Dignidad Rebelde is a graphic arts collaboration between the Oakland-based artists Jesus Barraza and Melanie Cervantes. They recognize that the history of the majority of people worldwide is one of colonialism, genocide, and exploitation, and believe that art can be an empowering reflection of community struggles, dreams, and visions. Their art is grounded in Third World and indigenous movements that build people’s power to transform the conditions of fragmentation, displacement, and loss of culture that result from this history. Following principles of Xicanisma and Zapatismo, they create work that translates people’s stories into art that can be put back into the hands of the communities who inspired it. Representing these movements through visual art means connecting struggles through their work and seeking to inspire solidarity among communities of struggle worldwide. They are committed to advancing the acceptance of people’s art as quality art, and to nurturing a model of art making that is grounded in collaboration with community organizations and other networks of artists. In this spirit of collaboration, they are also members of the Taller Tupac Amaru, the Justseeds Artist Cooperative, and Consejo Gráfico.
Thu December 12th Open 11 AM–5 PM