M is for Movement-Interview

Here is the link to the interview about kids books

Inktober 19 - Dani Moonstar

I was inspired by illustrator Weshoyot Alvitre to do this one of superhero Dani Moonstar. This character not only has the power to shoot a bow and arrow but is known to use telepathy, and the ability to create illusions in the mind of her enemy. I don't know that much about her but dug her design. Oh and she was a part of the x force, xmen, and appears for the first time in the 80s in Marvel comics.

Sources: Indigenous Comic Con, Wikipedia

Want this original drawing? $60 or Print? $20 (includes shipping)  

Got an idea for an org to donate 30% cost to? Email me info@robdontstop.com

Inktober 18 - Rosie Perez

Rosie Perez is a Nyorican (New Yorker + Boricua) from Brooklyn. She started her creative journey as a dancer in the clubs of NYC who was known for getting down to hip hop, house, etc. The first time I saw her was in the film Do The Right Thing, then followed her career as an actress. She has been an actress lending her voice and physical performance in over 60 films, documentaries, and TV shows. Because she is such an amazing dancer she also worked as one of the Soul Train dancers, and has done choreography for Heavy D, Bobby Brown, LL Cool J, Diana Ross, and Broadway. And now she's an author and a director who has written about her experience, mental health, and has been an advocate for Puerto Ricans. This is Rosie from the famous opening credits of.....you remember that movie?

Source: Sway in the morning, Various films, Wikipedia

Want this original drawing? $60 or Print? $20 (includes shipping)  
Got an idea for an org to donate 30% cost to? Email me info@robdontstop.com

Inktober 17 - Guillermo Del Toro

The first Del Toro film I saw was La Espina del Diablo which was an incredible film mixing history, fantasy, and a bit of horror. Born in Guadalajara Mexico Del Toro got a fascination with film at an early age and has worked as a writer, director, and producer on well over 30 projects. Some of my favorites are Hellboy, The Hobbit, The Book of Life, and the first film I mentioned. As a child both my grandmother and my mom had a love for fantasy and horror. I then gravitated to these as well. Besides making films, I appreciate that Del Toro helps other filmmakers. Especially his hand in the making of "The Book of Life". You can see more of his work at www.deltorofilms.com

Want this original drawing? $60 or Print? $20 (includes shipping)  
Got an idea for an org to donate 30% cost to? Email me info@robdontstop.com

Inktober 16 - Hugo Gonzalez

I couldn't find much on Hugo, but from the sources I did find they tell me that Hugo is one of those riders who was unafraid. And by that I mean attempting a jump or a trick that might come out awesome, or might break your collar bone if you land wrong. As a kid I loved bmx and freestlyle riding so much. But I didn't see any kids like me in media about the sport, so now I'm looking for them. Hugo is a rider from San Jose and was one of the members of the Norcal bmx riders (probably saying this wrong). Hugo (started at 15) was an influential rider from the Bay Area who turned Pro for Skyway and won many competitions worldwide. He was known for his jumps on ramps, his flatland tricks, and he still attends bmx reunions such as Steve Swope's Old School reunion. If any riders have more info on Hugo, feel free to comment. Much respect to Hugo! Here is a cool video of him.

Sources: KNTV-San Jose, freestylebmxtales43 blog, Ride bmx 

Want more bike art? Check out the L&M Tourers 2022

BMX Rider-Mariana Pajon

Defend Puerto Rico

So the US response to PR has been weak, disappointing, faulty, irresponsible, and down right hateful. It is not just the current idiot in office. There are other presidents since the colonization of the island (yes Obama too) who have contributed to a financial stranglehold on Puerto Rico. But check it out, you can help by calling your congress member and letting them know how you feel. Please follow DEFEND PUERTO RICO.

You can donate to them because they have Boricuas on the ground doing work, or you can put pressure on the US Govt. Check out these graphics by Michael Cordero, one of the co-founders.

Inktober 15 - Harmony Santana

I saw Harmony for the first time like most in Gun Hill Road. I believe she did an incredible job in this film showing us the audience what it is like for a boy to transition into a girl. She showed us what it is like to have allies who support trans kids, and what it is like to live without it. For this image I imagined harmony in a post apocalyptic film/story. I imagine her playing a young woman as simply one of the survivors, who kicked a lot of ass to continue living. And although it would be great to have the film acknowledge trans poc, it does not have to be about that. Harmony was born in the late 90s and came to NYC as a homeless youth. She landed a role in Gun Hill and has since worked on projects such as Eating Out and You're dead to me. In addition to being a great actress, she is also an advocate for trans people of color in film, for the queer community, and for homeless youth. I look forward to seeing more from her in front of and behind the camera.

