Melanie Cervantes is a Xicana activist-artist whose role is to translate the hopes and dreams of justice movements into images that agitate and inspire. Melanie’s work includes black and white illustrations, paintings, installations and paper stencils, but she is best know for her prolific production of political screen prints and posters. Employing vibrant colors and hand-drawn illustrations, her work moves those viewed as marginal to the center — featuring powerful youth, elders, women, and queer and indigenous peoples. Melanie’s training as an artist began with her mother and father. She learned color theory while helping her mother select fabric for school clothes at Los Angeles swap meets; and she developed some of her technical skills by watching her dad repurpose neighborhood junk into her childhood treasures. Melanie built on this knowledge by studying library books, designing and constructing her own clothes, and forging friendships with other creative people. At UC Berkeley she received formal training in Ethnic Studies, and in 2004 graduated with a Bachelors Degree. Melanie fuses what she learned from this interdisciplinary study of racialized peoples, her art skills and her strong decolonizing politics in order to become a powerhouse “artist of the people”. Her most revered mentor is her partner and fellow printmaker Jesus Barraza, with whom she formed Dignidad Rebelde, a collaborative graphic arts project that translates storiesof struggle and resistance into artwork that can be put back into the hands of the communities who inspire it. Melanie has exhibited at Galería de la Raza (San Francisco); Woman Made Gallery and National Museum of Mexican Art (Chicago); Mexic-Arte and Guadalupe Cultural Arts Center (Austin, TX); and Crewest (Los Angeles). Internationally her art has reached Mexico, Slovenia, Palestine, Venezuela, Switzerland and Guatemala. Her work is in public collections of the Center for the Study of Political Graphics, the Latin American Collection of the Green Library at Stanford, and the Hispanic Research Center at the Arizona State University as well as various private collections throughout the U.S.Tumblr (3.0; @melaniecervantes)http://melaniecervantes.tumblr.com/<img src="http://24.media.tumblr.com/a915a23e7b5c5eb96535dc0df6be5d78/tumblr_mn4hu0gAxu1qcflc1o1_500.jpg"/><br/><br/><p>The master, Arturo Negrete, at work. Today he was printing Artemio Rodriguez’ Super Muerto.</p>http://melaniecervantes.tumblr.com/post/50949679748http://melaniecervantes.tumblr.com/post/50949679748Mon, 20 May 2013 17:39:35 -0700<img src="http://24.media.tumblr.com/b84d7003c79831265fb477bdaed8c5ab/tumblr_mn4hmr0JbF1qcflc1o1_500.jpg"/><br/><br/><p>A mural across from Arturo Negrete’s studio 75degrees. #chilangolandia</p>http://melaniecervantes.tumblr.com/post/50949337074http://melaniecervantes.tumblr.com/post/50949337074Mon, 20 May 2013 17:35:15 -0700chilangolandia<img src="http://24.media.tumblr.com/b7fea750040f92ba306f7524c7d21372/tumblr_mn2xo7kclS1qcflc1o1_500.jpg"/><br/><br/><p>We also made time to visit with Lulú Barrera host of Luchadoras on Rompiendoviento TV to talk about being Xicana/os and being graphic artists that do solidarity art. The interview will go up in June. It was fun but we are definitely two pochos en Chilangolandia. #dignidadrebelde #chilangolandia</p>http://melaniecervantes.tumblr.com/post/50884308909http://melaniecervantes.tumblr.com/post/50884308909Sun, 