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Alurista today and yesterday... 
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TUNALUNA is the soon to be released tenth volume of poetry by the legendary Alurista; the poet laureate of the Chicano movement. This volume is also an artistic reunion of two artists whose careers were formed by shared experiences as Chicano artist-activists and whose art has become part of that historic legacy.
"In 1971, I was a 23 year old college student working part-time for the UCLA Chicano Studies Research Center as the illustrator of the Aztlan Journal. Dr. Juan Gomez-Quinones, a pioneer of Chicano Studies education and a noted historian, gave me the task of illustrating Alurista’s landmark first volume of poetry: Floricanto en Aztlan. Illustrating Floricanto was the opportunity of a lifetime for me. It was received to critical acclaim and endures as a major work of Chicano literature. I like to think that my cover art and illustrations contributed to its success. Thirty-eight years later I have the honor of providing the cover art for TUNALUNA, Alurista's newest volume of poetry."
UPDATE! TUNALUNA will be available on July 26, 2010 from Aztlan Libre Press of San Antonio, Texas. For information about ordering, book signing, and other events please clck the link above to go to the publishers website.
AZTLAN
A JOURNAL OF CHICANO STUDIES 
"On our cover, and in our artist's communique, Judithe Hernández's vibrant pastel drawings illustrate the formation of a unique political aesthetic and Chicana/o consciousness that continues to inform her work in provocative and stunning ways. Since her days as the only female member of the influential artist collective Los Four (and as its fifth member too), Hernández's work reflects the importance of cultural identity to artistic production. In her eloquent communique Hernández states "the connection of an artist to his cultural identity should be a powerful resource of imagery, historical memory, and intellectual impetus from which to create a lifetime of work. It has been for me." This cover represents a significant homecoming to the journal, since Hernández produced the cover art for its first five volumes (1970-74). We are proud to continue the tradition she initiated of integrating the arts into the journal's academic mission, and we are honored to have her work grace our cover once again!" (Volume 33:2 - FALL 2008) Chon Noriega, Ph.D. Professor & Director Chicano Studies Research Center, UCLA For more information and/or how to order this issue, please click here >> AZTLAN JOURNAL
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Exploring three major hubs of muralist activity in California, where indigenist imagery is prevalent, Walls of Empowerment celebrates an aesthetic that seeks to firmly establish Chicana/o sociopolitical identity in U.S. territory. Providing readers with a history and genology of key muralists' productions, Guisela Latorre also presents new material and original research on works and artists never before examined in print. "Of course none of what I wrote in Walls of Empowerment would make any sense without the critical insights and accounts of Chicana/o artists themselves, who built the community arts movement literally with their bare hands. Juana Alicia, Santa Barraza, Yolanda Lopez, Alma Lopez, Willie Herron, Judithe Hernandez, Carlos Cortez, Estaban Villa.......who put down their paint brushes and other artistic tools to sit down to talk to me." University of Texas Press, www.utexaspress.com |