Sources: Gun Hill Road, Wikipedia, Indiewire

Want this original drawing? $60 or Print? $20 (includes shipping)  
Got an idea for an org to donate 30% cost to? Email me info@robdontstop.com

Kids & Book Zone- Life is Living back on

Check it out, so we're back on this Saturday. Bring your babies, teens, and family to Life is Living. This is an intergenerational event. So, I will be there with several authors doing storytime: Grace Caroll, Tiffany Golden, Laurin Mayeno, and Kamaria Lofton.  We will be there as part of the Kids Zone!

The event was postponed briefly as we were trying to avoid putting folks outside in dangerously smoky and toxic air. After the northern California fires the smoke was everywhere and not good for the babies, the performers, or the people. But, we're back. 

If you would like to send relief to the folks affected in the fires and in Puerto Rico, please check out this LINK. Come through to Life is Living!

Inktober 14 - Lydia Cacho

Lydia Cacho is a journalist, writer, and activist born in Mexico in 1963. She became a journalist as a young woman and growing up she had parents who I believe encouraged her question things and to champion the rights of women. She began reporting on individual cases of violence against women.  Sexual assault, rape, and murder. This lead to discovering a much larger problem at hand and beginning to expose individuals and those in power who either condoned it, ignored it, or were complicit. Because of her reporting she herself was sexually assaulted. But kept going and helped found a center in Mexico for women who were the victims of domestic violence and sexual assault.

She kept investigating in her own country and later internationally. She was the first woman in Mexico's history to take a case implicating mayors, district attorney's, and other powerful people to trial. This charged that these folks were protecting this the sex trade, sexual tourism, child pornography, and violence against young women. And many were connected to trafficking in other parts of the world. She wrote about this in articles and eventually in books such as Slavery Inc-the untold story of international sex trafficking, Los Demonios de Eden, and many others.

Having been spent time all over the world investigating these instances of abuse, being attacked, threatened, jailed, and awarded several international journalism awards she has become a shining example of how journalists can uncover the truth. But they must be protected. Journalists who get too close or speak truth to power are being threatened and murdered constantly in Mexico and worldwide. Follow her work!

Sources: LydiaCacho.net, Gesprek Op 2,

Want this original drawing? $60 or Print? $20 (includes shipping)  
Got an idea for an org to donate 30% cost to? Email me info@robdontstop.com

Inktober 13 - Adam Beach

The first time I saw Adam was in Smoke Signals. An amazing film by Sherman Alexie. Although I have only seen a few of Adam's films (Wind Talkers, Suicide Squad, Four Brothers) Adam has acted in over 80 TV shows and films. In fact his career began almost a decade before Smoke Signals came out and he's still acting today. That is nearly 30 years. He's been nominated for and has won several acting awards. And In addition to acting Adam has been vocal about many issues affecting people of color in the film industry and some time ago founded a film institute to bring in native and aboriginal youth. Through this institute young folks can learn about how to make films and hopefully get them distributed.

Sources: Imdb, Wikipedia, ABFI

Want this original drawing? $60 or Print? $20 (includes shipping)  
Got an idea for an org to donate 30% cost to? Email me info@robdontstop.com

Inktober 12 - Aurora Guerrero

 Aurora Guerrero is a Xicana filmmaker from San Francisco who started working in film in the mid 2000's. She went to school at UC berkeley and began assisting or working as a PA while she made short films. She then developed her first narrative feature film, the groundbreaking film Mosquita y Mari which explored a romance, attraction, and friendship between two young women who were Multilingual, multicultural and Xicana as well. Since the success of this film she's gone on to direct for TV shows such as Fly and Queen Sugar. On a personal note, I got to meet some of the crew who worked on #mosquitaymari and they beamed w/admiration for Aurora and her film. Once I saw it I understood why. We need more women of color directing films and tv! Can't wait to see what story she develops next. 

