The latest endeavours.

After my last post back in April, I had a birthday party with a surprise band, video and present. Lots of dancing and such a memorable event.

Then my real birthday came, and we celebrated at Founders brewery, where a poster contest for a local organization was taking place too. I had submitted an image, since it was going to be at the same time and place as my b-day celebration/give-away.



As if all I had received already wasn't enough, my print was selected as the winner piece that night.





This is the final poster with my image.

Birthday print giveaway

Today is my birthday, and the third time I give prints on this day.
I already gave a bunch of them at my party on Saturday, the only thing I ask in return is a note.
Apart from the fun party, food, present, dancing, etc; it's always a joy to read the notes at the end of the day, that makes the whole thing memorable.
This year I created a print that had something to do with my birthday (kind of).
I believe that death is only the end of another cycle, and every year we complete a cycle.
I keep changing the name of this print, but so far I'd like to name it "Death gathering cycles"
If you would like a print, go to my etsy shop and get one.
If you live in Grand Rapids, MI, come to Founders brewery tonight, I'll be there at 7 PM, write a note and get a print!

Why do I give prints on my birthday? I'll write about that tomorrow...

My birthday is coming!

I've been doing this for 3 years now; on my birthday I give prints away to anyone who wants them.
I'm still organizing the whole thing, but I'll give more details soon!

Sembrar es una forma de Resistencia

This is the title of my last exhibit at Fountain St. Church. The work has to do with seeds; the importance of saving, planting, and sharing them, also it the first time in many years that I make colorful and hopeful art, there is no satire or hidden messages this time.

I was in Mexico for my grandma's 90th Birthday

I have had such a hard month, finishing all the artwork for the exhibit at Fountain St. Church, didn’t have time for christmas or new years eve celebrations, or much sleep at all, all because I promised my grandma I’d be here for her birthday, and I’m so glad I came.
I met a lot of family, some of them whom I just didn’t remember and some whom I’ve met for the very first time.
And best of all; it was great to see my Abuela, looking so good and so happy with her 90 years.

Printmaking with blind and visually impaired people

On Saturday we volunteered at the Association for the Blind and visually impaired, I brought some of my plates for people to pirnt them on a press that is basically what we use to make tortillas.

More than what we had to offer to the event was what I got from the experience of working with people for whom the world I take for granted is completelly different. It was a wonderful experience that let me to reevaluate many things that I don't even question or even stop and think about them anymore.


Forcing my self into trying to "see" the things I'm most familiar with, from a non visual perspective was very insightful. Having to describe the paper, it's color, texture and size, the press, its mechanism, the whole process.
Going form a non touch to an absoulutely touch mode was very liberating aftef living in this culture for more than 8 years.

I'm so grateful for the opportunity to learn from this worl I've never had contact with.

In a non visual world all the other senses play a very important role and the common world just seems to slow down, there is no hurry, no pushing around, just stop and listen, touch, sense... and everything I took for granted sudenlly takes a different perspective.


Happy 90th Anniversary!

WMCAT art exhibit

Carving, carving, carving...

I have been doing so many things outside my workshop, that now I need to chain myself up to the carving table and finish all those plates that have been patiently sitting there for months.

Today I have the last summer show at Destination 1111, I'll be at the south building selling my prints and shirts. I'll be there Friday, Saturday and Sunday. For more info on the event visit the blog: http://destination1111.blogspot.com/2008/08/open-studio-hours.html

Save your Ash!

For the past month I've been working with 6 students for the WMEAC's Save your Ash campaign. Our project will bring awareness to the Emerald Ash borer infestation that has killed 20 million ash trees since it arrived in a ship from Asia in 2002.









Our project consists in wrapping trees with a green biodegradable ribbon, and hanging red tags with hand printed images that illustrate the issue.



We have printed a ribbon the size of an entire block, more than 250 water proof tags, and 500 buttons.

To learn more about the "Save your Ash" campaign visit: www.saveyourashgr.org
To learn more about the project and the ArtWorks summer program visit: www.uica.org

This art project is a collaboration of WMEAC and UICA.

My little Red Hydrant business is 1 year old!

One year ago I rode my bike to the City Clerk office in downtown Grand Rapids, and registered my art doing as a business named Red Hydrant Press; after that I got a paper saying that I was from then on an "entity". This paper meant that I was supposed to be more responsible with everything that had to do with my "business" which in my case is my whole life, since my business is art making, and art making is a very personal process, and that still gives me head aches.

