Publisher's Synopsis
Born in Mexico and raised in Indiana, José González became a well-known Chicago Latino artist and activist in the 1970s and 80s. Directing two major Latino artist groups, MARCH (El Movimiento Artístico Chicano) and MIRA (Mi Raza Arts Consortium), he also coordinated Midwest Latino arts for the NEA's National Hispanic Task Force, promoting the work of most of the Latino artists emerging in the city. Above all, he initiated the projects and dreamed the dreams that have advanced Chicago Latino art and community development to this day.
Planned as a follow-up to José Gamaliel González's autobiography, Bringing Aztlán to Mexican Chicago, this book, filled with countless pictures and documents, has been developed to honor José after his demise in October 2022, by telling a more complete story of his role in the history of Mexican, Chicano and Latino art Chicago. Containing countless image and many intimate details, along with introductions by the editor of the artist's autobiography, this book stands as a virtual scrapbook of one man's life.
Marc Zimmerman has authored and edited over forty books on Latin and Central American, Caribbean and U.S. Latino cultures and literatures, transnational and urban processes, and Chicago Latino art. Founder and director of LACASA Chicago, he is emeritus professor of Latin American and Latino Studies at the U. of Illinois-Chicago, and Hispanic and World Cultures and Literatures at the U. of Houston. He was one of the closest friends of José González and the editor of the artist's autobiography.
