Rachel-Anne Palacios

www.myspace.com/devikas_palacios
www.flickr.com/photos/devikaspalacio/sets/
www.vivafrida.com

Saint Joseph Notre Dame Alum
Raises Cultural Awareness Through Her Artwork

Rachel-Anne Palacios '92 has made a name for herself in the Bay Area art world. A self-taught, multicultural artist her pieces reflect the respect she has for culture, religion, traditional values, elders, and the cycle of life and death. Palacios grew up amongst Oakland's cultural diversity in a household headed by her mother and grandmother. Her
grandmother, Nana Rose, was a mentor, teacher, coach, and friend.

"I hope to continue creating a positive focal point for our community by heightening respect for cultural awareness and our elders," said Palacios. "By providing an alternative learning environment, I believe that we can learn about each other's culture and reconnect with our own. While doing this we can re-establish family values, create unity
and come together in harmony."

Palacios is part of the Oakland Artisan Marketplace and sells her work at the Jack London Square farmer's market on Sundays. Her booth, called Devika's Palacio (Little Goddess's Palace), is decorated with multicolored Mexican blankets and ornate fabrics and mats. Offerings include handcrafted necklaces, earrings, bracelets, decoupaged and
embellished light-switch covers, picture frames, magnets, belt buckles, and nichos (shrines or spirit houses).

Much of Palacios' work pays homage to the dead. She is sought-out as an artist and teacher of Dia de los Muertos (Day of the Dead)—a national Mexican holiday celebrated on Nov. 2. Her interest in this holiday grew from her personal experiences. At an early age, one of her
classmates died. Then in high school, her boyfriend, Sal
Martinez '93, was killed.

In her search of healing, Palacios researched a variety of cultural beliefs about death. Dia de los Muertos helped her to find that healing path. And in 2004 and 2005, Palacios was selected to be the lead artist for the Oakland Museum's annual Dia de los Muertos exhibition.

In addition to her artwork, she was a panelist for the Oakland Cultural Arts Funding Program in 2003 and 2004. This year she is the acting assistant for the City of Oakland's Cultural Funding Program and is also still an active member of the Dia de los Muertos Committee at the
Oakland Museum, and exhibit guide coordinator for the annual Dia de Los Muertos exhibition.

Sally Ann Rodriguez

www.sallyannrodriguez.com
www.myspace.com/fortunaluz
www.vivafrida.com

"The artistic creations of Sally Ann Rodriguez are pure honesty and raw passion expressed in deep yet vivid color. It has a sweet quiteness to it, yet is sophisticated and speaks volumes of the knowledge gained through the life experiences of this powerhouse Renaissance woman." - Rosemary Pritzker, NYC Photographer

Do Art or Die !!! - Viva la Revolucion !!!! - Viva la Raza !!!

Long live the revolution of art, for it is this very expression, this endeavor that transcends all limitations, nationalities, and is the true emancipation of the soul. The closest we can get to God and the next best thing to nature. I work to live and I live to work, and it has been in this vein that the celebration of life, the lust for her, and all things beautiful find voice. Creativity is the means to commune and embrace which therefore is the necessity of art. Without the freedom to express what naturally transpires in each of us we are forever groping for a commonality.

I live my work because I believe in the healing power of creativity. My faith in color and beauty is the vessel in which I travel. I, simply a channel of experience, as we all are, and thus capable of transcendence. There is no other reason for the act of creativity, the sheer joy it offers in the excitement and collaboration with others. The power of beauty is great, and I am thankful to feel and fight, and believe that the simple act of putting color to canvas, harmony to sound, form to emotion, or dance to intuition is the key to peace, the greatness of a country, the true emancipation and journey to all things humanitarian.

This is what I know and believe.

Sally Ann Rodriguez is a California native, born and raised in the Bay Area. She began painting while living in Missoula, Montana and is self-taught. She currently resides in Martinez, CA.

Maria Sanchez

www.sandiafria.com
www.myspace.com/sandiafria
www.vivafrida.com
www.artbylatinaartists.com


SFWeekly....."Maria Sanchez, whose lush images convey the sensual interplay of food, music, language, and ritual. Sanchez's acrylic paintings are heavily textured, vibrant, and crudely rendered, capturing the whimsical nature of her folk art influences."

Nancy M..."Her artwork is more than visual decoration, it is a source of joy that brings happiness to me, my family, and everyone who visits. She has a knack for capturing the beauty of everyday life in a style that is inviting and unintimidating. You FEEL her artwork as much as you see it."

****************

"Before I walked, spoke or even tasted life, I saw color. I continue to view the world with all of it's tragedies, wars, peace and celebrations in color and recognize that the world we live in, is not just black and white."

For the last 15 years my paintings have been hidden, only on display to family and friends. I have learned that to grow as an artist I have to share them and give them wings. I am mostly a self-taught artist, although I am now persuing a formal education in Fine Art at the Academy of Art in San Francisco.

I was born in San Salvador, El Salvador and raised in Redwood City, CA. I married into the Mexican and Puerto Rican culture and have come to learn, love and enjoy all of the different music, food and celebrations that are now a part of my life. The language, art and history, are all things that play a major role in my work.

I have found that I paint in "Spanish". It was my first language in the spoken world and continues to be the language of my soul when I sit down to paint.

My paintings are images taken from my life's present and past memories. They are simple and sometimes familiar expressions of color and form, yet they all tell a story. Some are silly, some are spiritual others are natural and they all have healing color. I am especially drawn to the vivid colors in nature, the deep blue of the sky, green grass, orange pumpkins, the red flesh of watermelon. These colors are all reflected in my work. "They are food for the soul."

********************

Maria lives on the San Francisco Peninsula with her husband and 3 children.

She is also an avid art collector and is editor and founder of ArtbyLatinaArtists.com a directory and community of Latina artists, poets, artesanas, designers and performing artists.