After a year I'm still in business, meaning I didn't report red numbers on my IRS return and I still have some money for supplies (only).

But it all really started 8 years ago, when I came from Mexico and started doing prints on a washing machine wringer turned into a press down in my wet and moldy basement.



This is the third and last handmade press, which is the one that I've been using for the past 5 years!

My first week in Mexico

I have to start by saying that although I was born and raised in Mexico city, I hate living in big cities, I can visit for three or five days so right now I'm close to my limit, I need to run to a small town soon. By the way the whole city is under construction, it is a complete chaos.

I rather take the subway and the "micro" than driving, it takes twice as much time, but at least you don't have to worry about agressive drivers or being one yourself. I had promess my mom that I would take her out for dinner, and she has to use a wheelchair, so I had to drive, and now I'm so tired, I feel like I had climbed a mountain.

Durig my first week I visited my old university: Universidad Nacional Autonoma de Mexico, or UNAM, the library building is covered with a mural made of natural stone by Juan O'Gorman, and some of the buildings are decorated with murals by David Alfaro Siqueiros (one of my favorite artists) and Diego Rivera.

The giveaway outcome

I waked up on the day of my birthay and found lots of print requests, print exchanges and lots of happy bithday wishes on my mailbox and my website; and they kept accumulationg during the day!
The whole experience was very insightful, I met a lot of nice people on the cyberspace and other nice people at the bar as well.
I gave me the opportunity to hang out with people I knew, but never had the chance to sit down with and have a conversation; because we haven't had a "reason" to do so in the past.

The best of all was that "thing" I got by giving and sharing, that thing I couldn't have gotten otherwise.

Thanks to all of you who shared your time with me.

Birthday print giveaway

On my birthday I give prints away to remind my self of the importance of keeping my art available to people who can't afford it. It is also a way of giving back and being grateful for all the good things that happened to me during the year; all the good ideas that I have no clue where they came from, all the great people that I met, all the projects that I accomplished, etc.

Maybe nobody will read this blog on my birthday, but if you do, and you'd like to have a piece of my work, then we are both lucky, you can visit my website and claim a print, if you live out of Grand Rapids (the city where I live) then go to the Etsy shop, you would have to pay for the shipping though.

www.redhydrantpress.com
www.redhydrant.etsy.com

International Women's Day Event Canceled

This is a sad notice, after only two events we were told by the Fire Department that we cann't have anymore. The reason: the space is not safe.
For a whole week I was sad, frustrated and even sick, I didn't know if we were even going to be able to keep the space.
As of today, we can keep the space but we can't have any more events until they approve it.
For now, I'm getting ready for the summer art fairs, I'm happy that I still have a place and also because I had such a good time during those two events.

10 000 AñOS DE MAIZ 10 000 YEARS OF CORN

Friday January 4th
6:00 PM to 9:00 PM

Join us for an evening of art, poetry, video and information
that both; celebrates the cultural heritage of corn in Mexico, and provides opportunities for anyone to resist the corporate/government attempt to take over our food systems.

On January 1, 2008 new NAFTA provisions take effect, causing more hunger and displacement for Mexican
farmers.

Sin Maiz no hay Pais!

Red Hydrant Shop
314 Straight SW Door M
Grand Rapids, MI 49504
www.alynnguerra.com

The Red Hydrant Studio is open before the Holidays!

The studio is open on weekends from noon to 5pm.
I'm working on a new big print, come and check out the process.
Also I have shirts, scarves, cards and prints of all sizes framed or unframed.

The studio is located at:

324 Straight Ave SW @ Hemlock st.
Grand Rapids, MI 49504

on the South side of Tanglefoot building Door M

Also, if you come on Saturday, you can check out the Tanglefoot studio on the other side of the buliding.

After Death... what's to come?

We had so much fur at the Dead End Show! I was happy, amazed, grateful, etc to see so many people showing up during both days.
The studio is in a warehouse buliding on the west side of the city, it is in the middle of two scrap metal places and far from any main street or intersection, on top of that we are on the third floor. Despite all that, people were able to find their way to our space!

