On the eve of National Hispanic Heritage Month this September, people gathered into a South Side community hub to kickstart Mexican Independence Day weekend in Chicago. The space was filled with rows of vendors selling prints, stickers, clothing, pottery, and more. Throughout the night, poets, musicians, and a DJ took the stage, while new and familiar faces browsed the booths and art installations.
“There’s a lot of people who are afraid to show who they are,” said Ruidosa Art Collective Founder and El Barrio event co-organizer, Francisco ‘Pancho’ Garcia. “This is an opportunity to show out…and to be proud of, like: this is my culture, and I love it.”
El Barrio Art Show welcomed artists and performers to showcase their work at Southside Sociál in Back of the Yards. Organized by Ruidosa Art Collective founders Stephanie ‘Soli’ Herrera and Garcia, the legacy event was transformed in its second year from a backyard show to an evening of art, vendors, tattooing, and music. It was followed by an official afterparty at Subterranean in collaboration with Mictlān Productions, which hosts underground dance parties and punk shows.
Paradice Tattoo joined the festivities by offering Friday the 13th flash tattoos and selling shop apparel. Ricardo Ibanez, one of the artists at their booth, said they got to participate through a friend who knows Garcia. The Pilsen tattoo studio has participated in similar events in the past, but Ibanez noted this was one of the best vendor experiences because of the supportive environment. “Networking is the best part of it,” she said.
The Ruidosa Art Collective was founded in March 2023, born out of a Latin-American book club called Amoxtli. The weekly book discussions at Pilsen Arts & Community House began almost two years ago when Herrera, an automation engineer and artist, was going through a personal sobriety journey and started the book club by gathering interest on Instagram. After Garcia joined Amoxtli, they knew it was something special. Seeing artists, musicians, and creatives all participating led them to start the collective to create spaces such as El Barrio for the Latinx community.
Prior to organizing this event, Herrera and Garcia hosted a series of artist podcast interviews through Ruidosa called ‘El Barrio.’ Although the name can carry a negative connotation, Herrera said they are taking it back as part of their identity, which is often lost through assimilation. They hope to inspire youth participants and show that they can be themselves even in America.
“Me and Pancho were overwhelmed with the responses of the youth. There were a lot of people under eighteen that submitted or demonstrated interest in this and we were just so happy to mentor them, and show them this is how you do this, and ‘please come and sit with us at this table,’” Herrera said.
One of the many artists at the event was Mariaelena Velasquez, who found out about El Barrio through online mutuals. Their booth showcased crochet pieces of all styles and sizes, including a fourteen-inch Our Lady of Guadalupe doll for sale.
“I actually first made it for myself like three years ago, and then I posted it online and people wanted to buy it from me, so I started actually making them to sell,” Velasquez said.
Currently accepting custom online orders as Mars Crochet Critters, Velasquez has been crocheting since late 2019 and is self-taught mostly through YouTube videos. Born in Chicago, Velasquez is now a community college student living in Romeoville, but goes back and forth quite a bit to the city for family and events. Her mother, who used to also crochet, supports her at events and helps with set up.
Garcia said the art show and collective are essential for the community, as they understand the struggle of growing up with dreams of being a recognized creative only to be sidelined.
“When we started Ruidosa, I wanted to give everyone the opportunity, especially the alternative brown kids.” he said. “Alt rock or heavy metal can be assumed to be just for white people, but there’s actually a whole scene and community in Pilsen and Little Village.”
By helping book events for Ruidosa and beyond, Garcia is always looking for new spots to host shows which can include even taquerias like Casa Cafe. “I love helping people find who they are, encouraging people to do better for themselves, and give people opportunities like this,” he said.
The El Barrio organizers also gave a shout out to Chicago hardcore band Si Dios Quiere for their impact motivating brown folks in the community. “The first time that I saw those brown people, brown teenagers, that were alternative and standing with such pride, confidence, and owning who they were, it completely transformed the relationship that I had, not only as a spectator and a fan, but in my identity,” Herrera said.
Ruidosa Art Collective hopes to continue to help others, create visibility, and in the future open a venue or creative studio for community members to use.
Herrera tries to live by the motto “Amor con amor se paga,” which translates to “love is paid with love.”
“If somebody shows you love, you need to show them love back,” she said. “That’s how the world becomes balanced.”
Madeline Cruz works as an administrative coordinator for an Illinois nonprofit organization. She is committed to social justice and uplifting stories especially within Chicago’s Latinx community. As an appreciator of films and food, Maddie spends her free time watching movies at home or finding new coffee shops and restaurants to try.
