On this episode we focus on art as a tool for activism. Our artivists guests show us how identity and place influences their work, their critique of the confines of creatives spaces of the past, and how they are each working to make creatives of color have greater opportunities, mentorship, and liberty to create. Before that, we talk about Latina Equal Pay Day and the Latina wealth gap.

We speak to Julio Salgado, the co-founder of DreamersAdrift and the Migrant Storytelling Manager for The Center for Cultural Power. His status as an undocumented, queer artivist has fueled the contents of his visual art, which depict key individuals and moments of the DREAM Act and the migrant rights movement. Undocumented students, organizers and allies across the country have used Salgado’s artwork to call attention to the migrant rights movement. His work has been displayed at the Oakland Museum, SFMOMA and Smithsonian. Learn more about Julio: juliosalgadoart.com

We also speak to Martha Gonzalez, a Chicana artivista (artist/activist) musician, feminist music theorist and Associate Professor in the Intercollegiate Department of Chicana/o Latina/o Studies at Scripps/Claremont College. Born and raised in Boyle Heights Gonzalez is a MacArthur Fellow (2022), Fulbright Garcia Robles (2007-2008), Ford (2012-2013), Woodrow Wilson Fellow (206-2017) and United States Artist Fellow (2020). Her academic interests have been fueled by her own musicianship as a singer/songwriter and percussionist for Grammy Award (2013) winning band Quetzal. Gonzalez along with her partner Quetzal Flores has been instrumental in catalyzing the transnational dialogue between Chicanx/Latinx communities in the U.S and Jarocho communities in Veracruz, Mexico. In the summer of 2017 Gonzalez’s tarima (stomp box) and zapateado dance shoes were acquired by the National Museum of American History and are on permanent display in the One Nation Many Voices exhibit. Learn more about Quetzal: quetzalela.com

Mentioned on this Episode

Tamarindo is a lighthearted show where hosts Brenda Gonzalez and Ana Sheila Victorino discuss politics, culture, and self-development. Join us as we delve into discussions on race, gender, politics, representation, and life! You can get in touch with us at www.tamarindopodcast.com

Brenda and Ana Sheila are executive producers of Tamarindo podcast with production support by Karina Riveroll of Sonoro Media. Jeff Ricards produced our theme song. If you want to support our work, please rate and review our show here. 

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