Artivism
Be it through words, murals, instruments, our bodies or other mediums, art can challenge assumptions, elevate under recognized issues and expand horizons. Expressions of art serve as protest, appeal, education and entertainment. We respect its many forms and aim to support artists and their art for its various purposes.
As part of LRP’s efforts to support burgeoning voices outside of television, we give artists the opportunity to take over our landing page twice a year and connect their stories with ours.
About the Artist
Daniel González was born and raised in the community of Boyle Heights in Los Angeles, California. His early childhood was shared between México and the United States where he travelled often to visit his parent’s hometown and be with his grandparents and family in Zacatecas. These trips had a profound influence on him and his work. Daniel primary media is printmaking but he also uses other Mexican traditional forms to create artwork. He began his studies at the California College of Arts and Crafts, where he was introduced to printmaking and letterpress, and graduated from UCLA’s School of Arts and Architecture. His works have been exhibited internationally and have been permanently installed at the La Cienega Expo Line Metro Station. Daniel’s work is currently part of the Smithsonian Museum of American Art as part of the travelling exhibition ¡Printing the Revolution! The Rise and Impact of Chicano Graphics 1965-Now Exhibit.
Daniel is part of the Self Help Graphics & Art creative community.
About the Art
In the beginning, there was darkness and in the primeval waters floated Cipactli. The story of creation for the Mexica people begins this way, very similar to different traditions where the earth is dark and formless. This image is the moment of creation where the primordial forces of creation begin to shape the earth from the body of the beastly crocodile creature, Cipactli. You see Black Tezcatlipoca, the smoking-mirror, offering their foot to lure Cipactli in and his brothers begin to shape the earth on his body. The rough scales become peaks and valleys, its eyes and tears are rivers and lakes, its mouth is a cave, an entrance to the underworld. When Cipacltli shudders, the earth quakes and moves. Creation stories set the stage for the narratives that follow. The Mexica see creation as an act of sacrifice and the earth a living creature that they have stewardship over, not dominion. They are charged with maintaining balance and harmony on the earth by showing respect to the forces of creation.