I believe it's better to have friends than money, and this time I'm willing to carve it on a tree, well maybe on a piece of wood. We were able to have such good music thanks to all of our musician friends. Whe had lots of art thanks to all of our artistic friends, and lots of people thanks to all of our art loving freinds.

And what's next? well, because this was our first event ever, it was also going to set the gudelines for future projects, and that's where we are right now, planing for the rest of the year. I'm consideriing teaching some printmaking classes for children and adults, maybe have some days a mont where I'd welcome printmakers to work on a group project, etc...

The next big sale will be at the UICA's Holiday Artists Market www.uica.org November 31 and December 1st.

THE STUDIO WILL BE OPEN TO THE PUBLIC DURING THE MONTH OF NOVEMBER AND ON SUNDAYS IN DECEMBER.
folow this link for more details http://ical.mac.com/alynnguerra/Events
or visit my website http://www.alynnguerra.com

If you have ideas, want to do a project, or just want to say hi and have a glass of wine (or water, that's fine too), please visit our studio, we would be happy to have you over.

Dia de los Muertos

http://www.alynnguerra.com

DAY OF THE DEAD ART SALE
This will be our studio’s grand opening event.

In Mexico El Dia de los Muertos is one of the most important events of the year, it is the time when you welcome back the souls of the departed and have a big party for them, the belief is that they will make a long trip to be part of the celebration and they don’t want to see tears or sorrow, they want us to be happy to have them back (at least for a night).
For many years I have helped organize several Day of the Dead events in Grand Rapids, now for the first time I’m having my own event.
And what will this be?
The ofrenda a big part of the celebration
Skull painting
Traditional Bread

And most important:
Day of the Dead related art by artists:
Carlos Aceves, Hugo Claudin, Alynn Guerra, Rebecca Rodriguez, Reb Roberts & Carmella Loftis, Sarah Scott-Brandt, Jeff smith and Elisabeth Vedrin

The place:
Red Hydrant Studio
324 Straight SW and Hemlock
Door M
Grand Rapids MI 49504
616 808 0092

Construction Season - May

Hnaging in the Air

This print is the black and white version of a painting. I don't think it need an explanation so, I will just describe the piece itself. I carved the piece on a 5x5 " linoleum plate and then printed it on Amate paper.
Amate is a mexican tree from where the paper is made by pounding its inner bark into an even sheet of "paper", the aztecs were the first to use this paper to create their codices.
I wish I could use this paper more often, but it is difficult to find and also expensive.



Drying and pressing the prints is the last step of the printmaking process.


This is how the plate looks when I'm carving it, and this is also why I don't sell drawings...

More war related art...

Trees, trees...

This is a small version of the piece I'm donating to the Progressive Women’s Alliance event: “Strong Voices in Art, Music and Politics”

The date is Wednesday April 25th from 6-10pm. - San Chez Restaurant 38 West Fulton Grand Rapids. Tickets are $30 adult or $20 student www.progressivewomensalliance.org

4th Anniversary of the War

Desire
A man found Aladin's lamp lying around. Since he was a big reader, the man recognized it and rubbed it right away. The genie appeared, bowed deeply, and said: "At your service, master. Your wish is my command. But there will be only one wish"
Since he was a good boy, the man said, "I wish for my dead mother to be brought back."
The genie made a face. "I'm sorry, master, but that wish is impossible. Make another."
Since he was a nice guy, the man said, "I wish the world would stop spending money to kill people
The genie swallowed. "Uhh... What did you say your mother's name was?"
(Upsidedown) Eduardo Galeano

El deseo
Un hombre encontró la lámpara de Aladino tirada por ahí. Como era un buen lector, el hombre la reconoció y la frotó. El genio apareció, hizo una reverencia, se ofreció:
--Estoy a su servicio, amo. Pídame un deseo, y será cumplido. Pero ha de ser un solo deseo.
Como era un buen hijo, el hombre pidió:
--Deseo que resucites a mi madre muerta.
El genio hizo una mueca:
--Lo lamento, amo, pero es un deseo imposible. Pídame otro.
Como era un buen tipo, el hombre pidió:
--Deseo que el mundo no siga gastando dinero en matar gente.
El genio tragó saliva:
--Este... ¿Cómo dijo que se llamaba su mamá?

