Guide to the Ana M. Montano-Herrera papers CEMA 210

Collection processed and arranged by Allison Phelps, 2023. Finding aid prepared by Allison Phelps, 2023.

UC Santa Barbara Library, Department of Special Research Collections

University of California, Santa Barbara

Santa Barbara 93106-9010

Business Number: Phone: (805) 893-3062

Fax Number: Fax: (805) 893-5749

special@library.ucsb.edu

URL: http://www.library.ucsb.edu/special-collections

2023 July 6

Title: Ana M. Montano-Herrera papers

Identifier/Call Number: CEMA 210

Language of Material: English.

Contributing Institution: UC Santa Barbara Library, Department of Special Research Collections

Physical Description: 10.47 Linear Feet (3 document boxes, 7 flat file folders, 12 videotapes, 2 audiocassettes, 8 moving image reels)

Creator: Montano, Ana M. (1952-)

Date (inclusive): 1970-2000

Abstract: Materials generated by Ana M. Montano-Herrera, a California-based art curator, photographer, and visual artist who has exhibited locally in the Bay Area of California and internationally in El Salvador, Guatemala, and Mexico from 1970 to the year 2000.

Physical Location: Special Research Collections, UC Santa Barbara Library

Access Restrictions

The collection is open for research. Audiovisual materials must be reformatted for access. Please contact the Department of Special Research Collections in advance to request access.

Use Restrictions

Property rights to the collection and physical objects belong to the Regents of the University of California acting through the Department of Special Research Collections at the UCSB Library. All applicable literary rights, including copyright to the collection and physical objects, are protected under Chapter 17 of the U.S. Copyright Code and are retained by the creator and the copyright owner, heir(s), or assigns.

All requests to reproduce, quote from, or otherwise reuse collection materials must be submitted in writing to the Department of Special Research Collections at UCSB at special@ucsb.edu. Consent is given on behalf of the Regents of the University of California acting through the Department of Special Research Collections at UCSB as the owner of the physical items and is not intended to include or imply permission from the copyright owner. Such permission must be obtained from the copyright owner, heir(s), or assigns. It is the responsibility of the researcher to determine who holds the copyright and pursue the copyright owner or their assigns for permission to publish where the UC Regents do not hold the copyright.

Preferred Citation

[Identification of Item], Ana M. Montano-Herrera papers, CEMA 210. Department of Special Research Collections, UC Santa Barbara Library, University of California, Santa Barbara.

Acquisition Information

Gift of Ana M. Montano-Herrera, September 2022

Biographical Note

Ana M. Montano-Herrera was born in 1952 in San Salvador, El Salvador. In 1958, she emigrated to San Francisco, California with her mother where they lived on 24th Street in the Mission District. She attended City College of San Francisco (CCSF), San Francisco State University and later the San Francisco Art Institute. Her postgraduate includes an M.A. in Museum Management from Golden Gate University, and a Juris Doctor from University of California, Hastings College of the Law. Having come of age within the creative, dynamic, social, cultural, and political environment of San Francisco's Mission District, Ana Montano developed a deeply rooted commitment to social justice and advocated for the rights of the underrepresented throughout her legal career. She also acquired a passion for the visual arts based on her multi-racial, immigrant, feminist, Latina identity.

Ana served on the California Public Broadcast Commission and was a founding member and director of Mission Film Workshop, Inc., who filmed the Mujeres Muralistas while they painted in the 24th St. Mini Park. In 1973, she was instrumental in developing the nascent mural project in Balmy Alley in collaboration with Mia Galaviz, Director of 24th Street Place, Roberto Vargas of the San Francisco Neighborhood Arts Program, and René Yañez and Ralph Maradiaga of Galería de la Raza. Ana Montano, in collaboration with Salvadoran artist Sara Ortiz, designed a mural in Balmy Alley titled: "Brazilian Jungle Boy". (Now extinct; see Alan W. Barnett, 'Community Murals The People's Art'). Ana Montano's arts administration and curatorial work includes working with Galería de la Raza/Studio 24, as the founding gallery director and curator at Laney College in Oakland, California. She worked with the ArtBeat Gallery, in San Francisco, California and on various independent curatorial projects in San Francisco and El Salvador. Ana Montano later attended law school to study law and mainstream media as a tool for social and economic justice.