Sources: Remezcla,IMDb, IndieWire 

Want this original drawing? $60 or Print? $20 (includes shipping)  
Got an idea for an org to donate 30% cost to? Email me info@robdontstop.com

Inktober 11 - Sandra Equihua

Sandra Equihua is a Mexican American artist/illustrator who works in animation. She has been an artist for a long time, but officially started in animation with the animated short El Macho in 2001. Since then Sandra has created concept art and character design for films such as The Book of Life, The Guardians of Oz, El Tigre, Mucha Lucha, and now she is working on designs for the films Kung Fu Space Punch and Son of Jaguar. In addition to her studio work for Mexopolis which she co-founded with her husband Jorge Gutierrez, she has exhibited her fine art in galleries. 

From Tijuana, Mexico, Sandra came from a family of doctors and academics but decided to pursue art. She is a shining example of artistry and style, and a role model for young women of color interested in pursuing a career in animation.

Sources: Mexopolis, Lynda.com, Imdb

Dig this? Check out this drawing of Yolanda Lopez (RIP)

Inktober 10 - Ezln

The Zapatistas (named after the Mexican revolutionary Emilio Zapata) were founded in 1994 in Chiapas Mexico when the NAFTA ( North American Free Trade Agreement) began. This agreement would be created under the guise of opening trade routes for money, trade, and goods to flow through the US, Canada, and Mexico. But really this a bunch of bs decided between people in power in North American governments. For too long in Mexico and other Spanish speaking countries in Central or South America Indigenous, peoples have been disrespected, kicked off their land, exploited and murdered. Not only that, but their political autonomy has been disrupted and sabotaged by outside (mainly US corporations) seeking to get profit. So, the Ejercito Zapatista de Liberación Nacional banded together to fight the corrupt in the Mexican government and those who it employs. They wore masks to hide their identity and defended their land in the southern region of Chiapas Mexico. I heard many accounts from college students who went to assist them by getting their narrative out. In the beginning it was only small news sources, now even bigger companies like Vice have gone to get "content".  Commandante Marcos, & Ramona (commanders in the people's army) are gone so what is happening now? They've traveled to Mexico City to rally for their rights. There have been members killed.... If you know, leave an update in the comments. Respect to Ezln for their righteous fight for land and dignity. They are one of many indigenous peoples all over the world fighting back.

Sources: Guerilla News Network, Personal accounts, IndyMedia, Kpfa, 

Dig this? check out this drawing of Iguala (Ayotzinapa)

Inktober 9 - Lady Pink

Any kid who picked up a mag or saw one of the old flicks back in the day saw this woman's name and face. Sandra "Pink" Fabara is a writer born in Ecuador and raised in NYC. She started writing in 79 and was one of few women on the scene tearing things up. Still an artist today she has been painting for nearly 40 years on trains, walls, canvas, and digitally. To this day she paints and has exhibited her work world wide while also collaborating with the younger generation. 

Sources: Subway Art, LadyPinkNYC.com, Wild Style

Want this original drawing? $60 or Print? $20 (includes shipping)  
Got an idea for an org to donate 30% cost to? Email me info@robdontstop.com

Inktober 8 - Roberto Clemente

Roberto was one of the best baseball players to step on the mound. He was born in 1934 in Barrio San Antón of Puerto Rico and began playing ball at an early age. Baseball is huge in Cuba, PR, the Dominican Republic and many other Latino & Caribbean countries. Clemente joined an amateur league in his teens and by the time he was 18 played for the national team Santurce. A major league team called the Brooklyn Dogers came to PR to play and offered him a spot. He bumped around after moving north and landed on the Pittsburg Pirates where he made a name for himself. He had a 353 bating average, he played in the world series, got 240 home runs, played with some of the greatest and was the first Afro Latino player in the league after the likes of Jackie Robinson. He died in a plane crash at an early age but was inducted into the baseball hall of fame and opened the door for many Latinos to join the MLB, which now has hundreds of players from Puerto Rico and other countries.

Sources: 21-Wilfred Santiago, Wikipedia

Peep this: Lolita Lebron

(under)REPRESENT(ed)-Parsons exhibit

(under)REPRESENT(ed)- got some artwork in this show yall. If you’re in NYC go check it out. Shout out to Nadia, Duncan, Raquel, and Yelaine!

under)REPRESENT(ed) is an exhibition that features Parsons School of Design alumni of color whose creative practices explore the lived experience of race and aim to dismantle systems of racism. Initiated and organized by a collective of alumni of color, this exhibition features a range of disciplines which simultaneously address and resist the systemic exclusion that prevails in educational and professional institutions and practices. 

