Lotería Art For Revolution
Rick Garza
Garza—owner of International Real Estate on 18th Street located in Pilsen—was the concept creator for the “Lotería Doors” murals all around the neighborhood.[40] Lotería is a traditional Mexican—although it originated in Italy, moved to Spain, then arrived to Mexico in the late 1700s—game of chance similar to Bingo. However, it uses a deck of 54 colorful cards and player boards (tablas) featuring iconic illustrations like El Gallo (the rooster), El Sol (the sun), and La Muerte (death). Inspired by the game, Garza funded the project in hopes to stop public vandalism while honoring Mexican-American heritage. Having his business be affected first hand, he hoped to combat gang graffiti on his own doors; however, he later expanded the idea through the entire neighborhood. He approached various artists in the area whose work he has seen on murals all over Pilsen. Garza asked if they would be interested in painting doors in some of the buildings and this became a contribution and exposition of the Mexican American community within Pilsen. Artists went further than painting the traditional cards, they created new card designs inspired by Latin icons. Although there are only original 9 doors are spread across 18th Street, 17th Street, and Laflin Street, Garza intentionally left the project open-source and encouraged neighbors to imitate it. Thus, local business owners and independent artists have painted several additional uncounted doors throughout Pilsen.
Grae Idalio Rosa
Rosa—also known as Missy Rosa—is a Mexican-Puerto Rican artist who uses pronouns they/them, and was born on the Northside of Chicago. They currently reside in Pilsen, and have previously partnered with an organization called IPAINTMYMIND.[41] Through this partnership, they share a paid homage to the city of Chicago with a collection titled Chicagotería. This series highlight distinct Chi-town elements through the lens of the game Lotería. Some notable designs include Humboldt Park’s beloved Puerto Rican flag, and Little Village’s Arch. In a 2016 Buzzfeed article titled This Artist Made Chicago-Themed Lotería Card and They’re Awesome, Rosa explains what inspired them to complete these prints,
“I saw first-hand the effects of gentrification and how it’s currently washing away the culture of so many Chicago neighborhoods. I wanted a way to preserve the memories and share them with others.” They continue by adding, “The memory of playing Lotería with my family was fresh in my mind and wanted to combine my memories and experience into new illustrations.”[42]
Rosa was looking to update this classic game that has been played for many years. Their goal was to share this work with others, and provide players with an opportunity to experience Chicago’s rich Latino culture while playing. In essence, it brings attention to Latinx revitalization and contribution to Chicago’s barrios.
Fernando Caldera
Caldera—also known as Fedz—is an Artist from Jerez, Zacatecas that currently resides in the Southside of Chicago. He has been commissioned to do numerous murals around the city and many of them are a tribute to his race and portrayal of Mexican pride. Nevertheless, in connection to Lotería, Calderas had created a unique card design of his own titled El Tunero. In his description, he reminiscences his days in Mexico as a kid. His grandfather and uncle would bring them prickly pears from the ranch after their long days in the fields. He explains how his family would gather in the patio and talk about their days as they peeled the tunas and pass them around. Calderas, expresses how he misses those moments.
“[I’m] proud to be Latino…having a culture full of love and hardworking people. Our resilience is unlike no other and our willingness to help those in need speaks volumes. This piece is for the handworkers, the field laborers, the ones who make sure we have a roof over our heads and a plate to eat every day. Gracias por todo su esfuerzo (Thank you for all your efforts).[43]
Introducing these artists and showing how they have transformed Lotería in their own unique styles can be an ideal way for young Latinx individuals to experience a sense of nostalgia while reflecting on the aspects of their Latin roots they truly appreciate.
Teaching Strategy
Visual Thinking (Individual Artworks & Public Mural): The visual thinking strategy is a teacher-facilitated method where I introduce visual images and encourage discussions within the classroom about what we are seeing. Art can have so many meanings based on life experiences and when a teacher welcomes discussions about personal thoughts on art, it establishes grounds for engagement by contributing observations and ideas based on the student’s personal experiences. Furthermore, to enhance the thinking process, I will utilize the 4W’S as they are attempting to read the artwork:
What do you see? (What is your observation?)
What does it remind you of? (Another image? A personal experience?)
What’s the artist’s purpose? (To Provoke? Persuade? Express? Document?)
So what? (Why does this matter? What is the significance?)
Learning Logs: Learning logs are used to help students keep track of learning during the class sessions in both individual and collaborative work. Therefore, I will have students jot down what they have discovered from our historical presentations and discussions in their sketchbooks. This will help students reflect on and refer to when they are seeking clarification and inspiration during art assignments. Sketching-noting—a creative note-taking method that combines words, simple drawings, shapes, and arrows—will also be highly encouraged.
Collaborative Learning: Collaborative learning is an important strategy that I will utilize for most of this unit because it helps students to establish a strong sense of community while gaining new perspectives.
Think-Pair-Share: Oftentimes, some students may be too shy or insecure to share their thoughts and ideas with the entire class. Therefore, I utilize this collaborative learning technique. A student will first examine & think about the artworks independently. Subsequently, they will have the opportunity to share their insight with another classmate.
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