Title
Carnal
Creator
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Description
Oil on wood panel, 48 in. x 36 in. A painting of a pachuco in a suit with arrows in his chest and ropes around his arms. El Paso artist Francisco Delgado references the Christian saint and martyr St. Sebastian (AD 256 – 288) who was bound to a tree or post and shot with arrows by Roman soldiers after he refused to deny his faith, as ordered by Emperor Diocletian. Rescued and healed by St. Irene, St. Sebastian later was clubbed to death by the Romans. Inspired by Renaissance paintings honoring this saint, Delgado pays homage to Mexican and Chicano hipsters, pachucos, who were attacked by U.S. servicemen and arrested during the Zoot Suit Riots in Los Angeles, June 3 – 8, 1943. The history of the zoot suit is complex. Pachucos wore zoot suits prior to and during World War II, but they did not invent them, nor did they wear them exclusively. Zoot suits were first worn by African American jazz musicians that toured around the country. Jazz aficionados popularized them by wearing them to dances, and they grew widespread from there. In Los Angeles, they were worn by African Americans, Mexican Americans, Japanese Americans, and ethnic whites including Italian Americans and Jewish Americans, among others. Francisco Delgado was born on November 3, 1974, in Ciudad Juárez, and grew up in El Paso’s Segundo Barrio. He received his Master of Fine Arts from the Yale School of Art. His Bordeño artworks are informed by the social and cultural struggles inherent to life on the Mexican and United States border. His artwork addresses issues of identity, race, cultural traditions, and government policies that affect migration and immigrants. In his own words, Delgado says, “I am a visual artist with an artistic focus on social issues.” He visually represents the history of his community and creates a dialogue for social change. Often using dark humor or satire to depict his narratives, his artwork highlights the struggles of underrepresented people along the border. A prolific artist, Delgado works in painting, drawing, printmaking, and has also produced community murals. His works have been published in books and exhibited in national and international art exhibitions and community institutions. Francisco currently resides, teaches, and creates artwork in El Paso.
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