My Nature is Hunger:
Print Premiere & Book Signing
Saturday, November 5th, 2005.

Vallen's latest oil paintings has been published as the cover art for My Nature Is Hunger, the newest book of poetry from award-winning Chicano author, Luis J. Rodríguez. Vallen took the title of the writer’s poetry anthology as the name of his painting, a work that mirrors the attitude of the poet’s verse. Vallen will be appearing with Luis J. Rodríguez in a Book Signing and Print Premiere at Tia Chucha’s Cafe Cultural this coming November 5th. Rodríguez (who is also the cofounder of Tia Chucha's,) will read from his latest poetry collection, and Vallen will be on hand to talk about the original oil painting created as the book cover. As part of the occasion, prints of Vallen's painting will be made available to the public for the first time. (You can purchase Vallen's print here.)

The event is scheduled for Saturday, November 5th, 2005 at 5 pm. Tia Chucha's Cafe Cultural is located at 12737 Glenoaks Blvd., #22, Sylmar, CA 91342. Phone: 818-362-7060. For address and directions, visit www.tiachucha.com.

Later that same evening at Tia Chucha's starting at 7 pm, Luis J. Rodríguez is inviting poets from around the LA area to read their works for peace, justice and a cooperative way of life as part of the global mobilization of poetry and conscious-raising, sponsored by Poets Against War (www.poetsagainstwar.net). Poets Against War, founded by award-winning poet and translator Sam Hamill, has amassed the largest collection of poetry against war in the world. They have been working hard to bring attention to stopping the US wars against Iraq and Afghanistan, and for the peaceful resolutions of the complex issues of our day for the benefit of all humanity. Rodríguez said this about the upcoming antiwar poetry recital, "It’s time that we imagined another way to deal with the hard issues confronting us instead of violence and war, I hope this event will galvanize the LA poetry community to activate their lives and their verses toward peace and true justice in our time."

Vallen and Rodríguez will also be appearing on KPFK Radio (90.7 FM,) Friday morning, November 3 as guests on Sonali Kohatkar's Uprising! radio hour. They will be discussing their collaborative effort and their shared belief in the arts as a means to create a better world. The LA Times Book Review section of October 16, 2005 published a one-page presentation of Luis Rodríguez’s new poetry book - which you can read, here.

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THE DEMISE OF DEMOCRACY?
November 3rd through November 27th, 2005.

Vallen is exhibiting at Demise of Democracy, a group show at the Orange County Center for Contemporary Art (OCCCA.) Running from Nov. 3rd to Nov. 27th, 2005, the exhibit presents works that question where Americans stand in relation to democracy in the U.S. An Artist's Reception will be held on Sat., Nov. 5th, from 6 to 10 pm. For more info, www.occca.org

[ Right: Globalization - Oil painting by Vallen ]

WORKERS OF THE WORLD
November 6th through December 30th, 2005.

Vallen is exhibiting at, Workers of the World, a group show at the A Shenere Velt Gallery in West Los Angeles. The exhibit presents artworks that depict the theme of workers, from their struggles to survive to their labors of love. An Artist's Reception will be held on Sunday, Nov. 6th., from 3 to 6 pm. The show runs from Nov. 6th to Dec. 30th, 2005. The gallery is located at 1525 S. Robertson Blvd. Los Angeles, CA. 90035. For more info, www.circlesocal.org

[ Left: Amanecer (Dawn) - Oil painting by Vallen ]

Upcoming
BOTH SIDES OF THE BORDER:
Latin American and Chicano Art
November 19th through December 30th, 2005.

Vallen's paintings will be on display at, Both Sides of the Border: Latin American and Chicano Art - a major exhibition of over forty artists from throughout Latin America and the Southwest of the U.S. The exhibit opens with an Artist's Reception on Saturday, November 19th, from 6 to 9 pm. The show will run until Dec. 30th, 2005. For more information, including previews of the art, a full schedule of exhibit related events, and directions to the gallery, visit www.art-for-a-change.com/border.htm.

Vallen is also currently showing at the following exhibits:

DIA DE LOS MUERTOS: THE JOURNEY HOME - The nineteenth annual Day of the Dead exhibition at Chicago's Mexican Fine Arts Center Museum. Now until Dec. 11th, 2005. The museum is located at 1852, West 19th Street, Chicago Illinois 60608. For more info, visit the museum's website, at: www.mfacmchicago.org. EMERGING FROM AZTLÁN - The third annual Chicano art show to be held at the dA Center for the Arts in Pomona California. Artist's Reception - Saturday Nov. 12th, 2005. The da Center for the Arts is located at: 252-D South Main Street, Pomona California 91766-1630. For more info, visit their website, at: www.dacenter.org.

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VALLEN'S WEB LOG: www.art-for-a-change.com/blog
Topics pertaining to socially conscious art and culture are daily posted to Vallen's Art For A Change web log. Recent posts have included: Demise of Democracy? - Vallen's sneak preview of the exhibit mentioned in this newsletter. Andy Warhol Still Dead! - A critique of the Pop icon. Chuck Close - The photo realist up close. Basquiat the Horrible - Why is he fawned over so unquestioningly? Louise Gilbert: RIP - the recent passing of an American progressive artist whose consciousness was formed by events of the 1930's.

ART TO BENEFIT THE VICTIMS OF HURRICANE KATRINA
Vallen's special edition Giclée print, African American, was published to benefit the victims of Hurricane Katrina. Twenty percent of all funds raised from the sale of the print are going directly to the Katrina Artists Trust (KAT.) Copies of the print are still available here. Whether or not you purchase Vallen's print, please contribute to the KAT fund - the artists of America's stricken gulf states will thank you!