Our Annual Print Fair #APF2021 returns online next month, with weekly releases featuring new hand-pulled serigraph prints by emerging and established artists. The Annual Print Fair season includes weekly artist features, artist interviews, as well as weekly workshops! Help us reach our goal of raising $50,000 in print sales! Each purchase supports our annual fundraising efforts, with 100% of the proceeds going directly toward the organization to support programs such as our Professional Printmaking Program.

2021’s new prints features work by the following artists:

• Veterans Atelier: Joe Devera, Yvette Pino, Peter Tovar, Pedro Rios Martinez, Gina Herrera, Leo Limon and Fanny Garcia. 

• Maestrxs Atelier: Rosalie Lopez, Aydi Ortiz, Gabriella Sanchez, Yreina Cervantes, Yaneli Delgado, Nani Chacon, and Star Montana. 

• Special Projects: Patssi Valdez, Ramon Ramirez, Sandy Rodriguez - 2020 Día de los Muertos Commemorative Print, Miguel Angel Reyes, Yolanda Gonzalez and Salomon Huerta.

Self Help Graphics & Art is currently presenting two initiatives as part of Art Rise (WE RISE), available on-site through May 31, 2021 and online. A mural and musical composition titled Joy & Resilience (shown) created by SHGs Youth Committee, prompts viewers to step back from the endless scroll of negative news cycles and lean into activities that bring us joy. SHG Youth Artivist Interns created a mental health resource digital zine listing information about mental health, resources, and self-care tips.

The second is a short documentary titled Vendedores en Acción (Vendors in Action or VEA), named after six street vendor coalition members. The film highlights the long-term mental and emotional implications caused by their line of work, their fight to legalize street vending, and by COVID 19.

Our Future, Our Voice, Our Way is an exhibition curated by the SHG Youth Committee that will debut on the Self Help Graphics blog on May 24, 2021. The exhibit highlights individual youth voices using art to speak up about issues they are passionate about, including gender, race, identity, and culture.

Self Help Graphics & Art presents a virtual film screening of the documentary Vendedores en Acción (Vendors in Action or VEA), as part of Art Rise/ WE RISE, on Wednesday, May 26 at 5:00 p.m. PST on our YouTube channel. The screening will be followed by a panel discussion with film Director Alvaro Parra, the music score composer and senior organizer at Community Power Collective, Quetzal Flores, and VEA member Caridad Vazquez, and Lyric Kelcar, Policy Director at Inclusive Action. The film highlights the long-term mental and emotional implications caused by their line of work, their fight to legalize street vending, and by COVID-19.

The documentary features the Grammy Award-winning band Quetzal, with VEA members singing in their anthem in chorus, whose lyrics were conceived through a collaborative process facilitated by Quetzal Flores. The filmmaking experience allowed the six vendors to briefly put aside their daily routine and participate in a creative, collective, and empowering process. This project is supported in part by the California Arts Council. Read about our Art Rise/ WE RISE initiatives on our blog here. 

Tune in to our next Artist Lab: In the Studio discussion on Wednesday, June 9 at 7:00 p.m. PST live on YouTube with members of the latest Maestrxs Atelier. The Maestrxs Atelier includes a wide range of artists from seasoned to emerging and with varying experiences in screenprinting.

The program will highlight works created for the atelier while artists share their remote or in-studio printing experience with the Master Printer, Dewey Tafoya.

Participate in our next Family Workshop with teaching artist and U.S. veteran, Fanny Garcia, on Saturday, June 12th at 1:00 p.m PST on our YouTube channel at www.youtube.com/shgtv.

In this workshop, you will learn to create a cyanotype. Cyanotype is a process that combines early photography techniques and printmaking. This activity combines art and science. Learn more on our Eventbrite page.

Join us for our next Wellness Wednesday on June 19 at 6:00 p.m. PST Local artist Hector O. Hernandez will teach you to create a seed bomb– a paper pulp and wildflower seed mixture to grow your own plant. This project is part of his current exhibition ‘My America Is Not Your America’ at Studio 203.

Inspired by religious votive offerings, the seed bomb molds reference American coins with more community-based imagery, including coins for "empathize," "listen," "vote," "read" and "speak up," activating positive change through dialogue and introspection. Participants will be asked to create and care for the seed bombs, united in a common goal to care for one's mental health during this pandemic and beyond. Materials for this workshop will be mailed to participants.