(Patas arriba. La escuela del mundo al revés). Eduardo Galeano

Dia de los Muertos at the Public Library

More construction season

within the system

recycle

For some of us is a necessity to give "trash" a second chance.

One more "heaven and hell" print

ArtWorks' Mural Project

http://www.artworksgr.org
http://www.uica.org
Drew, Brandon, Gaby, BJ, Jossie, Steve, Jeanne, Brent, Rachel, Gretchen, Alynn and Beki.
The finished mural.

The final sketch, this is how the mural was supposed to look like.

Koyokuikatl

Koyokuykatl era el otro nombre de Carlos Cortez; un artista grafico chicano al cual decidi conocer sin tomar en cuenta que la vida pasa mas rapido que el tiempo. Este grabado es un homenaje a un artista cuya obra refleja su vida y sus ideales.

Dead End

Last year Division ST was closed for construction for almost a year. This is how I felt every time I needed to bike near Downtown.
This print was auctioned yesterday at the Grandville Academy for the Arts, I'm glad somebody found it funny.

Mural at Ada Vista Elementary

This mural is at Ada Vista elementary school, and is about the creation story according to the aztecs. The story is called "The fifht sun".

Transgenicos

These prints are about our past and current relationship with our food, especially our Corn.
Estos grabados los hice cuando me di cuenta de lo que habian hecho con nuestra comida, principalmente nuestro Maiz.

Tapete

Public Art: "Tapete"

This piece was created with the collaboration of 5 Mexican local artists at Calder Plaza in Grand Rapids MI. We were concerned with the situation at the US- Mexico border, where hundreds of people have died in search for a better life.
Those who don't die physically at the border, die emotionally at the factory; becoming just an extension of a bigger machine.
Esta pieza la creamos 5 artistas mexicanos en Calder Plaza, Grand Rapids MI. Queriamos hacer publica nuestra preocupacion respecto a la situacion en la frontera de Mexico-EEUU donde cientos de personas habian muerto tratando de cruzarla.
Pero aquellos que no mueren fisicamente en la fruntera, lo hacen emocionalmente en la fabrica al convertirse en una extension mas de la maquinaria.

What prevents us from that emotional death are our traditions, and our culture; where the language plays an important function in the creation of our identity.
Lo unico que nos salva de la muerte emocional son nuestras tradiciones y nuestra cultura; en la cual nuestro lenguaje tiene un papel fundamental en la creacion de nuestra identidad.
This piece was created to say all that.
We used traditional symbols, colors and grains (corn and beans)
Esta pieza la creamos con todo eso en mente, utilizamos simbolos , colores y semillas tradicionales (frijoles y maiz)

hydrants

This was the image on my birthday invitation. There are no analogies, I just like hydrants.

the finished print

the whole process...

First, I decided the order and the color of the plates. I did the first image with colored paper, and then I made xerox copies. (Note: the orientation of the drawing on the copy machine changed the result)
Primero: decidir el ordern y el color de las placas, la primera imagen la hice con papel de colores y luego le saque varias copias. (Nota: la orientacion de la imagen en la copiedora cambia el resultado)

Next: I picked the color that had more detail; in this case is the blue one, and carved that plate first so it can be used as key plate.

Siguiente paso: Elegi el color que tuviera mas detalles; en este caso el azul, y escarve la placa para usarla como llave.

Once it was finished, I inked the plate and transfer the ink to an acetate and then to the other two plates. Una vez terminada, laentinte y transferi la tinta a un acetato y despues este a las otras dos placas.

First plate; I inked and printed the orange cones first, then I wiped off the orange ink and inked and printed the yellow.

Primera placa; primero entinte e imprimi los conos anaranjados, despues limpie la placa y entinte e imprimi el amarillo.

Second plate; the paper was left on the press to prevent it from moving out of the registration marks.

Segunda placa; deje el papel bajo el rodillo de la prensa para evitar que se moviera de las marcas de registro.

Last plate

Ultima placa

Last step: cleaning up.

Ultimo paso: limpiar.

construction season

There are two stories for this print.

1 The joke; there is a saying here in Michigan about the weather. "We only heve two seasons; winter and construction". The most coloful season is Fall, and what best represent construction are orange cones.

2 The paradox; construction of roads means that in the future we will have acces to places that were far away or too difficult reach without a car. It also means that those places are going to get destroyed in the process.

Alynn Guerra