Hey, this month I’ll be at the Latinx Comic Arts Festival in Modesto Ca at Modesto Jr College. At the event there are panels, workshops, lowriders, food, families, educators, and lots of vendors. The vendors make kids books, art, merch, and stories for all ages. See this LINK for more info.
These are a few fotos from two years ago. I grabbed a few from the LCAF Facebook and the last one is of my cousins who came to visit me-a big surprise.
Here’s a group shot of most of the participants last year.
Dig this? Check out some photos fromthe Latino Comix Expo which was held at the same location.
First off, I need to give major props and respect to Dr Theresa Rojas who not only invited me to come speak to teachers, administrators, and students at MODESTO JUNIOR COLLEGE but is one of the nicest most bad ass Chicana’s I know. She organizes the annual Latinx Comix & Arts Festival in Modesto at MJC. If you’re in the Bay, LA, Northern Cali, or central California go check this event out. Here’s a link
Ok, I got up super early and made the trek from Oakland to Modesto which if you’re not from here takes about 2 hours. It was a super rainy weekend but I was prepared for it and we need as much rain as we can get.
When I arrived English professor Dan Schmidt received me and took me around. Dan was super nice and gave me the leg of the town, took me to lunch with other staff members, and guided me around since I made multiple presentations. This poster was up everywhere around the campus. Fresh Juice came out in the summer so it was nice to let folks know about that early.
Here’s a photo I took with one of the students. I wish I had take a photo of the first presentation with allllll of the students, but it was in a room full of young and older college students so I got talk to them about:
A career in the arts
Children’s Book Illustration and writing
Diversity in literature
Making a living as an artist
Social Justice art
I cannot remember everyone’s name for the life of me but it was so nice to sit and have lunch with staff from the school. These adults care a lot about their students and their community!
After a dinner I was brought back to MJC where I was then introduced to a room full of professors, teachers, students, and community members.
So here I gave a presentation about :
Children’s Book Publishing
Creative writing and illustration process
My journey in the arts and kid lit
Ethnic Studies, Social Justice, Mural art
My first bilingual book Furqan’s First Flat Top/ El Primer Corte de Mesita de Furqan
I talked a bit about visiting young children to read to them
And I then answered questions from the audience
After the questions, I tabled a bit selling some of my prints, books, and showing them some examples of the type of stuff I bring with me to do workshops for teens such as zines and art books. Dr Rojas helped me handle the merch table because hella folks actually supported, I was not expecting that so I didn’t bring allll my stuff.
And here’s a photo of Dr Theresa Rojas who made it possible for me to visit the college and speak to so many about what I do and see out there. She’s super awesome, and here’s a few words she had to say….
“We have enjoyed having Robert join us at Modesto Junior College no fewer than THREE times so far—for tabling at the Latinx Comic Arts Festival, to speak to a children’s literature course, and as our Visiting Author for the year. That speaks volumes about the impact of his work and our fondness for the way he connects to his audience.”
~Dr. Theresa Rojas Professor of Ethnic Studies and English Director of the Latinx Comic Arts Festival Modesto Junior College
That’s it fam, I really loved speaking to future teachers, early childhood educators, and students. Over the years I’ve read to thousands of young people and increasingly I’m getting the chance to talk to colleges. Here is a link to check out MJC and definitely check out their annual Latinx Comics & Arts Festival.
Sup with it fam! On March 29th of this year I will be doing a presentation for college students and faculty at Modesto Jr College! I’m going to be talking about my career, art, kids books, publishing, and literacy! I’ve visited Modesto and the jr college three times in the past. First for the Latino Comics Expo founded by Ricardo Padilla and Javier Hernandez-the first ever comics con dedicated to Latino Comics writers and illustrators. Second, I visited the main branch of the Modesto Public Library to read to families, children, and caregivers for their story time. Third, I visited for the “Latinx Comics and Arts Fest” founded by Dr. Theresa Rojas , a professor from MJC.
All of these were really great events or experiences filled with families, community, incredible creators, art, and lots of books and comics. If you’re a student at the college or know someone who is please invite them to attend.
If you’re looking for something to do with the entire family, check out the Latinx Comics and Arts Fest happening on March 17-18th.
Dig this? Check out this interview I did with my bro Farbeon on Feel Good Radio. Also, this is a recent school visit for Prospect Sierra in Berkeley California.
Hey folks, here is a panel discussion I did with J.M. Hunter (Ohio) and Henry Barajas (Arizona/LA) back in March of this year at the Latinx Comic Arts Fest in Modesto California. This was a great convo moderated by Kristen Parraz of Comadres y Comics (LA). This is the short description of the panel topic:
“Artivism: Comic Arts as Activism” features a discussion of how from the earliest superheroes fighting the “forces of evil” to historical accounts and graphic memoir, comics have virtually always been used to express discontent and call for change. Join us as panelists discuss how comics can work as a medium for social justice.
If you’d like to table at the next one in the Spring of 2023, Stay tuned to their website and their social media.
Hey fam, I’m excited to be a guest at the 2022 Latinx Comic Arts Festival. I visited Modesto Jr College back in 2018 for the Latino Comics Expo and I was slated to be at the 2020 Latinx Comics Arts Fest but it was shut down due to Covid. Anyways, its back on and I’ll be there, so tell your homies in Central Cali to come thru.
Yo, juiced to be at Modesto Community College again this year for the Latinx Comic Arts Festival. There will be lots of creators tabling so bring your folks, homies, etc. March 20-21st! EVENT InviteLINK
Hey folks, so what follows are some photos I and others took at the 2019 Latino Comics Expo in Modesto California. This is my exhibitor pass. You can find a lot more by following them on Facebook,Instagram, and Twitter.
As you walked in you were greeted by several students from Modesto Junior College who showed vendors to their tables and helped out throughout the two day event. Here you can see their table, the LCE table, and some large panels of comic artwork up.
My set up!
All kinds of folks started to set up, traveling from Texas, Chile, Mexico, Los Angeles, Central California and many more places.
Here are some photos of some of the vendors! Including Cathy Camper’s Lowriders in Space and Los Bros Hernandez (Love & Rockets).
On the second day I drove downtown to meet a librarian at the Modesto library. Here is the famous Modesto arc sign.
The lowriders showed up and hung out for the 2nd day too. These moving pieces of art are always breathtaking to see. I shot some details. And then..
I got to meet and pose with Cathy Camper who wrote Lowriders in Space, illustrated by Raul The Third. You can hear an interview I did with Raul here.
I also got to catch up with these guys. The gentlemen of 656 Comics who I met almost ten years ago when they brought me to Ciudad Juarez to hang out and meet their community. Read that post here.
Photo credit: Sandra Rios Balderama
Here’s the view from my table and a new friend Sandra Balderama, a retired librarian.
And that was it. I met and talked to lots of great people, students, teachers, and artists, including my table mate Nicky Rodriguez who i forgot to take a foto with. I saw Breena Nunez, Isabel Qunitero, The guy who started Homies toy line, and so many more.
Photo credit: Fredrick Luis Aldama
Here is a photo with all of the exhibitors. A very diverse group of folks indeed. BIG thanks to Ricardo Padilla of the Latino Comics Expo, professor Theresa Rojas of Modesto Jr College, and all the wonderful people that came to support, say hello, or just walk by. See you at the next one!!
Lastly, support Paul and Carlos Meyer who are running a kickstarter! They were tabling at the expo!
Dig this? Check out some photos from a book reading I did at Mills Elementary in Oakland
