Melanie Cervantes

Melanie Cervantes is a Xicana activist-artist whose role is to translate the hopes and dreams of justice movements into images that agitate and inspire. Melanie’s work includes black and white illustrations, paintings, installations and paper stencils,...

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“Give Me My Roses” by Melanie Cervantes, DignidadRebelde.com

Give me my roses while I am still here.

I have heard this sentiment so many times usually uttered by women who were older than me when addressing their family and feeling unappreciated. And, as of late I have seen people use it in their social media posts. Particularly from the people in my world that work as organizers, educators and parents. The sentiment lands squarely in the center of my heart. In my opinion dominant culture has eviscerated the life blood from many of our practices of expressing gratitude and it’s a detriment to our collective health.

One of my favorite group exercises is one where a group of people that know and work with each other write down anonymous notes of gratitude to the people in the circle. Then one by one each person takes a turn to close their eyes and receive these notes. They can’t see who wrote them but they do get to read them later. Anytime I have done this exercise I am always left wondering why people don’t express these feelings more often and more directly. I don’t have the answers just the desire for change in practices of gratitude.

When preparing to create this print I found that The Carter Family, a White traditional folk music group that recorded between 1927 and 1956, wrote a song called “Give Me My Roses While I Live” in 1932. Some of the lyrics below really punctuate the phrase's meaning: [Chorus] Give me the roses while I live Trying to cheer me on Useless are flowers that you give After the soul has gone

[Verse 2] Let us not wait to do good deeds Till they have passed away Now is the time to sow good seeds While here on earth we stay

[Chorus]

[Verse 3] Kind words are useless when folks lie Cold in a narrow bed Don't wait till death to speak kind words Now should the words be said

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We are opening up the Dignidad Rebelde studio this weekend for all the folks who have asked if they can come by and check out prints in person. This weekend December 22nd and 23rd we will be available between noon and 6pm if you would like to shop for prints, posters, buttons or stickers. Check out our digs at 2600 Union Street in West Oakland. We are located on the corner of Union and 26th. https://www.instagram.com/p/BroZCWbj085/?utm_source=ig_tumblr_share&igshid=1rb75bawcmnr9

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Today a major protesta is happening at the San Diego Tijuana border. I am unable to travel because of concerns for my health so I was feeling really down. However, somehow los ancestros intervened and were like" gurl turn that from upside down." I was invited to design a t-shirt for the children that would lead the march. I chose to draw a barrilete (a Guatemalan kite) twith a child's face in the center flying high in the sky. I also used the national birds of Honduras and El Salvador so that the people from Northern Triangle could be represented symbolically elevated in the air beyond the chain link fence which both symbolizes the chain link cages that families and children are being locked in and as well as serving as a visual echo of the border. I echo the tweet BLM shared..."The babies and the children are leading the #FreeOurFuture march. We do this for them. We fight every day for them." #AbolishICE#CHINGALAMIGRA #EndFamilySeparation #BlackLivesMatter

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The response to this poster has been overwhelming. This is the first political poster I have designed and printed since before was diagnosed with lung cancer and underwent surgery. I think I have been holding alot of creative energy, love and anger inside me for nearly a year and now I let it explode onto the page. Lots of folks have asked how they can get a poster. We have decided to change up our strategy. We are making the screenprints available on our website shop.DignidadRebelde.com as well as sticker packs of the same design. We are offering these as a way to raise the necessary funds to print 4000 stickers and 5000 offset (machine made) posters that we will give away for free if we raise enough funds. So if you or someone you know is interested in supporting this effort please encourage them to visit the site. We are also asking folks that are willing to give direct donations to the effort to send their donations to: VENMO: @melanie-cervantes PAYPAL: [email protected] Thank you and please SHARE!

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Young people are my source of optimism. Yesterday we were visiting MACLA where we hVe about 80 posters in their “We Interrupt This Message” exhibit. As part of the exhibit a participatory activity was created and while we were visiting we had the chance to see a tour of young people tour the exhibit. #theyoutharethetruth

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“We Interrupt this Message”looks at the role of artists as activists/disruptors. Featuring Artists: María María Acha-Kutscher, B-Side Brujas, Dignidad Rebelde (Melanie Cervantes & Jesus Barraza), Luis Pinto, and more. Opens tonight @macla_sanjose at 7pm. Come check out a large installation of over 80 pieces from the last ten+ years of work. (at MACLA / Movimiento de Arte y Cultura Latino Americana)

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Feeling really strong and healthy enough to be kut in community. Started the day eating a yummy falafel and fattoush brunch @reemscalifornia with @jesusvbarraza. Then we breezed over to Hasta Muerte Coffee to show love and solidarity because the cafe has been getting attacked for its policy of not serving police. The lines were out the door and around the corner! We picked up some coffee to roast at home when we can’t make it to the cafe, a yummy pickled lentil and arugula salad and some iced coffee. Please show these spots some live because they hold space for their community and fill our bellies with deliciousness and show us so much love. Repost @hastamuertecoffee ・・・ Happy Saturday! THANK YOU GRACIAS POR TODO. Yesterday was one of our favorite days since we opened. Because y’all drove hours, simply changed your morning routine to visit us, or maybe it was just another day that brought you back as a regular, we thrived. The warmth filled the space, the solidarity gave us momentum. At the end of everyday, all we want is to invite that warmth in and most importantly, try to hold safer space while filling y’all up with a hot cup, a smoothie, a snack, or just some conversation. Today is just as full with supporters FYI! Again, thanks for the love and support. Reminder, Sundays we have shorter hours: 9am-2pm 🌞✨ OH, and P.S. — better believe we made those extra 💵 yesterday 🤑 (at Hasta Muerte Coffee)