19 May 2013 21:26:30 -0700dignidadrebeldechilangolandia<img src="http://24.media.tumblr.com/be667ab68fdb48d4cde6b068e9e34de3/tumblr_mn2x9d0XpD1qcflc1o1_500.jpg"/><br/><br/><p>Party time with the family! birthday bouycooking up carne asada. I had some bomb tacos de nopales! I am happy we get to visit and Jesus gets to meet more of my family. Why do I look like a giant? #chilangolandia</p>http://melaniecervantes.tumblr.com/post/50883725524http://melaniecervantes.tumblr.com/post/50883725524Sun, 19 May 2013 21:17:37 -0700chilangolandia<img src="http://24.media.tumblr.com/7440684710d2107ee40391090cecff09/tumblr_mn2wwvyJTR1qcflc1o1_500.jpg"/><br/><br/><p>Driving back from a family party to the Centro we saw this mural by Miles Mac ,@mac_arte , on Hotel Reforma. #chilangolandia</p>http://melaniecervantes.tumblr.com/post/50883215619http://melaniecervantes.tumblr.com/post/50883215619Sun, 19 May 2013 21:10:07 -0700chilangolandia<img src="http://25.media.tumblr.com/51d90e18ba701098be739cbf6dbbbd7b/tumblr_mn27u1a5Yu1qcflc1o1_500.jpg"/><br/><br/><p>Chile Nitzá at the bazaar! I love that the folks from Tixinda Mexico designed the booth.</p>http://melaniecervantes.tumblr.com/post/50841166260http://melaniecervantes.tumblr.com/post/50841166260Sun, 19 May 2013 12:08:24 -0700<img src="http://25.media.tumblr.com/098ddae234af4accf4cd4bdb73814db5/tumblr_mn271zkzF31qcflc1o1_500.jpg"/><br/><br/><p>Graff mural at the craft bazaar we stopped by at today. #dignidadrebelede #chilangolandia</p>http://melaniecervantes.tumblr.com/post/50839812702http://melaniecervantes.tumblr.com/post/50839812702Sun, 19 May 2013 11:51:35 -0700dignidadrebeledechilangolandia<img src="http://25.media.tumblr.com/d1e9354088f574d9f955dd287cee2925/tumblr_mn271wyVXk1qcflc1o1_500.jpg"/><br/><br/><p>Jesus bought me the cutest cactus heart necklace at the bazaar! #chilangolandia</p>http://melaniecervantes.tumblr.com/post/50839808949http://melaniecervantes.tumblr.com/post/50839808949Sun, 19 May 2013 11:51:32 -0700chilangolandia<img src="http://25.media.tumblr.com/88eb4479cdfa1cfefbda48edd3399cd4/tumblr_mn17sdSsgs1qcflc1o1_500.jpg"/><br/><br/><p>Cafe Tacuba for dinner in Chilangolandia! (at Café de Tacuba)</p>http://melaniecervantes.tumblr.com/post/50793536671http://melaniecervantes.tumblr.com/post/50793536671Sat, 18 May 2013 23:09:49 -0700<img src="http://25.media.tumblr.com/bbe77e2912c7e6483db5de1a903ea0ff/tumblr_mn16z6uMOw1qcflc1o1_500.jpg"/><br/><br/><p>Snapping photos on the plane.</p>http://melaniecervantes.tumblr.com/post/50792640131http://melaniecervantes.tumblr.com/post/50792640131Sat, 18 May 2013 22:52:18 -0700<img src="http://24.media.tumblr.com/224e48e4176d04fb66038fa7ba6e82e5/tumblr_mn0cs2yiKA1qcflc1o1_500.jpg"/><br/><br/><p>This Hummer was made from repurposed styrofoam! At the SF Airport people park anywhere they want. (at San Francisco International Airport (SFO))</p>http://melaniecervantes.tumblr.com/post/50748180747http://melaniecervantes.tumblr.com/post/50748180747Sat, 18 May 2013 12:00:02 -0700<img src="http://25.media.tumblr.com/607650f53479f1b945b6827029f3d50a/tumblr_mn06igXeuc1qcflc1o1_500.jpg"/><br/><br/><p>Wish I could show you my new piece “California Love” but i’s not time yet. What time is it? Time to fly to Mexico. Oh, and of course, Hammertime. #tallerenvida #dignidadrebelde #melaniecervantes (at International