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| Corazon de Gallo by Joe Lopez |
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Joe Lopez is the owner and
curator for Gallista Gallery in San Antonio. Saturday November 14th,
he sponsored an exhibit of his own work. Usually, Mr. Lopez features the works
of other local artists and supports poetry group readings, local bands, fashion
shows, and other creative endeavors for the community. So it was a rare
pleasure to attend an exhibit for Mr. Lopez.
His work is defined by images
that represent la raza, or the
race of the Mexican-American people. He often incorporates roosters in his
work; the rooster symbolizing pride, courage, and strength of the people.
Historically, the rooster is
a symbol for Christ’s passion, as it is said that a rooster crowed three times
after Peter denied Christ. And it is also a symbol of the remorse and
repentance of Peter. But within the concept of repentance resides the concept
of forgiveness, and a sense of transformation, rebirth, and life.
The aggressiveness of the
rooster is often said represent strength and power.
And all of this is
represented within Mr. Lopez’s works.
His piece featured above is titled “Corazon
de Gallo,” or Heart of the Rooster. It shows a swelling heart in place of
the barbillo, or wattle (the skin
below the chin of the rooster) — the way the heart might swell with pride.
And while I stood looking at
Mr. Lopez’s piece, he came up to me and spoke. He said that many people did not
understand the piece, but that one time he felt very good when he saw a young
man and his girlfriend standing in front of the painting.
The young man, who had many
tattoos along his forearms, nudged his girlfriend, and pointing to the image of
the rooster, the young man said simply, “That’s us.”
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