I AM ERIC AVILA by Eric Avila

I AM ERIC AVILA

FOR ALL OF THOSE THAT WRESTLE WITH BLACKNESS

Human Races (Las Castas) These are a list of the different classifications of race after the Spanish conquest of the Americas. The color of your skin affected how you were treated by society.

But race is the child of racism, not the father. And the process of naming â&#x20AC;&#x153;the peopleâ&#x20AC;? has never been a matter of genealogy and physiognomy so much as one of hierarchy. Ta-Nehisi Coates

American People Series #20: Die, 1967 Oil on canvas, 72 x 144 inches

The older artists were cautious-“half-stepping,” as they used to say in the sixties-trying to get by in the art world and not drawing attention to their blackness. “Art is art. Quality is the important thing. It doesn’t matter what color you are” was their message. They knew there was little or no support for artists in the black community—so what could be gained by alienating friends and contacts in the white world? On the other hand, I was not concerned with friends or enemies. Being an unknown and a newcomer, I had neither. I was concerned with making truthful statements in my art and having it seen. Faith Ringgold

I am Eric Avila.

This is page 8

Contents

I am Black. page 10

I am an Artist. page 34

This is page 9

I am a Graphic Designer. page 52

I am Eric Avila

I AM BLACK

This is page 10

I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I

feel feel feel feel feel feel feel feel feel feel feel feel feel feel feel feel feel feel feel feel feel feel feel feel feel feel feel feel feel

colored colored colored colored colored colored colored colored colored colored colored colored colored colored colored colored colored colored colored colored colored colored colored colored colored colored colored colored colored

still...But still...But still...But still...But still...But still...But still...But still...But still...But still...But still...But still...But still...But still...But still...But still...But still...But still...But still...But still...But still...But still...But still...But still...But still...But still...But still...But still...But still...But

I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I

don’t don’t don’t don’t don’t don’t don’t don’t don’t don’t don’t don’t don’t don’t don’t don’t don’t don’t don’t don’t don’t don’t don’t don’t don’t don’t don’t don’t don’t

This is page 11

always always always always always always always always always always always always always always always always always always always always always always always always always always always always always

feel feel feel feel feel feel feel feel feel feel feel feel feel feel feel feel feel feel feel feel feel feel feel feel feel feel feel feel feel

colored. colored. colored. colored. colored. colored. colored. colored. colored. colored. colored. colored. colored. colored. colored. colored. colored. colored. colored. colored. colored. colored. colored. colored. colored. colored. colored. colored. colored.

I am Eric Avila

This is page 12

I am Black

Blacks canâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t afford to be nonpolitical.

This is page 13

I am Eric Avila

I feel most colored when Iâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;m viewed wearing a hoodie and snapback.

R.I.P. Trayvon Martin

This is page 14

I am Black

I really like this hoodie. It keeps me warm and lets people know I go to Purchase.

This is page 15

I am Eric Avila

I feel most colored when I hear that another unarmed black has been murdered.

This is page 16

I am Black

Eric Garner getting choked for selling cigarettes moments before his death. July 17, 2014

This is page 17

I am Eric Avila

Walter Scott, unarmed, running moments before getting shot in the back. April 4, 2015

This is page 18

I am Black

Section of East Bâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;way Mural August 2015 Eric Avila

This is page 19

I am Eric Avila

Police killed at least 102 unarmed black people in 2015.

*http://mappingpoliceviolence.org/unarmed/

This is page 20

I am Black

Only 10 of the 102 cases resulted in officer(s) being charged with a crime.

This is page 21

*http://mappingpoliceviolence.org/unarmed/

I am Eric Avila

37% of unarmed people killed by police were black in 2015 despite black people being only 13% of the U.S. population.

*http://mappingpoliceviolence.org/unarmed/

This is page 22

I am Black

Nearly 1 in 3 black people killed by police in 2015 were identified as unarmed, though the actual number is likely higher due to underreporting.

This is page 23

*http://mappingpoliceviolence.org/unarmed/

â&#x20AC;&#x153;I feel most colored when I am against a sharp white background.â&#x20AC;? -Zora Neale Hurston, 1928

The White Background of Graphic Design

I am Black

Wolfgang Weingart Milton Glaser Seymour Chwast George Lois Michael Bierut Paula Scher David Carson Herbert Matter Max Bill Jan Tschichold Alexander Rodchenko El Lissitzky Alexey Brodovitch Saul Bass Paul Rand Eric Avila Herb Lubalin Massimo Vignelli Bradbury Thompson Filippo Tommaso Marinetti Kurt Schwitters Theo Van Doesburg Alvin Lustig Stefan Sagmeister David Carson April Greiman Ellen Lupton Tibor Kalman Katherine McCoy

So many White Faces, I canâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t help but

think about my blackness. This is a list of designers that I wrote off the top

of the head. Can you name any black Graphic Designers?

*Fascists, Feminists, Socialists, Capitalists, Immigrants, Modernists, Post-modernists are on this list but none of color.

This is page 25

I am Eric Avila

I felt most colored when I told my egg package design looks like a mixtape cover.

