Photo by NaiChe Sol Chavira El Moises live art demonstration at Grand Avenue Get Down (2013 Cinco de Mayo celebration of art and culture).

the Phoenix area and hundreds of parties throughout the state – it is hard to argue with that fact particularly when Arizona’s  very own Chicano Picasso via El Moises sparked a new Latin Renaissance movement which enhances, encourages, and embraces Mexican-American culture via art, lowriders, hot rods, custom motorcycles and live art demonstration.

The unique thing about the Grand Avenue Get Down / Cinco de Mayo celebration was that this event included artists from our neighboring states like California and New Mexico.  The California artists included:  D.A. Garcia, El Chikle, Jowee Mr. Rhythm Ramirez, Lucky Hellcat, Johnathan Mercado and  Ricardo Islas.   New Mexican artists included: Nani Chacon and Toby Morfin.  Last but certainly not least, Arizona artists included: Sam Gomez, Jason Rudolph Pena, El Moises, John Garza, Angelica Johnson, El Podrido, Moe Madrid, El Whyner, Pablo Luna, Albert Rodriguez, Buggs, Leland Chapin, Mike Royal Sage Rock, Ron Hernandez, Luis Miranda, 9 Gallery artists and more.

Next year’s Cinco de Mayo event will be bigger.   Bigger plans are already being made with a concert, car and motorcycle show.  John Coll’s Brewery should be in full swing by then, too, and this is all very exciting.

Lowrider and hot rod cruising is a lot of fun.  If you have never been on a lowrider cruise before, you are in luck as I take a quick video from a Cadillac convertible point of view while interviewing one of the pinstripers who pinstriped at the Grand Avenue Get Down event.

Several pinstriper artists dominated the event while showcasing their work in addition to the many many other acrylic and mixed media artists who adorned our City with their beautiful paintings and artwork.

Slide 1 of 32.
O.G Ron Hernandez pinstriping and doing his thing LIVE!
Source: Photo courtesy of NaiChe Sol ChaviraSlide 2 of 32.
Bugs pinstriping at Grand Ave Get Down
Source: Photo courtesy of NaiChe Sol ChaviraSlide 3 of 32.
Aaron Voight gas tin artwork on display.
Source: Photo courtesy of NaiChe Sol ChaviraSlide 4 of 32.
Grand Avenue Get Down Attendees
Source: Photo courtesy of NaiChe Sol ChaviraSlide 5 of 32.
NaiChe Chvira repping a Grand Avenue t-shirt
Source: Photo courtesy of NaiChe Sol ChaviraSlide 6 of 32.
Pinstriping artist David Anthony Garcia of Whittier California beautifies Grand Ave with his talent
Source: Photo courtesy of NaiChe Sol ChaviraSlide 7 of 32.
Hot Rods on Display on Grand Avenue
Source: Photo Courtesy of Hotrodron CarlstenSlide 8 of 32.
California Artist Lucky Hellcat Sells This Piece for $400.00
Source: Photo courtesy of NaiChe Sol ChaviraSlide 9 of 32.
Patron of the Arts via DeeDee Garcia Blase appreciates art with strong women empowerment messages
Source: Photo courtesy of NaiChe Sol ChaviraSlide 10 of 32.
Master Lowrider builder Luis Miranda's beauty! Every part including the upholstery was hand crafted by Luis!
Source: Photo courtesy of NaiChe Sol ChaviraSlide 11 of 32.
Tony Perez demonstrating pinstriping
Source: Photo courtesy of NaiChe Sol ChaviraSlide 12 of 32.
Cruiser Photo at Grand Avenue Get Down
Source: Photo Courtesy of Christian Otjen Photography at the SagradoSlide 13 of 32.
California Artist Lucky Hellcat with husband and Viva Ramirez
Source: Photo courtesy of NaiChe Sol ChaviraSlide 14 of 32.
Picture of Albert's 1967 Impala. This car was originally painted by Mario Lopez fromthe Candy Factory in Los Angeles. He has since passed away.
Source: Photo courtesy of NaiChe Sol ChaviraSlide 15 of 32.
Old Cars beautifying Grand Avenue in Phoenix
Source: Photo courtesy of NaiChe Sol ChaviraSlide 16 of 32.
A beautiful 1950 Chevy Truck
Source: Photo courtesy of NaiChe Sol ChaviraSlide 17 of 32.
El Whyner of In the Streets Magazine that features cars and lowriders
Source: Photo courtesy of NaiChe Sol ChaviraSlide 18 of 32.
Ron Hernandez and El Whyner at Grand Avenue Get Down
Source: Photo courtesy of Mark SalcedoSlide 19 of 32.
Jmm Pinstriping.
Source: Photo courtesy of Sam GomezSlide 20 of 32.
Pinstriped cars on display at Grand Ave Get Down
Source: Photo courtesy of Sam GomezSlide 21 of 32.
Photographer Sam Gomez captures El Moises' Native American fine art
Source: Photo courtesy of Sam GomezSlide 22 of 32.
DA Morales Pinstriping
Source: Photo courtesy of Sam GomezSlide 23 of 32.
Grand Ave Get Down
Source: Photo courtesy of Gail Mokry Shoultes Slide 24 of 32.
Grand Ave Get Down Paintings by Mike Royal (first 2 paintings on the left)
Source: Photo courtesy of Gail Mokry Shoultes Slide 25 of 32.
Motorcycles at Grand Ave Get Down
Source: Photo courtesy of David ArandaSlide 26 of 32.
Mini Chopper at Grand Ave Get Down
Source: Photo courtesy of David ArandaSlide 27 of 32.
Grand Avenue Get Down
Source: Photo courtesy of NaiChe Sol ChaviraSlide 28 of 32.
Con Safos C/S
Source: Photo courtesy of NaiChe Sol ChaviraSlide 29 of 32.
El Moises -- Arizona Fine Artist
Source: Photo courtesy of Sam GomezSlide 30 of 32.
El Rudy - Photographer at In The Streets Magazine
Source: Photo courtesy of Sam GomezSlide 31 of 32.
Photographer Sam Gomez
Source: Photo courtesy of Sam GomezSlide 32 of 32.
Bikini Lounge
Source: Photo courtesy of Christian V Otjen

