Welcome to Art is Awesome, the show where we talk with an artist or art worker with a connection to the San Francisco Bay Area.
In this episode, Emily Wilson interviews artist Julio Cesar Morales. Julio discusses his journey from Tijuana to San Francisco, his influences from social movements, music, and literature, and his interdisciplinary approach to art. The conversation explores his exhibitions "My America" at Gallery Wendy Norris and "Ojo" at the Jan Shrem and Maria Manetti Shrem Museum of Art at UC Davis, both focusing on themes of migration, borders, and immigrant experiences.
Julio shares stories behind his watercolor series inspired by real-life attempts to cross the US-Mexico border, and reflects on the symbolism of twins and portals in his work. He also talks about his collaborations in sound art, the importance of music in his creative process, and the impact of community and social justice on his art.
Tune in for an inspiring conversation about art, migration, and the power of storytelling.
About Artist Julio Cesar Morales:
Julio César Morales employs a range of media and visual strategies to explore issues of migration, underground economies, and labor, on personal and global scales. He works by whatever means necessary: in a series of watercolor illustrations, Morales diagramed means of human trafficking in passenger vehicles, while in other projects he employed the DJ turntable, neon signs, the historical reenactment of a famous meal, or the conventions of an artist-run gallery to explore social interaction and political perspectives.
Julio's artwork has been shown at venues internationally, including; the Lyon Biennale, France; Istanbul Biennale, Turkey; Los Angeles County Art Museum, Los Angeles; Singapore Biennale, Singapore; Frankfurter Kunstverein, Frankfurt, Germany; Prospect 3, New Orleans; SFMOMA, San Francisco; Perez Art Museum, Miami; Museo Tamayo, Mexico City; Museo del Barrio, New York City; The UCLA Hammer Museum, Los Angeles; Manetti Shrem Museum of Art, Davis; and Gallery Wendi Norris, San Francisco, amongst others. His work is in private and public collections including MoMA, New York; The Los Angeles County Art Museum, Los Angeles; The Kadist Foundation, San Francisco and Paris; The San Diego Museum of Contemporary Art, San Diego; Museum of Fine Arts, Houston; Deutsche Bank, Germany; and The Office of Art in Embassies. Morales has been written about in The New York Times, The Los Angeles Times, Artforum, Frieze, Flash Art, Art Nexus, and Art in America.
Julio's Artist Profile, CLICK HERE.
Follow Julio on Instagram: @JCM_3000
OJO Exhibit at the Shrem Museum of Art at UCDavis, CLICK HERE.
MY AMERICA Exhibit at Gallery Wendi Norris
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About Podcast Host Emily Wilson:
Emily a writer in San Francisco, with work in outlets including Hyperallergic, Artforum, 48 Hills, the Daily Beast, California Magazine, Latino USA, and Women’s Media Center. She often writes about the arts. For years, she taught adults getting their high school diplomas at City College of San Francisco.
Follow Emily on Instagram: @PureEWil
Follow Art Is Awesome on Instagram: @ArtIsAwesome_Podcast
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CREDITS:
Art Is Awesome is Hosted, Created & Executive Produced by Emily Wilson.
Theme Music "Loopster" Courtesy of Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com)
Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 4.0 License
The Podcast is Co-Produced, Developed & Edited by Charlene Goto of @GoToProductions.
For more info, visit Go-ToProductions.com
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