Seeds of Summer

Monsoon rains continue and everything is green and growing. I share with you today two works for a Studio Art Quilt Assoc. (SAQA) of New Mexico exhibit called How Does Your Garden Grow? Seeds for SAQA. Each artist was to create a seed real or imagined to be mounted on a consistent background creating an exhibit that looked like oversized seed packets. Being the artivist that I am my seeds are also my wishes for us all. So go out and sow some seeds of Peace and Justice and  Love and Equality! 

Update: these two works are sold and found a home. For more available work check out my website gallery SabrinaZaco.com 

Conscience of the Human Spirit: The Life of Nelson Mandela

Honored to share that my work is one of 34 from the US and 33 from South Africa selected to be a part of the exhibit, Conscience of the Human Spirit: The Life of Nelson Mandela. This two year traveling exhibit opens July 2014 in Johannesburg. It will travel the US and South Africa and is organized by Michigan State Art Museum

Solidarity is More Than Black and White © Sabrina Zarco 2014

Amor y Amistad Day of Love & Friendship

As a Chicana I celebrate holidays and traditions bi-culturally. In Mexico and a few other Latin American countries Saint Valentine's Day is know as Dia de amor y amistad (Day of love and friendship). Its a time to let your Beloveds know you care. Its not uncommon for it to be a day of acts of appreciation for friends. 

Cultural Worker's Dream Pillow © Sabrina Zarco 2014

Embroidered symbols and the words 

Love, Peace, Justice, Freedom, Change, Equality,

 Action, Power, Unity, Voice, Vision and Art

So on this day of speaking out loud the names of those we love and treasure in friendship I choose to honor and send big love to

- my teachers, mentors, and path finders on this Good Red Road.

- my Beloveds,  the ones who share my daily life with love, commitment, and passion. Not always an easy task.

- my children I am honored you call my Mom

- my Autism family for your special way of seeing and experiencing the world keep strong in our self advocacy work.

- all my Beloveds I call sisters and brothers and family who have crossed my path on this journey, blessings. 

- the four legged and winged ones you add so much to my life.

 - you cultural workers, social justice workers who keep the stories alive and keep fighting the hard fight for dignity and justice. 

 - the true change makers who walk daily challenging bigotry at every turn.

- my artist family, creative brothers and sisters who tell the stories that need to be told in cloth, on walls or canvas, in spoken word or song, in gardens, kitchens, and classrooms.

So Happy day of Love to all of you and thank you for your gifts of inspiration and living by example. 

May the places you visit in Spirit and body today be welcoming to you and yours and know that you are loved!

Mandy Carter and Bayard Rustin

Sometimes when you create the ripple effects are beyond what you can ever dream. I am blessed and honored to say that the Bayard Rustin work is now in the collection of Mandy Carter. 

Once the work was complete I shared it online and received a great response. I created it for a social justice exhibit in Little Rock. My long time friend Pam Mc Michael of the Highlander Center said she had to have the work as a gift for Mandy Carter another long time friend. You see Mandy has worked tirelessly for many years on educating the community about the amazing work and life of Bayard Rustin. I was thrilled at the idea. I was even more thrilled to hear that Pam offered the idea to a group of community members who know Mandy. They all wanted to be a part of the gift and as a community purchased the work. As an artist that makes my living on exhibiting and selling work this to me was the most beautiful way to honor and celebrate a fellow activist. A community gift to honor a community leader. It is so powerful when we stand in solidarity to do the work and even more important when we stand with one another to celebrate!

I look forward to Mandy's visit to my home this summer as she takes a long overdue step back from work and just share in community. May you remember to take time to celebrate with your community the work that you do to make it a better place for all.

Bayard Rustin and Champions of Justice events in Little Rock

Here is the new work I created for the Bayard Rustin Champions of Justice events in Little Rock next week. This is the final piece for my exhibit on social justice. I am honored to be a part of this event and look forward to seeing my Little Rock family again.

This work is 47" wide and 40 " high. Its various rainbow patchwork pieces representing a variety of issues and social justice work. This renaissance man appreciated the arts and work made by the hands of marginalized folks. I placed the Presidential Medal of Freedom on his chest. His partner Walter Naegle will receive it from President Obama later this month. 

I look forward to seeing some of you at the events. The evening reception is listed below. On Thursday, November 14 I will be at the Little Rock Central High School National Park Site to share the exhibit with students and community. Then on Saturday, November 16 I will be exhibiting at Philander Smith College where there will be a viewing of the film Brother Outsider the Life of Bayard Rustin and a facilitated discussion with Mandy Carter.

More detail photos of the work below.