User:Yaniaalvarez/sandbox

Rafa Esparza born 1981.. He is a child of immigrant parents born and raised in Durango, Mexico who then decided to migrate to the United States in the 1970's. He currently works in Los Angeles and has worked in a variety of places. He has done sculptures, drawings, painted and performed. Early Life and Education Rafa Esparza was born In Pasadena, who grew up in a Mexican household. He attended East Los Angeles before earning a degree in art from UCLA. Rafa started his career off as a visual arts painter, he was having a difficult time connecting to and not being able to relate to, "old master" painting and drawings he studied as an undergraduate. Old Master as in any painter in Europe who worked before the 1800's. Start of Career Rafa Esparza started a project which was inspired by his father where he made hand made adobe bricks in 2014. The same technique that Ramon, his father used when he first build their home in Durango, Mexico. The doe was mixed with first dirt and manure, mixed with water then a straw is scattered on top and stomped in by foot. For many people adobe might seem like not a great project but to Rafa. Esparza it means a lot, his installations not only speak about others story but his families as well Accomplishment De la calle show was performed in Santee Alley, the show was not but on any media but rather it was passed around and spread only by word. This show was specially not for a big crowd in an art museum but rather was for working-class Latinx. Many vendors had front row seats to the show that was being put on. The performers were bold and clearly expressing their identity, honored the grind of honesty, but most importantly immigrant labor. The garments that were used during the show are now sitting in mannequins. This show was perfectly executed, it shows people’s color, religious minorities, and LGBTQ people that are presented through art.