>>POLITICS ¿Quién ganó? | Recapping winners and losers p06

IS T A R G FREE

ARTES p07

SPANISH SUPER HERO March 23, 2012 | extranews.net

Emma Rios puts power in her pen

SÚPER CHICAS Women across Chicago show their strength p08 >>Vanessa Sánchez, Director, Yollocalli Arts Reach

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Expo de Arte en Chicago - Organizaciones de artes, negocios creativos y artistas independientes están invitados a la 9ª Expo anual Chicago Creativo el viernes 23 y sábado 24 de marzo en el Centro Cultural Chicago, 78 E. Calle Washington. El evento conecta a artistas, negocios creativos y organizaciones de artes con información y recursos, y tiene talleres cubriendo colecta de dinero, desarrollo de espacio, desarrollo de junta y prácticas de mercadeo. El viernes se enfoca en organizaciones de artes y negocios creativos, mientras que el sábado se enfoca en las necesidades de individuos. Admisión gratuita. >>Para más información, visite http://www.chicagoartistsresource.org.

Art Expo in Chicago — Arts organizations, creative businesses and independent artists are invited to the 9th annual Creative Chicago Expo on Friday, Mar 23 and Saturday, March 24 at the Chicago Cultural Center, 78 E. Washington St. The event connects artists, creative businesses and arts organizations with information and resources, and features workshops covering fundraising, space development, board development, and marketing practices. Friday focuses on arts organizations and creative businesses, while Saturday focuses on the needs of individuals. Admission is free. >> For more information, visit http://www.chicagoartistsresource.org.

DE LA EDITORA FROM THE EDITOR Christina E. Rodríguez Gerente Editor | Managing Editor [email protected]

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sta semana celebramos a la mujer! Desde mujeres de nuestras comunidades hasta una fémina ilustradora de historietas del otro lado del Océano Atlántico, le damos a usted una probada del mundo femenil mientras el Mes de la Mujer llega a su fin. Tómese un minuto para leer acerca de cinco mujeres influyentes en la comunidad y por favor háganos saber con cuántas más se ha cruzado usted que son residentes de Chicago. Un corto resumen de las elecciones puede hallarse en la página 6 del periódico de esta semana, y por último, tómese un momento para leer acerca de la vida del hombre detrás de muchos de los murales de Pilsen, Francisco Mendoza.

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his week we are celebrating women! From the women in our communities to a female comic book illustrator across the Atlantic Ocean, we’re giving you a taste of the women’s world as Women’s Month comes to an end. Take a minute to read about five influential women within the community and please let us know about the many more that you have come across as residents of Chicago. Our short election recap can be found on page 6 of this week’s paper and lastly, please take a moment to read about the life of the man behind many of Pilsen’s murals, Francisco Mendoza.

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Celebrando al hombre detrás de los murales por Wendy Esparza trad. Víctor Flores Caminando por las calles del barrio de Pilsen seguro te encontraras con su obra. Para el artista y naturalista mexicano-estadounidense Francisco Mendoza, el arte era su pasión y Pilsen su tela. “Él creó murales pintados y con mosaico llevando ese medio a gran escala al barrio por primera vez”, dijo Robert Valadez, su amigo por largo tiempo y artista colega. “Él fue creativo, experimental y simpre yendo al límite de su talento y capacidades”. Creciendo en el Lado Sur de Chicago durante los 70s cuando la presencia latina era pequeña y había barreras idiomáticas, según su sobrino James Larralde, Mendoza se volvió sensible a las necesidades de niños latinos y quiso hacer impacto positivo en su desarrollo educativo luego de obtener un bachillerato en Bellas Artes del Instituto de Arte de Chicago

en 1984. En sus 25 años enseñando en la Academia Comunitaria Orozco, Mendoza animó a generaciones de alumnos a participar en proyectos murales y ayudarlo en la creación de arte conmemorando la Historia y Cultura Mexicanas. “Él siempre pensaba en los niños y se preocupaba de su bienestar”, señaló Larralde, quien aprendió pintura de su tío a edad joven. “Él una vez me dijo que usara a uno de esos chicos para hacer el arte accesible y colocarlos en el rumbo correcto”. Mendoza de 53, murió el lunes 12 de marzo en el Hospital St. Francis en Evanston luego de luchar con un mieloma múltiple, cáncer de médula ósea, por poco más de un año. Luego que le diagnosticaran en 2010, la comunidad se enfureció cuando Escuelas Públicas de Chicago retiró al artista de su puesto docente a pesar de su enfermedad y señoría después de impartir clases por 25

