Cultural Red Exhibit Santa Fe

Quest For Red © Sabrina Zarco

Cochineal dye was used by the Aztec and Maya peoples of Central and North America for everything from coloring clothing, healing ailments, and for personal adornment. The cochineal is found on the nopal or prickly pear cactus pads inside match head-sized white fuzz balls. By the 14th century, the Incas and Aztecs both had whole agricultural systems based on cochineal and apparently valued the dye as much as gold. The insects were harvested and traded. The insects were collected, dried and crushed releasing the intense red color dye.

This is one of three works of mine that have been accepted into the exhibit at the Santa fe Capitol Rotunda Gallery. The gallery opening for those in New Mexico or visiting will be on Friday, April 17, 2015 from 5-7pm. The exhibit will be up from April to August 2015.

I created a large Cochineal bug and added the white fuzz balls with paint and beads on the nopal pads. String needles on the pads hurt less when handling the work. As always it wouldn't be my work without buttons hand painted and lots of hand stitches. I will share the other two works and their stories later. 

Detail Quest For Red.

Website, book cover, and a new community oh my!

Finally the website is live and I am adding new work often. Please take a minute to check it out and share with others. I also welcome any suggestions or ideas of what to add.
http://www.sabrinazarco.com

 It is beloved community that make things move forward. This adventure continues and I am honored by those who have crossed my path. I am happy to announce that my artwork on Bayard Rustin (pictured below) will be the cover of a new book by Dr. Nicole Hirschfelder in Germany. Published by Universitaetsverlad Winter Heidelberg and will be available in hardcover and ebook this winter. Thank you Nicole for selecting my work now in the collection of Mandy Carter. We look forward to seeing the publication soon.

I am also feeling thankful for finding the most amazing, eclectic, creative, intelligent, diverse, interesting, and fun women in New Mexico. I have been welcomed into their community and I am thankful to begin this new journey with all of you. I look forward to sharing and learning as we exchange experiences and creative energy. 

Having a community is so important, and one that accepts all of who you are is even more essential for the spirit. I spend a lot of time alone and in studio and I am thankful for that time.  However community feeds the spirit in ways nothing else can do. Seek out community that accepts and respects you, all of you. Its good medicine.

For Paul C. Gorski in love and solidarity

 For many of us doing cultural work, social justice work, movement work, community education and organizing we know we walk in the footsteps of those that came before us. And if we do our work well we pave new paths for those that follow. I am honored to share with you a very special work for a very special brother friend Paul C. Gorski.
If you do not know about this gentle amazing man take some time to explore and share his work. For starters go here http://www.edchange.org/who.html

Several years ago I coordinated a conference and asked him if he would share his wisdom. On a small budget he generously donated more than we could expect and touched many lives the three days we spent together. Especially mine. I had gown weary doing the work each year not feeling appreciated or seeing any kind of movement in the community. Sometimes change work moves slower than a snail's pace.Thats when Paul shared in his gentle way that things were moving and I was working in the right direction. He gave me insight to his life and challenges in only the way another warrior in the journey can do. I thank you for my renewed spirit and vision to move forward with my work.

We spoke many times and unknowingly we had deep connections and intersections to those that inspired us to do the work. I was honored he shared this wonderful woman with me, his Grandmother.

As a thank you for time energy and giving of his spirit I created this work in memory of his inspiration. May this art gift serve to remind you Paul that you are never alone in this work. We carry those that came before with us on this journey as we walk along side one another and make fierce new paths for those that follow. You inspire me and excite me and am blessed to call you inspiration, friend, and brother. I love you.

This is repurposed fabric and buttons, hand embriodery, photo image transfer, and inktense pencils.
© Sabrina Zarco 2014

Cool weather, creative energy, and the outdoors!

Cooler weather often brings more time outdoors especially attending farmers markets and festivals. Being in community with other artists, those who appreciate art and all kinds of creative folks makes for a great afternoon.There is always something to learn, share, explore, and experience. I had so much fun and exchanged great stories and energy at the last festival. I am excited for this Sunday's event. If you are in the Albuquerque area stop by and say hi! See the below for the details.

This festival is so close to Dia de los Muertos I decided to make a few sugar skull boxes to add to the mix. My booth will showcase these beauties, my one of a kind art scarfs, small Guadalupe mixed media wall hangings, and various ornaments and other mixed media wall hangings. I will be sure to take pictures of the booth to share.

Hope your travels take you outdoors to feel the sun, breathe the crisp fall air, and share a story and laugh with someone.

Final day of  three days of vending art at the Southwest Conference on Disability.

I feel like I just left the most unique amazing community. People helping people, showing love and honest concern, patience and understanding. Openly assisting others and giving gifts some tangible to one another. I have never been in a place where everyone accepted everyone for all of who they are and demonstrated such love and respect.

I sat with elders, folks with spinal cord injuries, cerebral palsy, brain injury, all kinds of mental illness, PTSD, and Autism. Not to mention the various spiritual beliefs and nationalities and life experiences. All of us artists human beings first showing human kindness. Each of us giving to one another with out being asked just seeing where we could step in and lift someone up both physically and spiritually. We all gave and received only taking what we needed. Then passing on the love to someone else.

I am honored to be a part of this unconditional family where you can let it all out and its ok. In fact you are supported and encouraged to do so. I cant say enough about all the blessings, gifts, resources and new family members to visit. All I can say is that real true unconditional love is most powerful. Thank you for this experience that has changed my life direction and lifted my weary spirit. I look forward to the new journey we have begun. 

Oh and yes I sold some art, traded some, received some as gifts and bought a bit. Mostly we as a community of artists who respected each others journey created an art experience using people as our medium and it was amazing!

Thank you to those of you who purchased my art and stopped to share your story. Also thank you to those who work as advocates and activists for marginalized communities. Take care of yourself and I send you love, peace, and I stand in solidarity with your work.
Thank you, Gracias, Tlazocamati