EDUCATION
B.F.A.: School of the Art Institute of Chicago. Credits toward Bachelor of Arts Degree. Major: Painting and Drawing
QUALIFICATIONS
Create and manage music and art initiatives for children and adults
Manage and direct the efforts of a diverse staff
Design, develop, and evaluate arts and/or music programs
Lead and follow through on a project from conceptualization to implementation
AREAS OF EXPERTISE IN ART AND MUSIC
Muralist and visual artist. Develop holistic educational model for youth that included music, visual arts, physical fitness, health and safety, self-esteem and character building initiatives, computer skills, and tutoring.
Professional Artist and Musician. Compose original music and lyrics. Guitarist, Percussionist, Vocalist.
PROFESSIONAL AND TECHNICAL SKILLS
Media: Acrylic, Encaustic, Wood work, Oil, Oil Sticks, Gouache, Water Color, Color Pencil, Charcoal, Pen and Ink, Clay
Digital Media: Adobe Photoshop, Adobe Illustrator
Skills: Logo Design, Lettering and Layout, Murals, Specialty Painting/Faux Finishes
Consultant/Training: Art consultant to community agencies. Developed training courses for art tour guides. Taught classes in visual, literary, painting and drawing.
Management: Oversaw several community-based programs. Supervised undergraduate and graduate students in need of experiential credits for degree completion. Experience teaching diverse groups of multi-age levels (ages 5 to adult). Advocacy. Media exposure.
Fundraising: Successful proposal writer. Responsible for coordinating fundraising events.
Program Development: Co-developed original concept for IHOBF/Washburn InSTRUMents Guitar Initiative for Chicago schools. Program was used as model for national initiative, Make An Impression. Co-developed Each One Teach One, community program to teach students artistic skills. Facilitated Aboriginal Artist residency.
EMPLOYMENT
SGA Youth and Family Services/ Daniel Boone Community School Partnership, IL, 2011-2012
ONE / Daniel Boone Community School Partnership, IL, 2009-2011
After School Matters, Chicago, IL. Instructor, 2007-2009
International House of Blues Foundation, Chicago, IL. Program Coordinator, 1998- 2004
Erie Neighborhood House, Chicago, IL. School-Age Worker/ After School Programming, 1993-1998
School of the Art Institute of Chicago, Chicago, IL. Continuing Studies Department, Community based programming, 1994- 1997
Ruiz Belvis, Chicago, IL. Coordinator of the Art Programming, 1992-1993
SPECIAL SKILLS
Vocalist, songwriter, composer, percussionist, guitarist, painting, drawing, sculpture, murals, printmaking, sports (coaching and participating).
TEACHING EXPERIENCE IN VISUAL ARTS AND MUSIC
2015 Stage Design, Goethe Elementary, Chicago
2011-12 Mural Painting & Introduction to Painting, Boone Elementary, Chicago
2011-12 Introduction to Painting, Boone Elementary, Chicago
2009-10 Beginning Painting and Drawing, Marwen, Chicago
2009 Mural Painting, Schurz High School, Chicago
2008 Mural Painting, Schurz High School, Chicago
2007 Painting and Drawing, Schurz High School, Chicago
2005-06 Beginning Guitar, Private Lessons-Chicago, Las Vegas
1996 Advanced and Beginning Drawing, Erie Neighborhood House, Chicago, through SAIC-Community Program
1995 Drawing and Painting, Erie Neighborhood House-Chicago, through SAIC-Community Program
1992 Mural Painting, Youth Service Project, CPAG Chicago
STUDENT WORKSHOPS
2004 IHOBF-Tilton Community Arts Partnership
2003 CPS Office of Language & Cultural Education Workshop
2002 Each One Teach One I with Professional Artist, Anna Millea
2002 Using Found Objects, New Orleans
2001 Kodak Capturing the Blues in Black and White, (stories through photographs) 2001 Each One Teach One II with Professional Artist, Anna Millea
1999 Inner-City Games, Las Vegas, Intergenerational art project
1999 House of Blues-Orlando Folk Art Festival
TEACHER WORKSHOPS
2007 Tilton School
2002 Nettelhorst Elementary School
2000 District 144 Teachers and Administrators
PROFESSIONAL MUSIC ACHIEVEMENTS