This is page 26

I am Black

I feel most colored when people assume my grandmother is a mammy.

This is page 27

I am Eric Avila

I felt most colored when I learned about Jack Johnson.

It was the fight of the century. The Heavyweight champion was viewed as the strongest man in the world. It was a symbol of white supremacy. The Color line barred blacks from competing for the championship. Jack Johnson broke the color line and became the first black heavyweight champion.

This is page 28

I am Black

I feel most colored when I hear a white person say nigga.

This is page 29

I am Eric Avila

I feel most colored when I am rushed out of a somewhat empty diner filled by white men.

ARE YOU READY TO ORDER ARE YOU READY TO ORDER

ARE YOU READY TO ORDER

ARE YOU DONE EATING ARE YOU DONE EATING ARE YOU DONE EATING ARE YOU READY TO ORDER

ARE YOU DONE EATING ARE YOU DONE EATING

ARE YOU DONE EATING

ARE YOU DONE EATIN

ARE YOU READY TO ORDER

ARE YOU DONE EATING ARE YOU DONE EATING ARE YOU READY TO ORDER

ARE YOU DONE EATING ARE YOU DONE EATING

ARE YOU READY TO ORDER

ARE YOU DONE EA

AREDONE YOU DONE EATING ARE YOU EATING ARE YOU READY TO ORDER

“ H ey Travis , did you not ice how t he waiter This only is page paid 30 at tent ion to us? ”

I am Black

Apartment in East Harlem $2,400 Per Month FOR SALE I feel most colored when I hear about the Gentrification of Harlem.

“The analysis compared the median rent charged to recent movers in 2002 with rates charged in 2014, with inflation factored in. They used rents facing recent movers because that’s a better reflection of the actual going rate. The data show central Harlem topped the list with by far the most radical rent change: a 90% spike from 2002 to last year. That means the median rent charged to recent movers in 2002 was $821. Since then, as luxury apartment buildings sprung up across central Harlem, the median rent new movers face is now a stunning $1,560.” GREG B. SMITH, NEW YORK DAILY NEWS

ATING

This is page 31

I am Eric Avila

I feel most colored when I listen to “To Pimp a Butterfly” by Kendrick Lamar When you know, we been hurt, been down before, nigga When my pride was low, lookin' at the world like, “where do we go, nigga?” And we hate Popo, wanna kill us dead in the street for sure, nigga I’m at the preacher’s door My knees gettin’ weak and my gun might blow but we gon’ be alright Nigga, we gon’ be alright Nigga, we gon’ be alright We gon’ be alright Do you hear me, do you feel me? We gon’ be alright Nigga, we gon’ be alright Huh? We gon’ be alright Nigga, we gon’ be alright Do you hear me, do you feel me? We gon’ be alright -lyrics from Alright

This is page 32

I am an Artist

Just wanna be clear here. For the most part, I am “I’m not tragically colored.” me. Remember I don’t always think about my These are just some things race. Sometimes life boils down to whether I can that affect me deeply as a make content fit into a person of color and as a designer runs through my modular grid or trying to sketch a train car. It just mind as I make work. so happens I’m black. Ignoring race can prove to be naive at best.

This is page 33

I am Eric Avila

I AM AN ARTIST

This is page 34

Artists of Color:

Faith Ringgold Kameela Janan Rasheed Jordan Casteel Kerry James Marshall Cullen Washington Jr. Jennifer Packer Carrie Mae Weems Cy Gavin Iona Rozeal Brown Glenn Ligon Jacob Lawrence Archibald Motley Augusta Savage Robert Pruitt Toyin Ojih Odutola Alvin Loving Jr. Talwst Mickalene Thomas Art is another white background, Hank Willis Thomas but I donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t contrast as much. Kara Walker When I make art life becomes Eric Avila about form, intention, context, and color.

This is page 35

I am Eric Avila

Sketches on the train Pen and Paint marker 4"x5.5" 2014-2015

This is page 36

Train Ride from Halsey St. White Chalk, Paint marker, Acrylic, & Charcoal 80"x42" 2015

Slumber Pen, Paint marker, Acrylic, & Charcoal 33"x 19" 2015

I am Eric Avila

Eyes mural Interior House Paint & Acrylic Approximately 24"x60" 2014

This is page 38

I am an Artist

Eyes Acrylic 16"x20" 2014

This is page 39

I am Eric Avila

Figure Drawing Charcoal 24"x18" 2014

This is page 40

I am an Artist

Picking Up Old Corpses Acrylic 16"x20" 2014

This is page 41

I am Eric Avila

Closeup of Portrait of Joe Louis Ink 30"x40" 2014

This is page 42

I am an Artist

Dethroned 65 Charcoal & Watercolor 22"x26" 2013

This is page 43

I am Eric Avila

This is page 44

I am an Artist

Hegemony Lithography Print, Edition of 6 22"x30" 2014

This is page 45

I am Eric Avila

Victory Lithography Print, Edition of 3 22"x30" 2014

This is page 46

I am an Artist

This is page 47

I am Eric Avila

Lady with a Fan Charcoal, Acrylic, Chalk Approximately 42"x50" 2015

This is page 48

I am an Artist

Self Portrait Charcoal, Acrylic, Chalk, & Ink Approximately 42"x108" 2015

This is page 49

I am Eric Avila

I have a broad range of skills and subject matter, but sometimes I use my skills to address race.