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#Repost @jesusvbarraza ・・・ Just completed this new print in support of Marichuy for president of Mexico. This is the first time the Zapatistas put forth a candidate in any electoral race and I’m excited to see what happens because in this world today it seems anything can happen. I printed an edition of these posters and they will be sold as a fundraiser to help a group of mujeres at UC Berkeley who will be going to Chiapas for the EZLN encuentro de mujeres in March. #dignidadrebelde #chiapas #marichuy #ezln #zapatistas

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SPOILER ALERT! This piece contains spoilers for the film Black Panther. Proceed with caution. SPOILER ALERT! - - - - The film Black Panther is quickly becoming a global pop cultural phenomenon as we round out it’s opening “President’s Day” (read Colonizer’s Day) weekend. There is so much to say about it but this isn’t an in depth critical analysis of the merits and flaws entire film, though we have our opinions about it. As Xicanxs, and non-black folks of color, we want to read, amplify and celebrate the voices and perspectives of black folks. +++ For us it came as no surprise that we identify so strongly with the antagonist of the film a character that many quickly and without hesitation labeled a villain. N'Jadaka, son of Prince N'Jobu aka Erik Stevens bka “Killmonger” is like many of us who have lost the connection to our ancestral homeland and is trying to make sense of the injustices of the colonial world we've inhabited for the past 500 years. Knowing that Wakanda exists and with it the tools he believes could change the power dynamic between the colonizer and colonized, he makes it his life long goal to become the king and use his power to help Black people around the world. Born in Oakland, this revolutionary attitude was passed down by his father who witnessed the destabilization of the Black community through the State repression and the influx of drugs and guns into communities by the US government. N'Jadaka/Erik sees another option for Wakanda, to help the world rid itself of the colonial powers that continue to oppress the Diaspora/Africans and to rise up as a power base that leads the world in a new direction. His methods can be considered problematic, but in the end it is his vision that leaves us imagining what a world where we have a champion on our side, one born in Oakland (home of the Black Panther Party for Self-Defense) is leading an uprising that will liberate us from the brunt of colonization. +++ Over the past decade, under the banner of Dignidad Rebelde...read more in comments. #oaklandforever #blackpanther #wakandaforgever #wakanda #killmonger

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My teenage self would have gone turbo on this button machine though I am sure there would have been at least a dozen more designs that included the f-bomb. I am still going in on these though.celebrating these revolutionary ancestors who have shaped my politics and view of the world.

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Create more than you consume. This is my commitment to myself this year. Though living up to the mantra has proved difficult as I fall in an abyss of sorrow. Sadness consumes me and it feels like there is no way out of it. • Suddenly I find a ray of sunshine and I am able to imagine a future. This is the moment to begin creating. To let life flow through me and out onto the page. • My well being requires time, focus and attention. I’ve shorted myself of the three for far too long. So I give myself these gifts. • Create more than you consume.

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My brain tingles when I look at this. I’ve never seen my designs so big. I am humbled by the opportunity. Thanks Tommy and crew. #Repost @e14gallery ・・・ big shout out to @jesusvbarraza and @melaniecervantes for the beautiful and powerful pieces featured in the windows next to the gallery. also shout out to @civicdesignstudio510 for coordinating the windows, alley and streetscapes with @fremonthighoakland @castlemonthigh sudaworks and oakland international school. come visit the gallery and check out the whole street! #dream #dignidadrebelde #artforthepeople (at E14 Gallery)

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Our final day of tabling today @studiograndoakland From 12:30pm to 6:30 pm we and many other baddass artists will be selling our wares. Just a few doors down from Grand Lake Theatre. Come by and say hello and support local folks. 3234 Grand Ave. 😘 (at Studio Grand)

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Finally have these El Corazon de Pan Dulce prints done in 8 color/paper combinations. 😅 phew my fave it this uktra limited edition on this crinkly Rose Gold paper from Thailand. I was only able to get a few sheets of this paper but it is so gorgeous... the photo doesn’t do it justice. We will have these available tonight @e14gallery. We will be there from 6-9 pm tonight with orher amazing artistas like @emorydouglasartist @lsiete7 @tu_tienda_azteca @girasoulll and @jesusvbarraza

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We will have a table at Critical Resistance’s Freedom on the Move Prisoner Solidarity Postcard Writing even tonight. 6-9pm in downtown Oakland (location is tagged here). The event is kid friendly and will have a kids station and childcare. “Every year in the wintertime, Critical Resistance sends a note of solidarity, hope, and encouragement to all of the subscribers of The Abolitionist newspaper that are currently locked up in jails, detention centers, and prisons. This year we have over 5,800 postcards to send to our imprisoned comrades.”- CR (at E.M. Wolfman General Interest Small Bookstore)

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Come by Galeria de la Raza this Sunday and pick up some work from local artists! Repost @galeriadelaraza ・・・ This Sunday Dec. 17th don't miss our Holiday Mercado that will feature local Bay Area artists and their work for sell! Come by and shop for amazingly unique gifts! We hope to see you there 🎁

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This is the last sale of the year! Everything on shop.DignidadRebelde.com is 15% off from now until the 11:59 PST Sunday night. Use code 15OFF at check out to get your discount.