"Lechuga Lucha" by Eric Garcia

"Lechuga Lucha"
by Eric Garcia
Lithograph with 4 screenprinted layers
22x30'' printed on Stonehenge
Published by Hoofprint Workshop in 2014
Printer: Gabe Hoare and Liz Born
Limited Edition of 20
$175

"When translated “Lechuga Lucha” is a play on words. “Lettuce (Let Us) Fight” is a print reminiscent of Chicano political posters printed in the late 60’s and early 70’s. The piece blends “Americana” iconography--the image of a Sleepy Hollow-like headless horseman, with the iconic Chicano avenger, Joaquin Murrieta. A flaming head of lettuce now stands in for the headless rider’s pumpkin. The rider references the real-life beheaded Murrieta, an infamous bandido to some and famous Robin Hood-like hero to others. The workers’ struggle in the fields did not end with Cesar Chavez. This print addresses the ongoing fight for labor rights in the 21st Century. Corporations like Chipotle and Wendy’s in places like Immokalee, Florida continue to abuse the civil and human rights of people who bring food to our tables. Let US Fight!"

Known for mixing history and culture with contemporary themes, Eric J. Garcia always tries to create art that is much more than just aesthetics. Garcia has shown in numerous national and international exhibitions and has received many awards to include the prestigious Jacob Javits Fellowship and was recently awarded one of the Midwestern Voices and Visions Residencies. Born and raised in Albuquerque’s South Valley, Garcia earned his Bachelors of Fine Arts from the University of New Mexico and went on to get his Masters of Fine Arts degree from the School of the Art Institute of Chicago. A versatile artist working in an assortment of media, from hand-printed posters, to nationally published political cartoons, to large scale public murals, they all have a common goal of educating and challenging.