Untitled Lithography Print, Paint marker, & Acrylic 9â&#x20AC;?x12â&#x20AC;? 2014

This is page 50

I am an Artist

This is page 51

I am Eric Avila

I AM A GRAPHIC DESIGNER

This is page 52

I am an Graphic Designer

I have designed posters for my friends.

This is page 53

I am Eric Avila

Z Berns Senior Recital

February 12th 8pm Music Building Choral Hall

This is page 54

I am an Graphic Designer

Jædon Alvira senior recital

April 19th 9:30 PM music building choral hall

f e a t u r i ng Zach Berns on drums Malik McLaurine on bass Albert Ahlf on piano Alex Hamburger on flute & baritone sax Nicholas Green on alto sax Rich Bomzer on tenor & alto sax Sam Baliey on tenor sax Patrick Dudášik on trumpet Ben Barnett on trombone Connor Waage on guitar Keturah Jordan on vocals Yoh the Shaolin mc ENxVE The Nameless Vagrant mc Yours truly on tenor sax

This is page 55

I am Eric Avila

GLADES CERTAIN CREATURES LORD RAJA RAHEL KRAKAUR

10/17

9pm at Whitsons

PFBYM SAF

This is page 56

I am an Graphic Designer

10/25

The Stood

8pm

P F BYM SAF

This is page 57

I am Eric Avila

THE MODERN PROMETHEUS

A PL AY BY J OSEPH R AMAD I N O

ADAPTED FROM THE NOVEL BY MARY SHELLY

Thursday, February 25th: 8:30pm Friday, February 26 th: 8:30pm Saturday, February 27th: 3:30pm & 8:30pm at the Humanities Theatre

This is page 58

I am an Graphic Designer

Twelve Angry Jurors

October 9th 7:30 pm

October 10th 2:30 pm

At Southside-Campus Center South

Presented by special arrangement with the Dramatic Publishing Company of Woodstock, IL. Adapted by Sherman L. Sergel from the TV show by Reginald Rose

This is page 59

I am Eric Avila

I have designed books for my classes.

This is page 60

I am an Graphic Designer

Clay 54 was a process book showing portraits of clay in the styles of Rococo, Goth, and 90â&#x20AC;&#x2122;s/ David Carson.

This is page 61

I am Eric Avila

Stills from “La Jetée” were mixed with scenes from “Man with a Movie Camera” in a 10 page zine explaining and demonstrating the Kuleshov Effect.

This is page 62

I am an Graphic Designer

This is page 63

I am Eric Avila

This is page 64

I am an Graphic Designer

I have even designed a personal zine.

This is page 65

I am Eric Avila

My drawings and paintings of the subway car along with Sean Sirotaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s photographs of the subway.

This is page 66

I am an Graphic Designer

I even redesigned the layout of a literary journal called Italics Mine.

This is page 67

I am Eric Avila

Tilts were incorporated into the literary journal to add emphasis and reference the tilt of the italic letterform.

This is page 68

I am an Graphic Designer

But as a designer, I have yet to really engage with the concerns of the #blacklivesmatter movement or make design work that responds to the state of black life. I think there is a need for more designers of color and for graphic design to do more than just wait for a client to address blackness. Graphic Designers do not turn a blind eye to environmentalism, or politics. Will it take black designers to be the ones to respond to the issues of representation in the field? If so how?

This is page 69

I am Eric Avila

This is Emory Douglas. He was the Graphic Designer & Minister of Culture for the Black Panther Party. The Black Panther Party wanted to create a culture of resistance and empowerment. It was formed as a response to the civil rights movement, segregation, and white supremacy. He was able to create a visual culture that was provocative and responded to the state of black life.

This is page 70

I am an Graphic Designer

The Panther was a symbol from the civil rights movement and only used violence if necessary. If you corner a panther it will attack.

This is page 71

I am Eric Avila

This is page 72

I am an Graphic Designer

This is page 73

I am Eric Avila

This is page 74

I am an Graphic Designer

This is page 75

I am Eric Avila

A newspaper was created to inform the African-American community about issues in the community.

This is page 76

I am an Graphic Designer

Acknowledge race! Respond to the conversation of race! We need to design a society where stereotypes don’t matter. Design a society where heirarchy of race is eliminated. I wrestle with my blackness, and want to make this conflict visible in the hopes of expanding the conversation of Graphic Design. I wish to use my skills as an Artist and Designer to address blackness and help create a visual culture that empowers those with “black” bodies.

T o be This contin is page 77u ed

Colophon The typefaces used are Akzidenz Grotesk and Centennial. Akzidenz Grotesk was originally released by the Berthold Type Foundry. Centennial was inspired by the typeface Century and released by Linotype. The paper in this book is Hammermill Laser Jet Paper. Printed in May 2016.