años. La pérdida de su empleo dejó al Sr. Mendoza sin seguro de salud e inspiró a Mercy González, ex alumna y madres de dos, a involucrarse. “Primero nadie sabía qué hacer, pero todos querían ayudar; así que empezamos a juntarnos y pensar”, acotó González. “Él nos dio un sentido de pertenencia a la comunidad y entre sí”. Según René Arceo, amigo y artista colega, muchos miembros de la comunidad junto con la familia de Mendoza, la Fundación Familia Oppenheimer y el Museo Nacional del Arte Mexicano se unieron para crear el Comité Francisco G. Mendoza y organizar una subasta silenciosa para reunir fondos y buscar firmas de petición para ayudar a reinstalarlo. Como resultado, unos 100 artistas donaron obras originales que sumaron $40,000 para ayudar a que Mendoza tuviese seguro de salud y le permitiese regresar a laborar, pero su mal ya no le dio esa oportunidad.

Celebrating the man behind the murals by Wendy Esparza Walking around the streets of the Pilsen neighborhood you are sure to run into his work. For Mexican-American artist and muralist, Francisco Mendoza, art was his passion and Pilsen his canvas. “He created painted and mosaic murals bringing that medium on a large scale to the neighborhood for the first time,” said Robert Valadez, a long time friend and fellow artist. “He was creative, experimental and was always pushing the edge of his talent and abilities.” Growing up in South Chicago during the 1970s when Latino presence was small and there were language barriers, according to his nephew James Larralde, Mendoza became sensitive to the needs of Latino children and wanted to make a positive impact on their edu-

cational development after earning a bachelor’s degree in fine arts from the Art Institute of Chicago in 1984. Throughout his 25 years of teaching at Orozco Community Academy, Mendoza encouraged generations of students to participate in mural projects and help him in the creation of art commemorating Mexican history and culture. “He was always thinking about the children and concerned with their welfare,” said Larralde who learned to paint from his uncle at a young age. “He once told me he used to be one of those kids and made art accessible to put them on the right track.” Mendoza, 53, died on Monday, March, 12, at St. Francis Hospital in Evanston after struggling with multiple myeloma, a cancer of the bone marrow, for a little over a year.

After being diagnosed in 2010, the community became outraged when Chicago Public Schools dismissed the artist from his teaching position disregarding his illness and seniority after having taught for 25 years. The loss of his job left Mendoza without health insurance and inspired people like Mercy Gonzalez, a former student and mother of two to get involved. “At first no one knew what to do but everyone wanted to help so we started having meetings and brainstorming,” said Gonzalez. “He gave us a sense of belonging to the community and to each other.” According to Rene Arceo, a friend and fellow artist, many members of the community in conjunction with Mendoza’s family, the Oppenheimer Family Foundation and the National Museum of Mexican Art came together to cre-

>>Francisco Mendoza’s artwork decorates the Orozco community academy in Pilsen

Arceo, quien estudió con Mendoza a principio de los 80s en el Instituto de Arte, dice que una de sus últimas obras fue un impreso de un cachorro jugando con un zapato, que comparó con su lucha con al enfermedad. Como el boxeador Muhammad Alí, de quien a menudo hizo impresos, Mendoza libró una fuerte pelea. “Su moral era alta, siempre estaba feliz y positivo y esperaba que las cosas mejoraran”, añadió Arceo. Mendoza fue responsable de diseñar murales en la YMCA ubicada en Chicago Sur y en el Proyecto Resurrección en Pilsen, tanto como de decorar el exterior de la Academia Comunitaria Orozco con murales de cristal veneciano. Muchos estudiantes de la comunidad colaboraron en esos grandes proyectos, incluida una instalación tridimensional y un muro pintado en el Museo Nacional del Arte Mexicano. En 1993 fue comisionado a pintar su más prominente mural mostrando

