A group of West Coast artists are branding America’s immigration movement with what might be considered a new logo, ABC reports. Melanie Cervantes, Cesar Maxit, Jesus Barraza, Ernesto Yerena, Julio Salgado, and Favianna Rodriguez are among the artists who have taken to painting monarch butterflies on walls, T-shirts, and billboards as a reminder that migration can be natural and beautiful.
ABC notes that the symbol isn’t new among activists, but it has been “popularized” in recent months by artists such as Rodriguez, a print-maker who is the subject of a January YouTube documentary on Pharrell Williams’s channel titled “Migration is Beautiful.”
“Art is beautiful. It speaks to more senses than press releases and newspaper headlines,” Rodriguez told ABC. “The more we can turn a press conference into a performance art piece, by wearing butterfly wings, or showcasing our icon work, the better.”
— Rachel Corbett
(Photo: “Migration is Beautiful” by John Carr and Favianna Rodriguez)
Tags: Activism, Favianna Rodriguez, News, Pharrell Williams, Rachel Corbett, Street Art
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It maybe a Mariposa(badly done) but sure is no Monarch. And immigration IS human history, including war. Humans are even more territorial than materialistic, take my stuff and we will fight and defend moderately, try to take “my” land and it is to the death, or have to move on also for more warfare.
Artist are so ignorant and why so much bad art now. No real education in art academies or “street”(never had a real job leaches or contributed to anyone in either) artistes.
I saw Melanie Cervantes speak at the BCRW Feminist & Scholar Conference this weekend. She is quite a force. Her activism, art, and voice are inspiring.