Atlan Arceo-Witzl ’18 - Tang Teaching Museum

Atlan Arceo-Witzl ’18, *Cara(s) de la Comunidad (Face(s) of the Community)*, 2018, woodblock print, 22 1/2 x 15 inches, courtesy of the artist

Atlan Arceo-Witzl ’18, Cara(s) de la Comunidad (Face(s) of the Community), 2018, woodblock print, 22 ½ x 15 inches, courtesy of the artist

Artwork and Artist Statement by Atlan Arceo-Witzl ’18

It is hard to define what it is to be a printmaker without addressing community. Creatively oriented spaces like Self Help Graphics & Art are sustained by the continued support of those who love and value the neighborhood and the people in it. The genuine power of community is not only to unite but also to foster individual growth. With a strong foundation in community, communication can often become easier on a number of levels.

The collection of SHG prints in the Tang Teaching Museum collection announces a celebration or gathering. This seemingly mundane act is made rich and lively by the artists’ imagery. These prints fundamentally reflect the artists as belonging to a community. At the same time, they raise awareness for and reflect the community. They embody the legacy of the Latinx populace in Los Angeles and contribute to the art of printmaking.

Thinking about the traditions of SHG, I made a print of my own. Cara(s) de la Comunidad (Face(s) of the Community) reflects upon the elements of power in community, communication, and the creative act.

Originally published in Accelerate: Access & Inclusion at The Tang Teaching Museum 2 (2018)

About Atlan Arceo-Witzl

Atlan Arceo-Witzl earned his BS in studio art with concentrations in printmaking, drawing, and sculpture from Skidmore College in 2018, earning art department honors. He was awarded the 2018 Eduardo Albanell ’16 Prize for Excellence in Sculpture, the 2017 Mary Haight Shulha Award, and the 2017-18 Eleanor Linder Winter ’43 Endowed Scholarship. His work plays with the connection of past and present, bridging time and place with the way we make use of objects and visual symbols in the ritual of communication. He is influenced by the visual language of Mesoamerican and indigenous cultures around the world as well more modern institutions.

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