“Art is not simply works of art; it is the spirit that knows beauty, that has music in its soul and the color of sunsets in its handkerchief, that can dance on a flaming world and make the world dance, too.” -- W.E.B. DuBois

Submitted by Sankofa and CHAC staff

The Chicano Humanities Art Council and the Sankofa Arts Collective have joined forces in a collaboration to explore commonalities between Chicano and African American culture. “Finding Common Ground” will showcase the art representing the Latino/Chicano and African American experience in Denver. The joint effort will showcase the shared history between two cultures in visual arts, food and music. In addition to displaying the works of over 40 local artists, the show will serve as an educational experience, as it will demonstrate the commonalities and histories of the two cultures. (See below for event dates, locations and times.)
“I believe we can learn from one another and by sharing the two cultures,” said CHAC executive director Crystal O’Brien. “This show gives us a chance to learn more about each others’ cultures and find common ground. It may also give us the great gift of understanding and acceptance, so it is not only important, but educational. I see several common threads that are woven throughout Chicano and African American art. One important element I see is the expression of emotions and feelings that come through the individual pieces. Each individual culture has a very important history which includes so many aspects which comes through the art in several different ways. It is quite educational,” she said.

Sankofa’s Executive Director Marquis Price says that both Chicano and African American artists exhibit extraordinary strength and pride in their culture and family and the richness that both heritages bring is a celebration. “This show is important for those who enjoy the diversity of art in this city but even more so for the children to see the value of who they are. The stories that come from within these arts reflect our history and the beautiful stories being told today,” she said.

“Artist Helen Littlejohn, who is a member of both groups, approached us with this incredible idea last year while we were in the planning stages for our 2006 schedule,” said O’Brien. “We loved the idea and worked with Sankofa to make it a reality.”

 “As a member of both CHAC and the Sankofa Arts Collective, the idea of a joint show had natural synergy,” said Littlejohn. “I’ve participated in art shows in many communities of color and we have a lot in common in terms of color and concept. We create from an ancestral place that is evident in the spiritual nature of our work. It always makes me laugh when people ask if Picasso influenced my art. I tell them: No, he is influenced by me!  He studied African art and had a breakthrough, but that is my ancestral memory…it’s in my genes. My grandmother, Marguerite Gomez Thomas immigrated to the U.S. around 1916 and worked in the beet fields in Brighton, so I also have the roots of Chicano culture in my veins. I love and embrace both,” she said.

“I wanted to be a part of this show, because I feel it illustrates that people of different cultural backgrounds do have many things in common,” said Chicano artist Richard Pena. “It will also provide a tremendous opportunity for people of all cultures to come together and learn from each other. Through our art, we also share a part of ourselves with members of each community. I think this show is important, because it will provide a positive experience to people of many cultures. By two groups coming together in friendship, I feel it sends a statement that we can overcome hate and prejudice when we believe in ourselves and open ourselves to recognizing what we have in common,” he said.

“As an artist of African-American decent, I am honored to show with a group of my peers who share a common vision,” said artist/educator Deidre Hardin. “It is one of the reasons I joined Sankofa a year ago. Usually our vision is only popular during the Marades, Black History Month, Juneteenth  and Black Arts Festival events. We are so much more than those months contain. Our visual voice, in my opinion, is 24/7/365. Finding Common Ground is a beautiful collaboration of two very rich cultures sharing the bond of Art. We both live, love, and laugh out loud in beautiful colors, patterns, motifs and rhythms. There’s a Salsa and Soul beat of our own that oozes out of our being and into our work,” said Hardin.

The Sankofa Arts Collective is a group of 25 African American artists living and working in the Historic Five Points neighborhood. “Sankofa’s Back Do’ Studio was so named because we wanted to honor those who historically had to enter the back door entrance, at a time when that’s all they could do. It comes from a time when ‘Colored People’, and ‘Negroes’ had to be very careful where they would come and go, for they could be hurt or killed for violating some Jim Crow laws,” said Price. “Sankofa honors and welcomes all into its Back Do’ Studio at 3030 Downing Street.”

