Favianna Rodriguez
February 16–April 13, 2017
The second installation in The Art of Storytelling series features the work of Oakland-based artist and cultural organizer, Favianna Rodriguez. Her art and collaborative projects deal with migration, global politics, economic injustice, patriarchy, and interdependence. These vibrant and powerful pieces help create a dialogue about gender, race, identity, and immigration.
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The Artist Must Fight
Dimension: 24 x 18 inches
Medium: Limited Edition Screenprint Year: 2009
This piece was inspired by African-American singer, actor, and scholar, Paul Robeson, who wrote, “The artist must elect to fight for freedom or slavery.” I designed this print in the style of Cuban OSPAAL resistance posters from the 60’s and 70’s.
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Three Women (Yellow)
Dimension: 16.7 x 11.5 inches
Medium: Digital Print
Year: 2014
I named this piece in honor of Nina Simone’s song, “Four Women.” One of my favorite compositions is to show three individuals, either in profile or facing the viewer. The three characters in this piece embody dignity, fearlessness, and sexiness.
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Fight Racism
Dimension: 24 x 18 inches
Medium: Digital Fine Art Print
Year: 2009
This piece commemorates the International Day for the Elimination of Racism, celebrated on March 21. On that date in 1960, more than 60 black demonstrators were killed and about 180 wounded by South African police in South Africa.
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Transition
Dimension: 30 x 20 inches
Medium: Digital Fine Art Print
Year: 2010
This piece centers around the themes of change, transition and goal-setting. The central protagonist is a young woman who is imagining the many possibilities which her future offers her. Her hands are open in a manner that alludes to a yoga pose in which the person is opening themselves up to the universe, as an act of meditation. The open hands also symbolize the many practices that one can do with their hands, including music, art, dance, writing, exercise, typing, building, and reading. In the composition, the central figure is grounded and is imagining herself as a writer and as a singer. Behind her is a circle that represents the planet.
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Occupy Sisterhood
Dimension: 18 x 12 inches
Medium: Digital Art Print
Year: 2012
I developed this piece as a response to the attacks on women’s reproductive freedom and our right to abortion. Inspired by the leadership of women and queer folks in Occupy, this piece is also a critique of the patriarchy that is alive and well in all branches of our government.
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The Worldwide Movement To End Racism
Dimension: 24 x 18 inches
Medium: Digital Print
Year: 2009
Racism and white supremacy are prevailing forces in our society and continue to cause inequality, suffering, and institutionalized violence in communities of color. I developed this poster for the International Day for the Elimination of Racism, March 21st. The characters in the piece are singing and working collectively to combat racism.
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Be Strong
Dimension: 12 x 18 inches
Medium: Limited Edition Screenprint
Year: 2009
This piece is about women of color being strong leaders in their community. The shape of the face was hand cut from black construction paper as an experiment. The print is named after one of my favorite Duran Duran songs, “Rio”.
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Immigration Reform is Central to Women’s Equality
Dimension: 5.25 x 12 inches
Medium: Digital Art Print
Year: 2013
Most migrants are women and children, and this print is a call out to feminists to embrace migration as a women’s issue.
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Freedom. Justice. Voice. Power.
Dimension: 17.5 x 12 inches
Medium: Digital Print Reproduction
Year: 2015
Freedom. Justice. Voice. Power…the components of liberation. This piece depicts three empowered people collaborating to transform the world. They move together, because they are more mighty when they are united. They are angry, yet they leverage their emotions to transform their lives. They are thriving despite all the hardships in their path. And they are beautiful, their light is radiant and the complexity of their humanity is limitless. They are fierce, and little by little, they are going to heal our world, with the power of the feminine.
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Migration is Beautiful
Dimension: 24 x 18 inches
Medium: Offset Poster
Year: 2013
The monarch butterfly has come to represent the beauty of migration. The butterfly symbolizes the right that living beings have to freely move. Like the monarch butterfly, human beings cross borders in search of safer habitats. Like the monarch butterfly, human beings cross borders in order to survive. This sticker is my artistic adaptation of the butterfly. Each wing shows a human profile. The phrase, “Migration is Beautiful,” celebrates the resiliency, courage, and determination of migrants who come in search of their dreams.
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Exhibit Opening
Exhibit Closing
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