Art of Democracy - Political Art Community

Hank Tusinski Photos Enhance ASARO Print Show

Dateline: Athens, Ohio

I've just hung another exhibit of ASARO's woodblock prints, and this show is fortunate to have a collection of photos of Oaxaca by Hank Tusinski which lend context to the gallery exhibition.

“ASARO of Mexico: Impressions of Radical Printmakers” will be be exhibited from Sept. 8 through Oct 9, 2009 at the Multicultural Center Art Gallery, Baker Center, Ohio University, Athens, OH. I will be there for a closing reception on Oct. 9 with a gallery talk.

ASARO is the Assembly of Revolutionary Artists of Oaxaca, a collective of young Mexican artists responding to Oaxaca’s political turmoil. ASARO’s remarkable woodblock prints are part of Mexico’s long tradition of popular revolutionary art. I've written about their work in prior blogs. I first met the artists of ASARO during the summer of 2007. At the time I was part of a group of U.S. professors learning about all aspects of Oaxaca's culture. Some of my colleagues were anthropologists and we talked a lot about various group's creation myths.

One day sitting on the curb, in front of Oaxaca cathedral, Mario of ASARO told me his group's first public art project was a variation on a tapete, a traditional memorial carpet of sand and flower petals. Often these tapetes are made by family members near their loved one's tombs at the time of the funeral or during the Day of the Dead celebration. ASARO's tapete, I was told, denounced the Governor for his part in the deaths that occurred when he used overwhelming force to end largely peaceful protests. Mario told me that they spent many hours on the tapete and they created it at the very boots of the heavily armed police lines. I listened, I even took notes, but I felt like I was hearing a "creation myth."

Months later, surfing the web for info on ASARO, I found a photograph taken by Hank Tusinski during the turmoil of 2006. Here is a link the site with that very photo.

I was blown away to see that the event happened exactly as described. Check out Hank's artist's statement on the Through the Lens site. I've taken the liberty of quoting part of it here:
" The increasing focus of my work over the past 10 years has been the celebration of Dia de los Muertos - .... In October/November 2006 I made a long anticipated trip to Oaxaca de Juarez, Oaxaca, Mexico to participate in and document the Dia de los Muertos events there.

However, what commanded my heart and attention was in the streets; the uprising/revolution of the Popular Assembly of the People of Oaxaca (APPO), then six months into the struggle against the forces of corruption and repression. During my five week stay, I photographed various manifestations of the APPO movement, from mega-marches to encampments, graffiti to altars/ofrendas, coming away with over 1500 images that speak to the rich, creative vitality and mystery of an enduring spirit." -Hank Tusinski.

As some of you may recall Hank was in Oaxaca at the same time that indy journalist Brad Will was shot dead.
I contacted Hank and asked if he would let me show his work alongside ASARO's prints. He generously agreed and mailed me five prints from those 1500 images.
Those five prints, including the tapete photo, are in the Ohio University exhibition. My co-curator, an Ohio University printmaking grad student, Cait Nolan, agreed that Hank's documentary photography is a great asset to the exhibit. In January the ASARO exhibition will travel to Dallas, PA to Misericordia University’s new Friedman Art Gallery. Then the prints will travel to the University of North Carolina, Charlotte, and to the Marwyn Foundation Gallery, Chicago. I am very grateful to Hank for the loan of his work. He knows these sort of college galleries are not likely to generate any sales, but Hank, like so many artists, is not in it for the money.

Hank is a visiting artist at a unique art space situated in a 49 acre desert park in Tucson, Arizona. His Day of the Dead installation at Tohono Chul Park runs until Nov 8 with a reception this week. Vicki Donkersley is the curator at Tohono Chul Park, and coordinates a Day of the Dead show every other year. I am not going to be able to get there. If you are in the Tucson area or have friends there, take note:
"Days of the Dead-Días de los Muertos
Ancient Roots/Contemporary Expressions
Raíces Antiguas/Expresiones Contemporáneas"
Aug 27 – Nov 8, 2009.
Leave a memento in remembrance of a loved one on the Community Ofrenda/Altar created by guest artist Hank Tusinski.
FREE Reception with the Artists: Thu., Sep. 10, 5:30-7:30pm

If you can't get to Tucson, you might check out his photo-filled blog.
This year on Day of the Dead I will think about those I've lost, but I will also think about Hank Tusinski. I've never met him, but I feel as if I found a friend.