Terminal)</p>http://melaniecervantes.tumblr.com/post/50738679990http://melaniecervantes.tumblr.com/post/50738679990Sat, 18 May 2013 09:44:39 -0700melaniecervantestallerenvidadignidadrebelde<img src="http://25.media.tumblr.com/8f0aa6151ffc44faa33baa31e3d4b80b/tumblr_mmvpomBThj1qcflc1o1_500.jpg"/><br/><br/><p>Final day of recovery from the worst stomach illness. Felt good enough this evening to draw. Sharpies are my new best friends! #sleepytime 😴💤💤💤</p>http://melaniecervantes.tumblr.com/post/50562817667http://melaniecervantes.tumblr.com/post/50562817667Wed, 15 May 2013 23:50:46 -0700sleepytime<img src="http://25.media.tumblr.com/a4f0f2ee8d9d92faaa329a2934a2a3a4/tumblr_mmttwrXjkI1qcflc1o1_500.jpg"/><br/><br/><p>Say what? #itstimeforbed #oaxaca #latergram (at Dignidad Rebelde Headquarters)</p>http://melaniecervantes.tumblr.com/post/50481705090http://melaniecervantes.tumblr.com/post/50481705090Tue, 14 May 2013 23:26:51 -0700itstimeforbedoaxacalatergram<img src="http://24.media.tumblr.com/dfd642585eb6abb84b01dcc4dc85a9a7/tumblr_mmsvpvnXl31qcflc1o1_500.jpg"/><br/><br/><p>The lovebirds.</p>http://melaniecervantes.tumblr.com/post/50431872136http://melaniecervantes.tumblr.com/post/50431872136Tue, 14 May 2013 11:08:19 -0700<img src="http://24.media.tumblr.com/5ed9a95108d51d61d3672236515ef4a4/tumblr_mmocvnE5Lo1qcflc1o1_500.jpg"/><br/><br/><p>The next generation of printmakers. Killin it! This is ny Andrew Ruiz #Repost from @theandrewruiz</p>http://melaniecervantes.tumblr.com/post/50235047362http://melaniecervantes.tumblr.com/post/50235047362Sun, 12 May 2013 00:30:59 -0700repost<img src="http://24.media.tumblr.com/479cc662ce7734872e45978df99b8585/tumblr_mmo9pmPaMp1qcflc1o1_500.jpg"/><br/><br/><p>Another awesome day of celebrating my b-day at Taller Arte del Nuevo Amanecer. They know I like Hello Kitty. Thank you @ Gilda, Chucha , Olivia, Carlos, Malaquias, Lezlie and all of the TANA community.</p>http://melaniecervantes.tumblr.com/post/50232107502http://melaniecervantes.tumblr.com/post/50232107502Sat, 11 May 2013 23:22:34 -0700<img src="http://24.media.tumblr.com/7b575be15a2d673993051f3478fcfc35/tumblr_mmo9cvcjrm1qcflc1o1_500.jpg"/><br/><br/><p>Apent the day at the Taller Arte del Nuevo Amanecer in Woodland. TANA is publishing a collaborative print Jesus and I designed. (at Taller Arte Del Nuevo Amanecer)</p>http://melaniecervantes.tumblr.com/post/50231727872http://melaniecervantes.tumblr.com/post/50231727872Sat, 11 May 2013 23:14:55 -0700<img src="http://25.media.tumblr.com/cd560e3b2ce64ea37acb1b486be4e4ae/tumblr_mmmaw9gmwI1qcflc1o1_500.jpg"/><br/><br/><p>Celebrating at Fauna in Oakland. This place is hella gentro! :p but happy birthdat to me anyway! @favianna1 @queenqaasim</p>http://melaniecervantes.tumblr.com/post/50144185686http://melaniecervantes.tumblr.com/post/50144185686Fri, 10 May 2013 21:52:57 -0700<img src="http://24.media.tumblr.com/3afe50680e0e67898a7b4b6e53450e22/tumblr_mmlvztqkan1qcflc1o1_500.jpg"/><br/><br/><p>In solidarity with the people of Guatemala. In solidarity with the pueblo Ixchil. Let no one deny the loss the people suffered because a genocide imposed by the State of Guatemala and back by the Imperialist U.S. they cannot wash their hands of the blood. These injustices s NOT be denied. We will always remember. The land will always remember.</p>http://melaniecervantes.tumblr.com/post/50122197524http://melaniecervantes.tumblr.com/post/50122197524Fri, 10 May 2013 16:31:04 -0700