About Us

Jesus Barraza's Biography | Melanie Cervantes' Biography

 

Dignidad Rebelde is a graphic arts collaboration between Oakland-based artist-activists Jesus Barraza and Melanie Cervantes.  We believe that art can be an empowering reflection of community struggles, dreams and visions.  Following principles of Xicanisma and Zapatismo, we create work that translates people’s stories into art that can be put back into the hands of the communities who inspire it.

We recognize that the history of the majority of people worldwide is a history of colonialism, genocide, and exploitation.  Our art is grounded in Third World and indigenous movements that build people's power to transform the conditions of fragmentation, displacement and loss of culture that result from this history.  Representing these movements through visual art means connecting struggles through our work and seeking to inspire solidarity among communities of struggle worldwide.

Dignidad Rebelde's graphic art is of the highest quality and versatility – our art is for museums, collectors' exhibitions, community and cultural centers, individual homes, political rallies and more.  We are committed to advancing the acceptance of people's art as quality art, and to nurturing a model of art-making grounded in collaboration with community organizations and other networks of artists.

In this spirit of collaboration among artists, we are also members of the Taller Tupac Amaru,  Justseeds Artists' Cooperative, and the Consejo Gráfico. 

 

 

The many community organizations we collaborate with include:

• Akonadi Foundation
• Arab Resource & Organizing Center
• Applied Research Center
• Causa Justa::Just Cause (Formerly St. Peter's Housing Committee
• Center for Young Women’s Development
• Coalition on Homelessness
• EastSide Arts Alliance
• Equal Justice Society
• Inner City Struggle
• International Indian Treaty Council
• Intertribal Friendship House
• La Red Xicana Indigena
• Liberation Ink
• Macehualli
• Mujeres Unidas y Activas
• National Domestic Workers Alliance
• OMID Advocates for Human Rights
• Peace and Dignity Journeys
• People Organizing to Demand Environmental & Economic Rights
• Poor Magazine/PNN
• RYSE
• San Francisco Dyke March
• San Leandro High School Social Justice Academy
• School of the Americas Watch
• Sister of Color United for Education
• SNAG Magazine
• Spanish Speaking Citizens Foundation
• Tides
• Tierra y Libertad
• U.S. Campaign for the Academic and Cultural Boycott of Israel
• Xicana Moratorium Coalition
• Youth Together