mujeres mexicanas de generaciones múltiples, incluida la transformación de una prinecsa maya en la estación “L” de la Autoridad de Tránsito de Chicago, en el 1710 oeste de la Calle 18. “Todos lo conocían y querían”, destacó Arceo, agregando que alumnos regresaban a él incluso luego de graduarse. Uno de esos alumnos es Oliver Ramírez de 18, quien halló amor a la pintura gracias a Mendoza. “Yo tenía un pequeño diario de arte donde hacía bosquejos y él lo vio un día y lo fimó con su bella de verdad firma”, acota Ramírez. “Era un perfil de él y dijo que siempre siguiera dibujando y compartiendo mi arte”. Mientras Pilsen celebra la vida de Mendoza, Ramírez tiene su propio adiós. “Incluso en la muerte sigues viviendo en todos nosotros y estoy seguro que nos estás vigilando desde el cielo. El cielo es ahora tu tela”. Q

ate the Francisco G. Mendoza Committee and organized a silent auction to collect funds and sought petition signatures to help reinstate him. As a result, approximately 100 artists donated original pieces which raised $40,000 to help regain Mendoza’s health insurance coverage and allow him to return to work, but his illness no longer granted him the opportunity. Arceo who studied with Mendoza in the early 80s at the Art Institute, says one of his last pieces was a print of a puppy playing with a shoe to which he compared to his battle with the disease. Like the boxer Muhammad Ali, who he often made impressions of, Mendoza put up a strong fight. “His morale was high, he was always happy and positive and was hopeful that things would get better,” Arceo said. Mendoza is responsible for designing murals at the YMCA located in South Chicago and for the Resurrection Project in Pilsen as well as decorating the exterior of the Orozco Community Academy with Venetian glass murals. Many students in the community collaborated on these major proj-

ects including a three-dimensional installation and a painted wall at the National Museum of Mexican Art. In 1993 he was commissioned to paint his most prominent mural depicting multi-generational Mexican women including the transformation of a Mayan princess on the Chicago Transit Authority’s 18th Street “L” station at 1710 W. 18th St. “Everyone knew and loved him,” said Arceo, adding that students gravitated back to him even after they had graduated. One of those students is Oliver Ramirez, 18, who found a love for drawing because of Mendoza. “I had a small art journal where I would sketch and he saw it one day and signed it with his really cool signature,” says Ramirez. “It was a profile of himself and it said to always keep drawing and share my art.” As Pilsen celebrates Mendoza’s life, Ramirez had his own farewell. “Even in death you continue to live in all of us and I’m sure you’re watching us from heaven. Heaven is now your canvas.” Q

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El Alcalde Emanuel presenta Ordenanza de Zona de Seguridad Infantil por Evan F. Moore trad. Víctor Flores CX fi[\eXeqX Z}dXiXj [\ m\cfZ`[X[#fÔZ`Xcd\ek\ccXdX[XFi[\eXeqX [\J\^li`[X[@e]Xek`c#]l\gi\j\ekX[X \cgXjX[fd`„iZfc\j(+[\dXiqf\ecX alekX[\c:feZ`c`fDle`Z`gXc% fY% GXk Hl`ee Ôid c\^`jcXZ`e hl\ g\id`k\ \c ljf [\ Z}dXiXj gXiX XkiXgXi dfkfi`jkXj hl\ Zfii\e Z\iZX [\ \jZl\cXj p gXihl\j% CX @e`Z`Xk`mX Xc J\eX[f 0-, \ekiXi} \e m`^fi \c (— [\ Alc`f% LZ[ 4HKPson Street, Suite 718A, Chicago, Illinois, sell to the highest bidder for cash, the following described property: P.I.N. 16-01-208-005. Commonly known as 1445 N. California Ave., Chicago, IL 60622. The mortgaged real estate is improved with a multi-family residence. The successful purchaser is entitled to possession of the property only. The purchaser may only obtain possession of units within the multi-unit property occupied by individuals named in the order of possession. Sale terms: 25% down I` JLY[PÄLK M\UKZ IHSHUJL ^P[OPU  OV\YZ I`JLY[PÄLKM\UKZ5VYLM\UKZ;OLWYVWLY[` will NOT be open for inspection. Upon payment in full of the amount bid, the purchaser ^PSSYLJLP]LH*LY[PÄJH[LVM:HSL^OPJO^PSSLUtitle the purchaser to a Deed to the premises HM[LYJVUÄYTH[PVUVM[OLZHSL For information: Visit our website at http:// service.atty-pierce.com. Between 3 p.m. and 5 p.m. only. Pierce & Associates, Plaintiff’s Attorneys, 1 North Dearborn Street, Chicago, Illinois 60602. Tel.No. (312) 476-5500. Refer to File Number 0713008. 05;,9*6