“Mission Gráfica: Reflecting a Community in Print details the incomparable role Mission Gráfica plays in the history of printmaking. The print shop has been an instrumental leader in print craftsmanship, political solidarity, and communal sharing. Acting as a pivotal hub for creative partnership, Mission Gráfica has been a cultural beacon for artistic production, inspiring change among communities and cultivating the great printmakers of our time.”Mission Gráfica was the premiere community screenprint center in the San Francisco Bay Area. Founded in 1982 Gráfica was home, launching pad and revolutionary meeting ground for thousands of artists and activists. And yet, very little has been published to highlight the incredible richness of creative output that has come out of Mission Gráfica. Until now.
- Claudia E. Zapata Smithsonian American Art Museum
Over a period of nine years several of the key players from Mission Grafica gathered to recall our history and select and discuss posters for this book, Mission Gráfica: Reflecting a Community in Print. In the same spirit of collaboration that has been the beating heart of Mission Gráfica, our meetings resulted in this story, told from the point of view of the participants. In a similar spirit we have decided to publish and distribute the book independently with community support.
“A historic collection of art posters from the prolific crew at Mission Gráfica. A true explosion of colors, themes, events, beautifully printed by some of the Bay Area’s premier artists. A historical keepsake for those interested in art and printmaking, but also a wonderful guide to some of the key events in the history of the Mission District, the Mission Cultural Center for Latino Arts, and especially the groundbreaking work of the many world-class artists that have worked at Mission Gráfica. Bravo!”
- Alejandro Murguía Professor, Latina/Latino Studies San Francisco State University
Over one hundred full-color screenprints were selected from thousands produced by the many artists who cycled through the studio.
This abundantly illustrated narrative, with an evocative introduction by US Poet Laureate Juan Felipe Herrera, offers inspiration for new generations of graphic expression and situates Mission Gráfica within the context of the rich history of political posters in the San Francisco Bay Area.
The work here reflects an enormous variety of styles, approaches and sensibilities. The artists range from non-professional and emerging artists to well-known figures such as Nancy Hom, Rupert Garcia, Mildred Howard, Jean La Marr, Ester Hernandez, Michael Roman, Jesus Barraza, Favianna Rodriguez and the San Francisco Print Collective.
Mission Gráfica: Reflecting a Community in Print
8.5 x 11” paperback, 138 pages, 107 full-color poster prints,
with historical intorduction by Art Hazelwood in collaboration with Juan R. Fuentes, Robbin Henderson, Michelle Mouton, Calixto Robles, Jos Sances, preface by Juan Felipe Herrera
ISBN – 978-1-881896-37-1
Price $45.00
The collection of the Library of Congress has been documenting the Mission Gráfica collection and offers wonderful insights into the history of the print studio on their blog.
https://blogs.loc.gov/picturethis/2022/12/ready-for-research-mission-grfica-la-raza-collection/