The Japanese magazine that has a lot of street Lifestyle documentation of artists, exquisite photography, style and cultural presence.

El Moises artwork featured in Japan 38 Timez

Date:  Friday, April 5, 2013

Time:  7:00 pm

Location:The Lot -  1005 North Second Street, Phoenix, AZ.

The Tequila Party CD and our concert is a political expression via art and music to push for fixing the broken immigration system.  Artists contributing to this cause believe in a humane and legal immigration plan.  We support the DREAM Act and more importantly, we believe in Mexican-American / Chicano / Latin empowerment. We know that leadership must arise from the ethnic community (via the Mexican-Americans) who have been most hurt and most affected.  It is a fact that the majority of those who are being deported are of Mexican descent.  Mexican-Americans are a rising population muscle and they account for almost 70% of the Latino population pie.  It is time to stand firm against  what politicians in Arizona refer to as “Operation Wetback.”  It is time to support and defend those who are afraid to defend themselves.

That said, we are also selling t-shirts that depict bully Sheriff Joe Arpaio as the devil or el diablo in revolutionary red (see below image).  The t-shirt design was created by the fine artist El Moises — an artist of Arizona.   The State of Arizona may try to bring our spirits down — but it is through adversity that makes us work harder and with fervor.  Politicians may try to eliminate Chicano or Ethnic Studies and our history, but that history will be sought out and live in our hearts forever.

All t-shirt and CD artwork by El Moises Not For Reproduction-Copyright www. artedemoises.com

C/S

We survived the end of the world even though some predicted it would end, but in my view, 12-21-12, marks the beginning of a new era.   Some of us have already caught the winds of change and the aura of a heightened awakening.

As we become more alert to our surroundings, we might ask ourselves if we want to continue to do things the old

Artist: El Moises (Famous Mexican-American artist in Phoenix, Arizona) 

way in a time when those ideas seem to have expired and are boring.  I think many of us feel that things have become stale and ineffective, and we yearn for invigoration.  How many more years will it take in order for Chicanos to wake up and snap out of the blind sheep mentality?

