Cartoon Art MuseumMedia Release -- Cinco de Mayo marks the opening date for a major art exhibition focusing on Latinos in comics: La Raza Comica: A Celebration of the Latino American Experience in the Comic Arts. This exhibition features original works by artists including legendary underground cartoonist Spain Rodriguez, Lalo Alcaraz, Isis Rodriguez, Rafael Navarro, Richard Dominguez, Grasiela Rodriguez, Javier Hernandez, Jaime Crespo, Jose Cabrera and Mario Hernandez. La Raza Comica will be on display from May 5 to Sept. 30, 2012. The opening reception is scheduled from 7:00-9:00pm on Friday, May 4, at the Cartoon Art Museum, and is free and open to the public.

Whether reflected in zines, comics, webcomics or graphic novels, these artists all bring a unique perspective to the comics medium. Coming from a variety of backgrounds, their perspectives show the many facets of growing up Latino in the United States. This is one of the first large-scale shows in the country to showcase the contributions of Latino artists in the comic arts.

The exhibition’s opening weekend also coincides with the second annual Latino Comics Expo, returning once again to the Cartoon Art Museum from May 5- May 6. The Latino Comics Expo was co-founded by Ricardo Padilla and Javier Hernandez to provide a showcase for Latino creators and others to share their work with the public. Through published comics, webcomics, graphic novels and other visual mediums, the Expo seeks to share the Latino-American experience through the diversity of the artists and their works.

All events are open to the public and are included with paid admission to the Cartoon Art Museum at 655 Mission Street, near Yerba Buena Gardens between New Montgomery and Third Street in San Francisco.

The Cartoon Art Museum, founded in 1984, is the only museum in the western United States dedicated to cartoons and comics in all their forms. The museum is dedicated to the collection, preservation, study and exhibition of original cartoon art in all forms to benefit historians, cartoonists, journalists, artists, collectors and the general public.

Media Contacts
Latino Comics Expo

Ricardo Padilla, 415-529-2129
Email: ricardopadilla070@comcast.net

Javier Hernandez
Email: misterjav@gmail.com

Website: http://www.latinocomicsexpo.com
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/#%21/LatinoComicsExpo

LA RAZA COMICA: A CELEBRATION OF THE LATINO-AMERICAN EXPERIENCE IN THE COMIC ARTS

May 5 – September 30, 2012

Opening Reception Friday, May 4, 7:00-9:00pm

Reception is free and open to the public