After seeing Round II of Lovers & Fighters, Prints by Latino Artists in the San Antonio Museum of Art (SAMA) Collection, I knew that I wanted to also see the artworks of Round III. I went on election day, just before the first results of the 2024 presidential election were revealed.
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Richard Duardo, American, 1952-2014, “Luchador – Mas Ganas,” 2009, Screen print, Image: 31 5/8 × 19 3/8 in. (80.3 × 49.2 cm); Sheet: 35 7/8 × 22 1/2 in. (91.1 × 57.2 cm), San Antonio Museum of Art, gift of Ricardo and Harriett Romo, 2015.7.7 © Estate of Richard Duardo
I did not expect to be confronted by Nacho from Nacho Libre; the film is a family favorite in my household. In the movie, Jack Black plays Ignacio, or Nacho, a luchador (fighter) who struggles to raise money for orphans in Mexico. The film is serious in its struggle, yet comedic in its delivery. In Duardo’s screen print, Nacho Libre stands proudly, staring off to the side. He’s in his red cape, standing behind words that say “Hecho en Aztlan” (Made in Aztlan). Aztlan is the mythical home of the Aztecs prior to their arrival in south Mexico. Duardo likens Nacho to a warrior who fights for the greater good. The screen print speaks to the universal themes of heroism, sacrifice, and the importance of standing up for what is right, no matter how unconventional the hero may seem.
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Rolando Briseño, American, born 1952, “Bicultural Table Setting,” 1998, Screen print, Image: 15 7/8 × 21 7/8 in. (40.3 × 55.6 cm); Sheet: 21 7/8 × 30 in. (55.6 × 76.2 cm), San Antonio Museum of Art, gift of Ricardo and Harriett Romo, 2013.15.63 © Rolando Briseño
While Duardo elevates the luchador as a symbol of heroism, Rolando Briseño's Bicultural Table Setting brings the focus back to more intimate, everyday acts of cultural preservation. Bicultural Table Setting showcases two hands reaching across different tablecloths; the side to our left is the Mexican side, and the side to our right is the American side. The artist has used the table motif in this artwork since graduate school. Food is culture, and it carries the history of its people – in this case, food reflects the cultural hybridization that defines Mexican American identities.
We think of culture at large and one that is specific to our families, too. You might recall a dish that a parent made for you with a special twist to it. The table is a setting of culture. It’s where people gather, talk, and share each other’s experiences.
After waking up to the 2024 presidential election’s results on November 6th, 2024, I sat at my own table, and I thought about the heroes in my realm. I’ve identified as Chicano and Mexican American interchangeably since I was in high school. But even earlier, I knew of Cesar Chavez, the civil rights and labor leader who was a controversial figure in the Chicano community.
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Carlos Francisco Jackson, American, born 1978, “Huelga,” 2009, Screen print, Image: 25 1/2 × 39 in. (64.8 × 99.1 cm); Sheet: 30 3/8 × 44 in. (77.2 × 111.8 cm), San Antonio Museum of Art, gift of Ricardo and Harriett Romo, 2015.7.36 © Carlos Francisco Jackson
Carlos Francisco Jackson’s Huelga conveys this momento of Chavez meeting with President Robert F. Kennedy. This is a moment of solidarity, as Kennedy shows support for the cause of the United Farmworkers in their demand for fair working conditions and wages. Protestors hold signs which say “Huelga” (strike). The two men stand behind extended arms of members of the press, who hold microphones in the attempt to hear more about this meeting between two leaders. The Huelga signs distract the viewer, indicative of a struggle for liberty that outshines either Chavez or Kennedy, and that continues to this day.
Round III of Lovers & Fighters serves as a vital reminder of the ongoing fight for justice, with each print calling for heroism, sacrifice, and solidarity in the face of adversity. These powerful works leave me questioning how that fight unfolds — in actions, in conversations, and in the communities we build. We look to figures from the past, reflect on our present, and engage in those critical conversations around the table. Onward we go.
Round III of Lovers & Fighters, Prints by Latino Artists in the San Antonio Museum of Art Collection is on display at SAMA until January 5, 2025.
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