awards.

Contemporary Art Month is an even that " seeks to promote and raise the national profile of San Antonio contemporary art and artists by organizing and facilitating a month-long celebration of contemporary art, providing marketing support, and by organizing and facilitating public education programs."

When Más Rudas were first asked to do the show at the Guadalupe we realized that it would fall during CAM (Contemporary Art Month). What we didn't know is that our show would be added to the CAM calendar as an official event, or that we would be considered for an award at the end. I was first exposed to what I thought to be the "art scene" years ago, by proxy. I'm glad to know now, what I assumed to to be the end all, was really just a small corner of larger diverse creative community in San Anto. CAM was something that I heard about over the years, but to be honest, it just didn't seem as if it was something I'd end up being involved with.

Four months after the inception of our collective, Más Rudas were the recipients of 2 CAM awards, honoring our first gallery show at The Guadalupe Gallery. I believe out of six woman of color to receive awards that night, we were five of them. I think that is what I am most proud of. We stay rooted in our devotion to community building and awareness. We can talk to all the young people we work with and mentor and show them what we have accomplished, and with assurance, explain to them that they are capable of the same.

The aftermath of our gallery show has proven to be a whirlwind of opportunity, events, and everything we never expected. It's affirming and inspiring, but at the same time nerve racking and delicate.

The other morning, after days of being busy with the show and its effects I went back to work. As I approached the office and I heard the laughter and bickering amongst the kids I mentor and work with, it all became a little more clear. They are why, they are the cause, they are the effect. I have always known this, but with several new accomplishments under my belt, I some how felt that they are also a few steps closer to their goals and dreams.

In presenting our awards Patty Ortiz, Executive Director from the Guadalupe Cultural Arts Center, and Rene Barilleaux, Chief Curator from the McNay Art Museum, said some very nice things about our collective, and our work, biggest Thank You to them. Thank you CAM for recognizing our hard work, it is truly an honor. You left us speechless.

Opening Night.

Opening night, sporadic moments of happiness, pleasure, and accomplishment:

Protection.

While our entire exhibit was a collaborative effort my individual pieces resided within the "interior" of our installation. These images evolved from a parade of thoughts revolving around protection, responsibility, culture, machismo, home, and family. I have never photographed perros, or any animal for that matter, in a controlled setting. I walk away knowing I'm not the one leading the shoot, they are. I became overly patient, and tolerant of doggie slobber and hair. In the end I have decided to expand the series because I enjoyed the process, as well as the company.

A lot of the time people attain animals for protection, they act like an alarm, like burglar bars, a warning tethered to a tree, or caged by a fence. We sometimes fail to do our job, to hold up our end of the bargain. The images of religious iconography act as a form of protection over these, and for all, perros. The fotos were printed 24 X 36 and mounted to the wall.

Mallory

Máquina

Marley

Uki

Ralph

Tomorrow is our gallery show.

This morning I woke up with a sense of calmness I haven't felt in weeks (or maybe I am just extremely exhausted). We haven't finished our entire instillation, but we are very close, and tonight is our deadline. For a week straight our evenings have been spent in creative unison in order to transform the gallery into what we see in our imaginations. I must admit that I was a little scared that it wouldn't work, that some where along the way, something was bound to blow, or fall, or look really bad, but my nerves have been eased, thanks to the members of Más Rudas. I have been a part of a few groups, organizations, etc. and, naturally, there was always someone to pick up after. I don't feel like that with these ladies, they're determination and creativity blows me away. I worry about how I am going to get everything done, then I start freaking out, and then I remember I have 4 friends to lean on, and they may have already got the job done just as good, if not better. Our creativity is aligned and the atmosphere we produce is better than I can articulate my intentions to be.

Sometimes I catch myself standing dead still in the middle of the space zoning out, not sure what to do next, then I catch the wave of one of the ladies, and together we make some crazy stuff happen.

This week has been a trip...

(sneak peak)

Marquee!

I must say, Más Rudas looks very nice on that Marquee.

(I am very excited!!!!!!)

Gallery Card.

DOPE!

(Check all the events we have going on for the month)

Our first gallery show, before.

Más Rudas have thoroughly impressed me. Last Wednesday we began installing in the gallery. In between our busy schedules and lives we have put together an "ambitous" and "impressive" show in less than a month. Our first gallery show has challenged us in ways we were never expecting, but it's been welcomed and confronted head on, and I think I will let our work speak for everything. This is more than being creative and adorning, we are steeped in social awareness, we are adamant and determined to act on issues we feel deeply about.

4 months ago we came together and affirmed ourselves as a collective, we had one show about a month later, now our first gallery show is almost done, puro DIY...puro San Anto.

This is the gallery, before....

Wheatpaste Project day 2.

We prolonged the workshop so that the participants could be included in every step of the process. Last week our images were printed, we then cut out the part of the image that would be pasted up on the building. After we were done cutting the image we took a nice walk with our cameras in hand, and visited the building we would be pasting up.

Next week the action starts! I think the end results are going to be super fun. We are already thinking of making the project bigger, so if you have a building you would like San Anto Cultural Arts to beautify with fotos, give us a holler.

Here are some images of the participants carefully cutting the photos.

Then and Now.

The Three.

Then, circa 2002.

(at a San Anto Cultural Arts Mural Blessing)

Now, 2010.

(at the 2010 International Women's Day March in San Anto, Tx)

San Anto Cultural Arts Wheat Paste Project!

The students taking fotos of each other. We explained we wanted motion, and to try and capture each other in states of movement. They are so awesome!!

The first day of our wheat paste project was a complete success! I started by explaining a short history and showing some videos of what wheat pasting is. Then the students were put into pairs, instructed on how to take photos of each other, and we were off! Of course most of the students have been involved in numerous photography projects so their skills are quality. We were concentrating on motion and portraits. From here, we get the photos printed on paper and next week we go to the building and paste them up on the wall. Below is a youtube short I showed, to give them an idea of what they would be doing.

"When I Grow Up," project.

"I want to be a National Geographic Photographer when I grow up." -Mari (age 8)

Más Rudas recently submitted a grant for funds to direct a (massive) youth and photography oriented project in the summer of 2010. Sarah Castillo, 1/5 of Más Rudas wrote the entire grant, and I submitted the first example photo for the workshop. Sarah crossed all her t's and dotted all her i's, and I am hoping if I put this request out into the universe it will happen. It's our first grant submission and if we don't get it, we can keep on trying, and if we do get it.......I'd be speechless.

The project deals with dreams and goals, with sets and scenes constructed by the photographer.

Wish us luck, please.