INTRODUCING THE 2018 OFFICIAL ZOZOBRA ARTISTS!

By The Santa Fe Kiwanis

Get ready to groove with Zozobra! No peace symbol could ever tame Old Man Gloom, but this year’s Official Zozobra T-shirts and Posters are the grooviest ever! The Santa Fe Kiwanis Club is psyched to announce this year’s Official Zozobra Artists, who have captured the old grouch in his most colorful 1960s glory!

The ongoing Zozobra Decades Project, begun in 2014, is a ten year journey through each decade of Zozobra’s history leading up to his 100th anniversary in 2024. Each year, designs for Zozobra match an individual era of his life, and since 2018 is Year Five of the Decades Project, the Burning of Zozobra reflects the flower-power 1960s. The 2018 Official Zozobra artists were encouraged to include the fun feeling of the 60s in their artwork––they got the message and then some!

MEET THE ARTISTS AT ZOZOFEST!

You’re invited to join us and mingle with the artists at the 6th Annual ZozoFest and Zozobra Art Exhibit at Santa Fe Place Mall in the former Sports Authority building, located on the far western end of the Mall, across from Applebee’s.

ZozoFest opens on Friday, August 24:

5 pm Sponsor-only Private Viewing

6-9 pm Public Preview

7 pm Visit from the 2018 Zozobra Gloomies

Saturday, August. 25:

10 am-6pm Back to School Bash

10 am ZozoFest opens with DJ Badcat

12 pm Storytelling by Jordan Wax

1 pm Aspen Santa Fe Ballet Folklorico and Flamenco Dancers

2 pm Meet the 2018 Fiesta Royalty

2:30 pm Andrew Lovato reads from his book, “Elvis Romero and Fiesta de Santa Fe”

4 pm Magic by Monte Davidson

5 pm Folkloric Dance by Baile Ilusion

6 pm Live Music from Sol Fire

Sunday, August 26, 2018:

12-4pm ZozoFest continues with DJ Sin

Last chance Zozobra Art Exhibit

Amy Córdova, 2018 Official Zozobra Poster Artist

A two-time recipient of the American Libraries Association’s prestigious Pura Belpre National Honors Award twice for exceptional illustration, Amy is an artist, arts educator, author and a nationally-recognized children’s book illustrator and has illustrated more than twenty-four children’s books, with five titles authored by New Mexico’s literary treasure, Rudolfo Anaya. Córdova has displayed her delightful paintings ripe with brilliant, saturated color, in numerous exhibitions, museums, and galleries, across the U.S., for over thirty years.

A descendent of a family who has resided in Northern New Mexico since the seventeenth century, Córdova holds great love for the landscape, history, cultures and traditions of New Mexico, including the ever-cantankerous Zozobra!

David DiJanni, 2018 Official Zozobra T-Shirt Artist

Born and raised in Santa Fe, David Di Janni’s interest in drawing and painting began at an early age. His passion for art and his creativity led him to a career in Graphic Design. David studied Fine Art at Fort Lewis College and The Art Institute of Colorado, where he received his Bachelor of Arts in Graphic Design.

David’s success has inspired him to open his own online store daviddijanni.com with a host of products featuring his artwork.

Of his inspired Zozobra design he says, “I was really excited to design something for the 1960s themed Zozobra as I knew the sixties were one of the most significant and inspirational decades in 20th-century art. When I think of art from the sixties, I think of the psychedelic Fillmore Auditorium posters and their elaborately ornate lettering. I just wanted to capture that style of art.”

Jose Ruvalcaba Rascon, 2018 Official Student Zozobra Poster Artist

The 2018 Children’s Official Zozobra Poster was designed by Jose Rubalcava Rascon, a 14-year-old Santa Fe artist. About his winning drawing, Jose says that “I drew the picture because at the time it was the only thing interesting to do. My father is an artist, and he can draw well. I sometimes like to draw. It is a good outlet for me. Drawing Zozobra and winning was a surprise and an accomplishment that I didn’t expect. In drawing Zozobra, it came as a challenge, and it helped me to relax. Zozobra is made of gloom, and I see him as a way to release my own gloom. It was a random thing for me to do, and I am happy.”

Marcos Martinez, 2018 Official Zozobra Student T-Shirt Artist

The 2018 Official Zozobra Student T-shirt was designed by 10-year-old Marcos Martinez. Marcos Martinez is an Honor Roll Student who attends Piñon Elementary School When he grows up, Marcos wants to become a Dentist or Pro Athlete. He is an orange belt with Jeff Speakman’s Kenpo 5.0 and plays baseball in Espanola for the Braves. Marcos enjoys fishing, hunting, riding his ATV, watching and playing basketball and football, playing on his iPad, and most of all he loves spending time with his family.

Marcos resides half time in Española with his father Nicholas and wife Alecia, and his sister Aveaha, and in Santa Fe with his mom Jessica and husband Phillip, and sisters Rayna and Candace and his brother Phillip. While Marcos has never watched Zozobra live, he’s fascinated with the idea. At age 4, he was part of a team that stuffed Zozobra, and he has seen him assembled at Santa Fe Place Mall. He enjoys seeing the fireworks, music, and different outfits Zozobra wears on YouTube. About his drawing, he says, “My picture represents love and peace. I used rainbow colors due to Zozobra being 60s theme.