Featured Venues: House of Blues – Chicago, City Winery - Chicago, Thalia Hall – Chicago, Mayne Stage - Chicago, Martyrs – Chicago, Goose Island – Chicago, Schubas – Chicago, Rumba – Chicago, Mr. Brown’s – Chicago, Caravan, Residency – Chicago, Carnavale - Chicago, Lilly’s, Times Square – NY, Port-O Lounge – Jersey City, Artisan Hotel, Residency – Las Vegas, Café Babareeba – Las Vegas, MACLA, San Jose, CA, San Jose State University, San Jose, CA, Santa Clara University, Santa Clara, CA
Festivals: Frontwoman Fest, Logan Square Arts Festival, Navy Pier Jazz Festival, Andersonville Midsommer Fest, Glenwood Arts Fest, Backlot Bash
Highlights include:
Song, “Jugo de Tomate” featured on the soundtrack for movie "Latin Dragon"
Songs, " Ojos Cafe" and "Yo Te Vi" featured in "Brujos" web series
Musician-in-Residence at MACLA (Movimiento de Arte y Cultura Latino Americana)
Opened for Lizz Wright
Opened for Ryley Walker
Opened for Alfonso Ponticelli
Opened for Wynonna Judd, House of Blues-Chicago
Winner of Local and Midwest Competition OTI International
THEATER EXPERIENCE
2007 Something’s Afoot, Spots Operator, Drury Lane, Oakbrook Terrace
2007 Superman, Spots Operator, Drury Lane, Oakbrook Terrace
EXHIBITIONS
Humboldt Park Boathouse Gallery, 2018 "Warrior Rising: Works from Caged Rooster, Gestalt and Warrior Series: - Chicago
Paseo Boricua Gallery, 2017 "Gestalt Series: The Inner Workings of Secrets" - Chicago
Cermak Center, 2015 Group Exhibit, Flatlands Studio - Chicago
Throop Studios, 2015 “Personal Project” – Chicago
ARC Gallery, 2014 “Fractured Yet Rising” – Chicago
Awakenings Gallery, 2014 “Freak Show: Trauma on Display" - Chicago
Defibrillator Gallery, 2014 “Personal Project” – Chicago
Zhou B Arts Center, 2013 “Centerline” - Chicago
Defibrillator Gallery, 2013 “Personal Project” – Chicago
Defibrillator Gallery, 2012 “Personal Project” – Chicago
Elastic Arts, 2010 “Sin Verguenza” – Chicago
Joie De Vine, 2010 “One Woman Show” – Chicago
University Gallery, Chicago State University, 2009 “Woman on Fire” – Chicago
Hyde Park Art Center, 2009 “The Exchange” – Chicago
The Silver Room, 2009 “One Woman Show” – Chicago
Elastic Arts Center, 2009 “Layers: A Series” – Chicago
Victory Gardens Theatre, 2009, Urban Art Show – Chicago
Noble Street Gallery, 1998 – Chicago
North Western Settlement House- 1995, “46 Mujeres De Pelo En Pecho: 46 Women of Courage” – Chicago
Elmhurst College- 1995, “Nopalitor, Tostones, y Café” – Chicago
North Western Settlement- 1995, “Two Generations: A Visual Dialogue” – Chicago
School of the Art Institute of Chicago- 1994, FYP Exhibition – Chicago
Ruiz Belvis Cultural Center- 1993, Coyote Festival – Chicago
DePaul University- 1991, Self Portraits, masks/drawings – Chicago
ARC Gallery- 1991, Self Portraits, masks/drawings – Chicago
Fiesta Del Sol- 1991, Taller Mexicano de Grabado Exhibit – Chicago
Mexican Fine Arts Museum- 1991- Chicago
“5th Annual Day of the Dead Exhibition” – Chicago
Museum of Science and Industry- 1990 Hispanic Festival of the Arts – Chicago
South Shore Cultural Center- 1989 – Chicago
SELECTED MURALS
2017 Logan Square Mural, CPAG/Alderman Solis, Chicago, Collaboration with Sam Kirk
2017 Herencia, Las Puertas de Paseo Boricua Project, Chicago
2016 Weaving Cultures, 30’x12’, CPAG/Alderman Solis, Chicago, Collaboration with Sam Kirk
2014 Youth Alive, 12’x25’, Village YMCA Metro Chicago
2010 Restoration/ New Design- Hyde Park Mural, 225’x12’, Bernard Williams, CPAG, Chicago
2010 Restoration: Es Tiempo De Recordar, 200’x12’, Archi-treasures, Chicago
2009 Take a Stand, 20’ x 60’, Chicago
2009 6 Murals on Arts and Academics, Six 8’ x 4’ panels, Johnson Elementary School, Chicago
2008 Take Flight, 3’x50’, Schurz High School, Chicago- ASM
2006 Las Vegas Cultural Center, 10’x20’, Public Participation, Las Vegas, NV- 2006
2004 RCCC in UIC- 2004
1994 The Erie Community, 8’x10’, Chicago for Erie Community Health Center
1992 Es Tiempo De Recordar, 2 walls approximately 12’x100’, Wabansia/Pulaski- Chicago, for YSP, with Marcus Akinlana & Rolf Mueller, 15 students ages 14-16