A video from a digital and physical archive that affirms the future of people of African descent; a design research project lessens the impact of hurricane season on one alum’s hometown in the Dominican Republic; a children’s book fable reveals an allegory of the dangerous journey migrants often face to enter the United States; an online syllabus resource explores the intersections of fashion and race; photographs reflect on the historic status symbol and power of hair in Korean culture, which resonates in communities across the globe; and a multimedia project promotes citizen journalism and challenges the normalization of police violence. 

“We are moved by an urgency to foreground the power generated by creative practices,” said the curators of the exhibition. “Our own experience as students, practicing artists, designers, educators and cultural organizers tells us that this work isn’t always given its due criticism or celebration in the classroom and other institutional spaces.” 

People of color have been pioneers in fields of art and design, although they continue to be significantly underrepresented in positions of power and compensation. Despite the rich foundational contributions by Black, Latinx, Asian, and Indigenous communities to these industries, they are often rendered invisible. The curators of this exhibition stake a claim for the centrality of those most deeply impacted by these oppressive frameworks in an era which challenges our existing tools of resistance. 

The (under)REPRESENT(ed) driving committee: Havanna Fisher | Scherezade García | Joelle Riffle | Yelaine Rodríguez | Sable Elyse Smith | Nadia Williams (under)REPRESENT(ed) equity + social justice advisor: Gail Drakes (under)REPRESENT(ed) research assistants: Barbara Byrd & Claudine Brantley Exhibition open to the public: October 14 -29, 2017 Public Opening Event: October 17, 2017 | Public Closing Event: October 27, 2017 Sheila C. Johnson Design Center, Arnold and Sheila Aronson Galleries | Parsons School of Design at The New School 66 Fifth Ave, New York, NY 10011

Life is Living: POSTPONED

Hey everyone, The 10th Annual Life Is Living Festival slated for this Saturday, October 14th at DeFremery Park in West Oakland is POSTPONED due to fires and our growing concern for the health and wellness of our people. We are calling on our community to support immediate relief efforts for our friends and family impacted up North. Please stay tuned for updates here or at http://www.lifeisliving.org/

Flyers designs- Life is Living

Town park-skateboarding

Nationwide Salsa/Boogaloo/break party-Bay, LA, NY, ATL

The Peoples kitchen-free breakfast at 10 am

The Crucible-welding, making, building

Emily Butterfly-Kids Zone

Book zone-storytime

Teen zone

Here are "some" of the flyers for this weekend's Life is Living Fest. There will be dance, skateboarding, free breakfast, book zone, kids zone, teen zone, poetry, welding, activities, and more. Come through if you're in the Bay. Flyers designed by Nick James.

Facebook invite for General event
Facebook invite for Kids Zone/ Book Zone

Website for Life is Living

Last year's video:

Inktober 7 - Yup/ Nope

Yes to indigenous peoples day! Nope to Columbus Day/Pilgrims legacy! I'm down with really holding up Native American peoples from South America to Canada. Not down with celebrating #Columbus or the legacy of the pilgrims which combined decimated, raped, murdered, stole, and created the foundation of wealth for Europeans and Whites in the US, Canada, Central & South America, the Caribbean, etc. #abolishcolombusday#indigenous #indigenouspeoplesday Please don't mistake this fight for "in the past" it is the roots of power and fights like #standingRock today. 

Want this original drawing? $60 or Print? $20 (includes shipping)  

Got an idea for an org to donate 30% cost to? Email me info@robdontstop.com

Inktober 6 - Breakbeat Lou

Lou Flores and Lenny Roberts are the creators and pioneers of "Ultimate Breakbeats" or UBB. When I was a kid the art on the covers attracted me and through them I got clues to what my mom used to say whenever I played a record she recognized. If it wasn't for this man, so many dj's wouldn't know the fundamental and odd breaks that hip hop was founded upon. In fact many of the greatest hip hop records sampled Lou's edits of old funk, rock, or soul songs to create their songs. Much love to you Lou! Lou is not only a collector, digger, but he also djs and made a resurgence in the public eye in the past 5-6 years. Follow @breakbeatlou . Your mom would be proud of you bro. Thx for your immense contribution to the culture. I still got mine! 