African Americans explored their status and experience in American culture through their art. “We are more alike than we are different. Through oppression we still have strength and pride. We have traveled similar paths and we are finding our future together,” said Price.

“The idea of showing with CHAC is a dream come true,” said artist Eddie Brown. “As indigenous artists, our purpose has always been to show our truth through creative expression,” he said.  Brown says his art is rooted in Africa and the spiritual/visual aspects of African art help him understand his culture. “As an artist with that understanding, I can bring art and culture to my community. That concept parallels what Chicano artists in the community are doing, so I’m very excited to be collaborating with them,” said Brown.

CHAC, The Chicano Humanities and Arts Council is a group of artists dedicated to the preservation of Latino/a and Chicano/a arts. Incorporated in 1978, CHAC is a group of individuals dedicated to the preservation and promotion of the Chicano/Latino culture through the expression of the arts. This includes visual art as well as music, dance, poetry, and story telling. CHAC’s gallery on historic Santa Fe Drive recently expanded into the space next door and tripled their space by opening "CHAC Norte." CHAC is a Colorado 501(c)(3) non profit organization.

Art teacher and CHAC member Aubrey Valencia has studied Contemporary Chicano art, and art and cultural heritage history for over 12 years at Metropolitan State College of Denver and the Cornish College of the Arts in Seattle, Wash. “I think that as people of color in the United States it’s important to understand that our life experiences are more similar than what we think,” said Valencia. “Our shared history of oppression and poverty contribute to how we see the world,” she said. Because her daughter Jasmine is Latina and African American, Valencia especially wanted to be in the show to bridge the two communities and expose her to the art of both cultures. “This is just the beginning of a positive art relationship between the two communities. I’m looking forward to the next collaboration,” she said.

The Civil Rights Movement among African Americans ran concurrently to the Chicano Civil Rights Movement in the 1960s and 1970s. Movements within the art world transpired within each of these cultures in reaction to their struggles for equal rights. Artists involved strived to develop an identity and style specific to their culture while also working towards the struggle for equality in their community. Creating an individual style among Chicano/as was central to their artistic development.

Stevon Lucero paints bright and evocative images that reflect his Chicano heritage. Addressing the commonalities of artists of color, Lucero said, “A culture that calls people of color ‘minorities,’ defines them as secondary and less important than the so-called majority people. We are programmed at the very conceptual base of our thinking as being of less value, which allows marginalization of the so-called minorities without the guilt of being accused of racism.

“Shows like this allow marginalized citizens to come together and through art find ‘common ground.’ Through our collective creativity we find ourselves of one spirit composed of many visions. It shows us as one people, one tribe and as such, a new majority. We are not secondary. We are primary, all of us. If you don’t believe me, ask God. That makes this show exciting,” said Lucero.
Both cultures incorporate elements of their ancient history while also dealing with contemporary issues, whether political, economical or simply celebratory.  Dealing with histories of colonization and slavery, these cultures share a similar experience and history as Americans and this has been reflected in their art over the years.

“As a Cuban born artist I like the idea of an intercultural exchange between the two groups,” said Roberto Fernandez, who currently has a show up at CHAC Norte, along with Stevon Lucero. “I like the idea of meeting new artists, new people and sharing our ideas and art with each other,” he said. Fernandez has traveled to Africa, and feels a strong connection between the two cultures through the art. “There were lots of similarities between the people in Africa and those I grew up with in Cuba. They have deep family and spiritual connections. I felt very comfortable in Kenya and the Masai country…it was like being at home. I saw abstract art and minimalist art in Africa and I loved it.
“My art has been influenced by African culture both from my travels there and growing up around many African people in Cuba,” he said.  Fernandez has also studied the African influenced religion Santeria in Cuba.  “What I learned from that experience is complete respect for all human beings. It taught me that separateness is evil. We are all different, but we are all equal and we are all one,” he said. “Ask a blind man what color love is.”

“Our art reflects our experiences and struggles in a nation whose invaders subjected us to second class citizenship with slavery and reservations, depriving us of our rights,” said Sankofa artist Carrol Reeves. Growing up in Arkansas and Oklahoma City, she clearly saw racism and discrimination. “The blatant mistreatment and disrespect of that not too distant past remains present today in subtle forms, but equally as harmful. Given those subtle societal assaults against people of color, it becomes important to bolster our self esteem through furthering whatever talents we may have and being available to search out, support, and further the talents of our fellow artists. We support each other in telling our stories,” she said.