1992 Honor Boricua, 30'x20', Evergreen and Rockwell Streets, Chicago, for LUCHA, with Hector Duarte.
1992 Santa Fe, Santa Fe Restaurant, Approximately 20’x40’, Sandwich, IL – 1992, collaborated with Hector Duarte
1992 La Ronda Del Saber, 12'x40', Luis Muñoz Marin Primary Center, Chicago with Hector Duarte
1991 Mosaics, Jose Clemente Orozco School-Chicago, Mosaic Design, with Francisco Mendoza
1990 Chic-Chac, 8'x14', mosaic, Rudy Lozano Library, Chicago; with Cynthia Weis and Hector Duarte
1990 Dreams and Realities of the Americas, 9'x14', Inter-American Magnet School, Chicago, with Hector Duarte
1989 Roots of Liberation De Las Americas, 35’x14, Benito Juarez High School, Chicago, with Gamaliel Ramirez, Hector Duarte, Aurelio Diaz, & Roberto Valadez
1989 Garden of the Louve, Jose Clemente Orozco
VISITING ARTIST RESIDENCIES:
University of Illinois at Chicago (Social Pollinators), Chicago, IL, 2016
Passive House, Loveland, CO, 2016
MACLA, San Jose, CA 2016
Chicago State University, Chicago, 2009
Roosevelt University, Chicago, 2009
House of Blues, Last Vegas, NV, 2006
House of Blues, Las Vegas, NV 2000
California State University, Long Beach, 1995
University of Illinois, Champaign Urbana, 1992
School of the Art Institute, Chicago, 1991
Northwestern University, Chicago, 1991
Sacred Heart, Chicago, 1989
Jose Clemente Orozco, 1989
PUBLICATIONS, INTERVIEWS & DOCUMENTARIES:
Interview, Featured guest, "This is What Chicago Sounds Like", Vocalo (WBEZ) -Chicago 2018
Interview, Logan Square Mural Unveiling, Chicago Tribune - Chicago 2017
Interview, Featured guest, "The Ponderers", Lumpen Radio - Chicago 2016
Interview, Featured guest, "Vida Mujer", Univision Chicago - Chicago 2016
Interview, Featured guest, "Despierta Con Zoe", Univision Chicago - Chicago 2016
Featured Artist, Lunch Ticket, Antioch University-Los Angeles, 2012 Article on Tres Colony, Gozamos - Chicago 2010
Interview, Chicago Artist Coalition - Chicago 2009
Interview, Featured in Nuestra Imagen Magazine - Chicago 2005
TV Coqui, Workshop on “What Parents Can Do at Home with Children” and slide show of artwork, May 1997 Interview, Exito!, Chicago Tribune, October 1993
Article on murals, Chicago Tribune, Oct 1992
Article on ARC workshop, Chicago Tribune, May 1991
Documentary, Channel Seven with Bill Campbell, 1990
“New Generations of Latino Artist”, Film by Susan Dobinski, 1989
“Pintura Magica”, Video Documentary by Javier Vargas, 1989
WOJO, Radio Interview, 1989
“Dia De Los Muertos”, Mexican Fine Arts Museum video, 1988 Documentary on Young Muralist, 1988
BOARD MEMBER Logan Square Chamber of Arts
REFERENCES:
Upon Request