 And check out this WOW factor––eight additional artists were chosen to have their inspired images featured on the 2018 Zozobra tickets!

Anna Marie Arguello (upper L) is the second child of artist Mary Ann Arguello (nee Estorga), and Vietnam veteran, Marco Nick Arguello. She has an older sister and two younger brothers, all talented artists as well. Anna attended Santa Fe High School, taking art and jewelry classes. At a very young age, Anna displayed her love of beauty and art. Having started off drawing cartoon characters, with her friends always asking for drawings, she essentially taught herself how to paint with oil and acrylic. Currently Anna is working on a contemporary collection using the flow acrylic technique and does pet portrait paintings for sale.

Cadence Gonzales (upper C) is an incoming freshman at ATC, Academy for Technology and the Classics. Cadence has played on the varsity basketball team since 8th grade, and she loves Art, History and English. In her free time, she likes playing video games, hiking with her dog Athena, and watching scary movies with her sister Cameron. Cadence says, “Zozobra is my favorite event and I’m so excited to be a part of it this year! I hope you enjoy my 60’s Zozo! Don’t forget––in a gentle way, you can shake the world!”

Erin Schultz (upper R) is an aspiring artist born and raised in the Albuquerque area. Although she has not had any formal training in art beyond one college photography course, she feels strongly about expressing herself creatively.  She is usually inspired by nature, focusing much of her work on various landscapes and animals in an illustrative style. She purposefully chose to participate in the Zozobra Art contest to get out of her comfort zone and try painting in a style with a subject that is not in her usual repertoire. She looks forward to creating more acrylic and oil paintings; as well as exploring the worlds of digital and night photography in the future.

Cristina Gallegos (center L) is a modern pop artist in New Mexico. Some of her influences are Roy Lichtenstein and Banksy, and she is also a fan of New Mexico based artists Ricardo Caté and Elizabeth Jose. Her media includes acrylic painting, mixed media, photography, costume design, and jewelry design. Her various career paths have influenced her art, from the front and back of house in restaurants to managing Party Pits on the Las Vegas Strip. Cristina and her wife Ryan can be seen all over the Land of Enchantment on adventures with their two dogs.

Kurt Baker (center R), a native Californian, received his Bachelor’s Degree from San Jose State University in General Design Studies with an emphasis in Art Direction. As a “product” of the Summer of Love, Kurt was inspired by the old 1960’s Fillmore Rock & Roll Posters. They may have actually been an influence on Kurt to become a designer! After graduating, Kurt moved to Colorado to pursue a career in Graphic Design working at a number of small studios, larger agencies and freelance projects. Relocating to New Mexico in 2010, he continues to produce artwork, jewelry and graphic design on a regular basis to keep his creative chops up.

Ingrid Louie (lower L) was born in Bogotá DC, the capital of Colombia. She says, “I have been to many beautiful places in the US, but New Mexico is where I feel the strongest connection to my roots and my identity.” Her family was half artistically inclined and half, she says, “conventional.” After learning to use a sewing machine at age 6, she started making little dresses for dolls and soon began experimenting with clay, wood, leather and other materials attractive to her. Colors, textures, shapes and forms are in her blood. After Industrial Design studies in Bogotá, she completed a program in Fashion Design at FIT and created custom clothing. Before moving to Albuquerque 2 years ago, she began creating artisan jewelry with silver. She intends to pursue jewelry design and start working with wood and metal in the near future.

Adelita Michelle Medina (lower C) is a native New Mexican, currently residing in Las Vegas. She is a multi-media artist, social justice and peace activist, and free-lance writer, who studied and worked in NYC for 25 years. Adelita Michelle holds an M.S. degree in Journalism from Columbia University’s Graduate School of Journalism and a B.A. in Art and English from New Mexico Highlands University. She returned to her hometown of Española in 2004 and now resides in Las Vegas, New Mexico. As a freelance journalist, she has published numerous articles on topics ranging from worker, immigrant, veterans’ and women’s rights, to women’s health and safety, business, and arts and culture. After retiring in 2014, Adelita Michelle returned to her artistic pursuits and begin to explore watercolors, a medium she had never tried before.

Stacey Sherman (lower R) is an artist originally from Bennington, Vermont. She graduated from Maine College of Art in 2008 with a BFA in Painting. After having a vague dream about the southwest, she packed up her art supplies and moved across the country and now lives in Santa Fe with her fiancé, 2-year-old, and two cats. Stacey’s work is primarily in oils, encaustic, or colored pencil. The majority of her work is representational and influenced by fringe concepts from the paranormal and psychology. Through layers of material she explores symbols, dreams, and memories. Stacey’s love for children’s books and the birth of her first child has also inspired her to start illustrating and writing for children. See her artwork on Sundays at the Railyard Artisan Market and online at www.staceysherman.net

The Santa Fe Kiwanis invite you to join us in congratulating these artists on the fun and far-out ways they represented Old Man Gloom, who has never looked better!

SEE YOU AT THE 94TH BURNING OF ZOZOBRA ON FRIDAY, AUGUST 31, 2018 AT FORT MARCY PARK!