Scope and Content

This collection is composed of four series: Professional papers, Mission Film Workshop motion picture films, Video Recordings and Graphic arts. The Ana M. Montano-Herrera papers include art catalogues, photographs, slides, administrative files, personal and professional correspondence, videos, film media, and other materials. It also contains artwork by and interviews of Chicano, Salvadoran, Cuban, and Afro-American artists. These materials were created throughout Ana's career in the Bay Area of California during her involvement with the Mission Film Workshop, ArtBeat Gallery, June Steingart Gallery, Galería de la Raza/Studio 24 and the creation of Balmy Alley from 1970 to the year 2000.

Arrangement

The collection is arranged into four series: Series 1 - Professional papers, Series 2 - Mission Film Workshop motion picture films, Series 3 - Video recordings, Series 4 - Graphic arts.

Processing Information

Labels and loose materials found with audiovisual materials can be found in Series 1, Box 3, Folder 6. Each item is labeled with a number corresponding to the appropriate film reel, VHS or 8MM tape.

Separated Material

Just Like Me: Stories and Self-Portraits by Fourteen Artists, Edited by Harriet Rohmer was separated from the collection. It was catalogued and can be accessed through the UCSB library catalog.

Related Archival Material

Ralph Maradiaga collection, CEMA 35. Department of Special Research Collections, UC Santa Barbara Library. Galería de la Raza Archives, CEMA 4. Department of Special Research Collections, UC Santa Barbara Library.

Subjects and Indexing Terms

Hispanic American artists

Hispanic American art

Art galleries, Commercial -- California -- San Francisco Bay Area -- Archives

Community arts projects -- California -- San Francisco Bay Area -- Archives

Prints

Posters

Interviews

Personal correspondence

Documentary films

Montano, Ana M. (1952-) -- Archives

Series I: Professional files 1970-2000

Scope and Contents

This series is organized chronologically and subdivided according to the professional projects Ana Montano was involved in from 1970 to the year 2000. It includes documents created during her work with Mission Film Workshop, Balmy Alley, ArtBeat Gallery, Galería de la Raza and the June Steingart Gallery. Of note is an oral history transcript that documents an interview of Mia Gonzales and Ana Montano in 2021. It concentrates on their upbringing and early life in San Francisco's Mission District and, in particular, the development of Balmy Alley. It also touches upon the sociopolitical issues occurring during this era such as bilingual education, immigration, the AIDS crisis, police brutality and gentrification. It is located in Box 1, Folder 5.

box 1, folder 1-4

Mission Film Workshop 1970-1975

box 1, folder 5

Balmy Alley 1973-1975

box 1, folder 6

Galería de la Raza, Studio 24 1973-1975

box 1, folder 7

Artist files 1974-1997

box 1, folder 8

JoeSam. 1985-1997

box 2, folder 1-4

June Steingart Gallery 1993 - 1997

box 2, folder 5

Chicano Beat exhibition for Jose Ramon Lerma 1994

box 3, folder 1-5

ArtBeat Gallery 1997-2000

box 3, folder 6

Audiovisual manuscripts 1975-2000

Series II: Mission Film Workshop motion picture films 1975-1977

Scope and Contents

This series contains 8 motion picture films produced by Mission Film Workshop, Inc., a community based organization once located in the Mission District of San Francisco, California, of which Ana Montano was a founding member and director.

Related Materials

An additional collection holding Mission Film Workshop films is the The Ray Balberan Mission MediaArts Archive, part of the Bay Area Televison Archive. https://diva.sfsu.edu/collections/sfbatv/12660

Biographical / Historical

Taken from Mission Film Workshop, Inc. founding documents (Series 1, Box 1, Folder 1) "Mission Film Workshop is a Mission District community based organization comprised of Third World men and women, both professional and non-professional, involved in training and production of films and video. The Mission Film Workshop advocates meaningful and creative social change through the use of community media. Community media, as we define the term, means creating and producing media that will uplift, raise consciousness and educate our community to organize itself around the issues it must address to surive."

reel V15176/F1

[Mission Film Workshop, Inc.] undated

reel V15177/F1

[Bakke protest rally] 1977 November 16

reel V15178/F1

[Mini Park Mural in San Francisco, California] undated

reel V15179/F1

[Mini Park Murals and Garfield Park] 1975-1976

reel V15180/F1

[Ana Montano, Ben Rescate, San Francisco, California] 1976

reel V15181/F1

[College Building Mural] 1977 April

reel V15182/F1

[24th Street Bart Station; Bernal Heights; Mini Park Mural] undated

reel V15183/F1

[24th Street Bart Station; Bernal Height; Mini Park Mural] undated

Series III: Video recordings 1992-2000

Scope and Contents

This series consists of video and audio recordings of artist interviews and exhibit openings curated by Ana Montano during the 1990s in the Bay Area of California.