Rochelle Johnson is a local upcoming artist who has studied at the Rocky Mountain College of Art and Design and at the Art Students League under Ron Hicks. To Johnson, the common ground concept means finding some commonality in being humans on this planet, that we all have something to say that moves us. “It’s a something that we can do to bring us together,” she said.

“The most exciting thing about this collaboration is having two different cultures expressing themselves through the arts without boundaries, to open the minds of others,” said artist Veronica Herrera. “I see brilliant colors, patterns and textures in both Chicano/Chicana and African American art that reflect our rich histories. This exhibition provides the opportunity for me to share my artwork as a Contemporary Chicana artist and embrace inclusiveness as well as individuality.”

“This is the first time the two groups have shown together, and this show feels like a celebration to embrace different cultures and spread friendship through our communities,” said Pena. “The energy around this show feels so positive, because we can all come together with our hair down, and just be ourselves.”

“I believe there is more common ground than we realize and this show will help to highlight this and bring us to a greater understanding of each culture. I am very excited to see the work in both groups,” said O’Brien.

The Chicano Humanities Arts Council and the Sankofa Arts Collective will combine efforts to present a joint show of art featuring artists from both galleries. The show opens in three locations on June 28, closes at CHAC on July 15 and closes at the Blair Caldwell AARL and Sankofa  on July 30. CHAC is located at 772 Santa Fe Drive, the Blair Caldwell Library  at 2401 Welton St. and Sankofa’s Back Do’ Studio  at 3030 Downing. There are several art and cultural activities surrounding the joint show:

• The first Friday opening on July 7 will be from 6 to10 p.m. at CHAC and will feature Chilean flutist Ricardo Olmos and a mini Mercado with Chicano-themed merchandise and food.
• On Sunday, July 9 at 2 p.m., a CHAC poetry reading in the courtyard garden will feature poets Suzanna Vega, Stevon Lucero and others.
• On Saturday, July 15 at Blair Caldwell AARL, cultural anthropologist Dr. Ella Maria Ray will present “Rooted in Culture.”
• Saturday, July 15 features a reception at Sankofa’s Back Do’ Studio with live jazz and R&B by Ron Ivory.
• Art classes at Sankofa take place on Saturdays at 11 a.m., July 1 (Drawing), July 8 (Leather), July 22 (Collage) and July 29 (hat making) . Cost is $10 for children, $15  for adults. For more information, call 303-861-7710.
• A New Orleans Style Cooking Class will be held at CHAC on Saturday, July 22 at 1 p.m. featuring New Orleans artist and chef Robert Aquarius.

CHAC. Gallery hours are Wednesday and Thursday from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.; Friday  from 10 a.m. to 10 p.m.; Saturday and Sunday, from noon to 4 p.m.
Sankofa hours are Saturday and Sunday from noon to 4 p.m. and by appointment.
Blair Caldwell hours are Monday to Wed. from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m., Friday and Saturday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. The library is closed Sunday and Thursday.

For more information, call 303-571-0440 or 303-394-4069 or visit www.chacweb.org.

Participating artists include:
Robert Aquarius
Eric (Elfego) Baca
Dawn A. Williams Boyd
Eddie Brown
Rita Collette
De La Ventana
Jose Esquibel
Deidre Hardin
Mike Juarez
Rochelle Johnson
Renee Fajardo
Roberto Fernandez
Javier Flores
Helen Littlejohn
Val Locoricio
Stevon Lucero
Mary Madison
Robert Maestas
Randy McAnulty, Jr.
Jeanette Montoya
Sylvia Montero
Tony Ortega
Richard Pena
Todd Pierson
Paul Potts
Jack Price II
Ella Maria Ray
Carrol Reeves
Rebecca Rozales
Steve Rozic
Rebecca Romero
Rogelio Quinones
Harold Sanchez
Judy Sanchez
Karen Von Phul
Dave Wright