The old way of doing things is no longer working for us anymore.  Chicanos have become too passive and have not asserted ourselves to changing things that have a direct impact on our community.  How can we snap out of it, only to reinvent ourselves, adapt with changing times, and leapfrog things 10 years in advance?  Why does it seem that more of us react to things instead working on proactive ideas?

I believe one way to get out of the rut is to look and learn from other visionaries like Steve Jobs.  Jobs was no fool – he said: “One way to remember who you are is to remember who your heroes are.” He studied the history of other visionaries like Einstein and Alexander Graham Bell as his journey in life took him on turns, valley dips and the peaks of hills.

It was his passion and assertiveness that changed the entire globe. It was his ability to master intuitiveness because he did not allow the noise and clamor of the others to take him off focus.  He was a natural-born hippie that allowed him to be comfortable in his own skin as he worked autonomously in key decisions in his life.  Jobs had a gift and the ability to focus, and because he believed – he often got what he wanted.

Many people did not know that Steve Jobs was emotional.  He was extremely passionate and would sometimes burst into tears on matters that affected the companies he created.  It is all right to be passionate.  It is all right to be emotional.  Jobs viewed himself an artist – and he was because an artist is a person who creates.  Jobs helped to create tools that help humanity.  The ripple in the pond he gave us continues to permeate even after his death.

In reading the Steve Jobs book by Walter Isaacson, I was happy to learn that Jobs did not easily receive ideas from just anyone. He scrutinized the ideas. In my view, he wanted to be convinced. He had to be convinced. He wanted folks who were selling him an idea to guarantee why their ideas would work. He wanted to see if people had foresight and knew what the hell they were really talking about. He never seemed to just easily accept what others told him because he wanted to be resolved and had to believe in those ideas in order to defend them.

How many Chicanos out there easily accept what others tell them without verifying it first? We see this happen in religion, the school systems, politics, foundations, business culture, groups and organizations.

Jobs challenged others with sheer veracity and would sometimes put a person through a meat grinder before he would finally agree with them. Mexican-Americans ought to do the same. Jobs also believed the laws of nature didn’t apply to him thereby giving him the ability to think differently. How many times do Chicanos limit themselves because they get stuck into the groove of things? [Steve Jobs asked this of himself and constantly worked at reinventing himself.] Do we have tunnel vision? Do we get caught up in certain paradigms and/or belief systems? Do we really want to invite others who carry a defeatist attitude into our lives? Or do we want to use our minds and create solutions that are not the norm? We ought not put limits on ourselves.

Are you passionate about changing the school systems for the better? Are you passionate about creating a business entity that can fill a need? Are you passionate about the direction of our Nation? The globe?

How many more years will it take before we see more Chicanos take the bull by the horns and become more innovative – working on making decisions that are 10 years ahead of our time?

Are you sick and tired of being sick and tired? Are you sick of how delayed we seem to be in solving problems?

We must assert ourselves and be ahead of the curve as the revolutionary awakening grabs hold. I urge friends and loved ones to look at other heroes and visionaries throughout history. The Steve Jobs book by Walter Isaacson will make an excellent gift for the New Year season to anyone who wants to try to become fresh new spirits; and I particularly recommend this book because Jobs was ahead of his time. We must and we ought to think of solutions that will bring us ahead of the curve.

The way we communicate moving forward is vital. Gone are the days of old excuses and playing the victim card. We now have innovative tools the previous generation didn’t have, and we should consider ourselves lucky to have this inventive platform in place where we can launch our ideas.

As we look to new ways of communication in an attempt to solving the complex problems of our universe – we ought to consider why a John Lennon or Marvin Gaye song has everlasting global and sustaining reach instead of the pundit who is merely criticizing others without producing and working on solutions to problems at hand.

Look at your leaders. Are they merely reactionary? Or, are they proactive and working on solving problems 10 years ahead.

I think it’s time to snap out of this crusty old thinking, and it might be a healthy idea for us to evaluate whether or not we are becoming blind sheep. Life-giving blood is constantly on the move in our veins, but do we act like it? Should we not be more alive, passionate and become a positive source of energy?