Background

Oaxaca is a state in the south of Mexico, rich in culture and tradition, a place that has given birth to great cultures like the Mixtec and the Zapotec and to brave and liberal people like Benito Juarez, Ricardo Flores Magon and Frida Khalo.  It is also an impoverished state due to the corrupted political party, the PRI-PAN Mexican parties,who for more than 100 years have been exploiting and robbing the Oaxacan people.

Oaxaca is a place where the arts have flourished, especially painting, printmaking and ceramics and where painters like Rufino Tamayo, Rodolfo Nieto, Rodolfo Morales, and Francisco Toledo have brought fame to Mexico all over the world.  And now a new generation of artists, some of whom are in this show, for example, Alejandro Santiago, Fernando Olivera, Gloria Morales, Jorge Lopez Garcia, Ernesto H. Olmos, to name a few have emerged.

The Uprising

Last year a series of events gave way to a long resistance and organization of the Oaxacan people to try to change the way justice is administered.  In the early morning of June 14, 2006, the police, sent in by the tyrant governor of Oaxaca, Ulises Ruiz Ortiz, attacked a peaceful sit in of the teachers in the main square of Oaxaca to demand better salaries.

More than 800 police, supported by helicopters  and dogs, tried to empty the main square injuring  women, children, and elders.  When the townspeople heard of this cowardly police action, they came in support of the teachers and reoccupied the main square after a long battle.  From this battle was formed the APPO (asamblea popular de los pueblos de Oaxaca -- The People’s Popular Assembly of Oaxaca)  an organization  made up of workers, farmers, students, house wives, other unions and civic organizations.  APPO’s main purpose is to change the constitution of the state of Oaxaca and to end the corruption and injustice.

Of course, the people in power do not want these positive changes and therefore started a campaign of repression against APPO, utilizing death squads and various dirty war techniques.  In this struggle more than 26 people have been killed by the Mexican government, more than 30 others have disappeared and more than 200 townspeople have been jailed, tortured and have had their human rights violated.

Thanks to the solidarity of people all over the world, Amnesty International, and other Human Rights organizations, the majority of detainees have been freed but 11 people remain in prison as political prisoners.

APPO and ASARO

This is the context in which the art and the artists organized and formed several groups whose purpose is to denounce the fascist repression by the PAN-PRI Mexican government. We started to make posters and stencils and clandestinely put them up during the marches or at night.  Songs, theater pieces and art installations also became part of the resistance.  That is how the group ASARO (Asamblea de Artistas Revolucionarios de Oaxaca)  and others like Arte Jaguar were formed.

The Art and Artists

The purpose of this exhibit is to show some of the works of ASARO that reflect the anger and determination of the artists to liberate their friends and to show the hope for a new Oaxaca where people can live with justice and dignity.  The works by ASARO are not signed in order to protect the anonymity of the artists.  Also included in the show is video of the COLLECTIVE MALE DE OJO TV, which shows some very strong images of the resistance of the APPO against the repressive military forces of the PRI-PAN Mexican government. as well as interviews with APPO leaders.  Also in the show we present the color and magic realism of some Oaxacan contemporary masters including Felipe Morales, Fernando Olivera, Adriana Audiferd, Demetrio Barrita, Abraham Torres, Ivan Oroxco, Eddy Martinez, Jorge Lope Garcia, Alfredo Canseco, Alejandro Santiago, Gloria Morales, Josefa Garcia and the video of native Oakland born, Ana Hurka Robles who lives and works in New York City.    We are also very honored to also have the works of Gato and Bob Jew in this show.

I want to thank the Front Gallery for its support in the realization of this event.

 

Long Live the APPO!! 

Jail to Ulises Ruiz and  his gang of criminals!!

“TODO EL PODER AL PUEBLO”

 

CALIXTO ROBLES, Curator

June 1, 2007
.pdf version of curator's statement
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