Sources: Youtube, Ultimate Breaks & Beats

Want this original drawing? $60 or Print? $20 (includes shipping)  

Got an idea for an org to donate 30% cost to? Email me info@robdontstop.com

Inktober 5 - Lidia Huayllas

Lidia is a Cholita from Bolivia. She and several women have scaled some of the largest mountains in the Andes region (Bolivia, Peru, Ecuador). Lidia worked as a cook at the base of mountains to help other climbers and tourists. One day after asking her husband what the top of the mountain was like. He told her to go find out and she did. The mountains they have climbed are over 19,000 feet tall.

Lidia is one of the Aymara, an indigenous people from Bolivia. The Cholitas like many indigenous peoples in the Americas were looked down upon. But when Bolivia got its first indigenous president Evo Morales folks started to give them more respect. Along with the fighting Cholita wrestlers, they have been getting more respect.

Sources: Telesur, National Geographic, AJ plus

Want this original drawing? $60 or Print? $20 (includes shipping)  
Got an idea for an org to donate 30% cost to? Email me info@robdontstop.com

Tamales La Oaxaqueña- Oakland

All those who support Traditional Mexican food and Latina owned businesses please watch this video about my old neighbor Carolina & her mother's business “Tamales La Oaxaqueña”. A staple of incredible food in Oakland and the greater Bay Area.

LINK

Inktober 4 - Joe Conzo

Joe is one of the most OG photographers from the Bronx to document the early days of hip hop culture. It is proof from his photos too that Latinos have always been there since the foundation of mcing, djing, etc. Joe who for many years was a fire fighter, struggled w/addiction developed a love for photography as a teen and went to park jams, knew some of the pioneers personally so he got some up close photos, and was often taking shots of Salsa and Jazz musicians of the time. Besides photographing famous musicians, he also has lent his eye to social issues and his photos have been featured in books, films, documentaries, and countless articles. In many ways he showed there was love, creativity, and resilience among Black and Brown communities of NYC while the city was neglecting the people. Peep more at www.JoeConzo.com or follow him @joeconzo Respect Joe!! 

Sources: JoeConzo.com, Youtube

Want this original drawing? $60 or Print? $20 (includes shipping)  

Got an idea for an org to donate 30% cost to? Email me info@robdontstop.com

Tooned In show at CultureStrike

I will have some artwork in this show alongside some great Bay Area artists and CultureStrike collaborators! 

Here's some info:

T

his exhibit features artwork by Anthony Coz Conover, Kayan Cheung-Miaw, Jaime Cortez, Diego Gómez, Francis Mead, 
Breena Nuñez Peralta, William O. Tyler, Julio Salgado, Robert Liu-Trujillo, and Jess Wu-o.

When: Friday October 13, 6-9pm
Where: CultureStrike/The Lab, 1330 Broadway, Suite 300, Oakland CA 94612
On Broadway, between 13th & 14th Streets, directly above 12th St. downtown Oakland BART.

Light refreshments and drinks will be available. 
A parking garage is available on 13th St and Franklin until 8pm. Street parking is scarce but sometimes available.
The venue is wheelchair accessible. Gender-neutral ADA accessible restrooms are on the same floor as the event.

Facebook invite

Our Stories, Our Visions, celebrating the art of cartoons, illustration, and comic books by artists of color! 

Cartooning, especially in popular culture, effectively reaches a range of audiences, old and young alike! But limited representation of rich cultural identities and diverse experiences in animated cartoons, books, comic books, editorials, and beyond can feel alienating to many of our communities.

In curating this exhibit, CultureStrike showcases the compelling work of cartoonists of color, queer cartoonists, and womxn cartoonists highlighting these invisibilized and marginalized communities. ‘Tooned In celebrates cartoonists of color across various intersecting identities and their artwork, spanning themes of migration, feminism, gender, queerness, legacy, and more.

Inktober 3 - The Lumad

I wanna give a shout out to my Pin@ys in the Bay and worldwide. My whole family has grown up beside u. Y'all are pioneers in Hip Hop and torch bearers for it and social justice! This is to bring awareness to the indigenous people (The Lumad) in the Philippines who are being killed, pushed off their land, and restricted. They are in a battle against Capitalist/Imperialist greed & power from the Filipino Govt and the US. Also in support of Pin@ys from Manila to Marawi , the Filipino pres Rodrigo Duterte has been on a rampage killing hella people under the guise of a drug war. Bullshit! Please follow @salupongan.internationalto learn more abt the struggle there and Filipinos in the US who have beeeeen working to support the struggle for freedom there.  Special shout out to @powstrug and @pelepino for the song "Stop the Killings" .

Sources: Salugpongan International