item V15162/VHS

[Interview with Jose Ramon Lerma] 1997

item V15163/VHS

[Chicano Beat interview: Jose Ramon Lerma] 1996

item V15164/VHS

[Chicano Beat interview cutaways: Jose Ramon Lerma] 1996

item V15165/VHS

[Interview with Ester Hernandez] 1996

item V15166/VHS

[Ana Montano interview of Ester Hernandez] 1996 April 1

item V15167/VHS

[Interview of René Peña, Part One] 1996

item V15168/VHS

[Interview 3 with René Peña] 1998 June 8 1998 June 10

item V15169/VHS

[June Steingart Gallery] 1993-1994

item V15170/VHS

[Exhibit Opening: From the White Ash: Four Contemporary Artists of El Salvador] 1996

item V15171/VHS

[El Caribe: First Invasion Exhibit by Cuban and Puerto Rican Artists] 1992

item V15172/VHS

[Day of the Dead Interviews with Latin American artists, interview with filmmaker Monti Aguirre] 1992

item V15173/VHS

[Arias and Aragon video-art] 1998-2000

item V15174/8MM

[Carlomagno interview, Part 1 of 2] 1990 November 2-3

item V15175/8MM

[Carlomagno Interview, Part 2 of 2] 1990 November 2-3

Series IV: Graphic arts 1973-1999

Scope and Contents

This series is composed of posters and photographs created by artists who were associated with Ana Montano throughout her career. Several of the pieces were featured in exhibitions she curated. There are two portfolios included in the series. The artwork included in each is followed by "part of" to indicate their inclusion in a portfolio. The artists include Gilberto Romero Osorio, Davie Bradford, Michael Roman, Gilberto Sanchez Lugan "Magu", Leo Limon, Malaquias Montoya, Jose Antonio Aguirre, Guillermo Bert, Ana Montano, and Alejandro Romero.

flat-file 45/1/15, folder 1

Indomania 1994

Creator: [Artist Unknown]

Physical Description: Poster Dimensions: 15 x 22

flat-file 45/1/15, folder 1

A Love Supreme, Announcement poster for 1999

Creator: [Artist Unknown]

Physical Description: Poster Dimensions: 17 x 17.5

flat-file 45/1/15, folder 1

Celebration of Black Cultural Legacy, Announcement poster for 1994

Creator: Bradford, Davie

Physical Description: Poster Dimensions: 20 x 26

flat-file 45/1/15, folder 1

Self-portrait 1973

Creator: Montano, Ana M. (1952-)

Physical Description: Photograph dimensions: 11 x 14

flat-file 45/1/15, folder 1

Czara (Sara Ortiz) 1976

Creator: Montano, Ana M. (1952-)

Physical Description: Poster Dimensions: 11 x 14

flat-file 45/1/15, folder 2

Commodity Fetish, Announcement poster for 1997

Creator: Osorio, Romeo Gilberto

Physical Description: Poster Dimensions: 15 x 23

flat-file 45/1/15, folder 2

Front page of Imagenes del Viejo San Salvador 1998

Creator: Osorio, Romeo Gilberto

Physical Description: Poster Dimensions: 16 x 22

flat-file 45/1/15, folder 2

Prague Libertad, part of Imagenes del Viejo San Salvador 1997

Creator: Osorio, Romeo Gilberto

Physical Description: Poster Dimensions: 15 x 23

flat-file 45/1/15, folder 2

Hula, Hula, part of Imagenes del Viejo San Salvador 1997

Creator: Osorio, Romeo Gilberto

Physical Description: Poster Dimensions: 15 x 23

flat-file 45/1/15, folder 2

Hotel Nuevo Mundo, part of Imagenes del Viejo San Salvador 1997

Creator: Osorio, Romeo Gilberto

Physical Description: Poaster Dimensions: 15 x 23

flat-file 45/1/15, folder 2

Plaza, part of Imagenes del Viejo San Salvador 1997

Creator: Osorio, Romeo Gilberto

Physical Description: Poster Dimensions: 15 x 23

flat-file 45/1/15, folder 2

Cover of Imagenes del Viejo San Salvador 1998

Creator: Osorio, Romeo Gilberto

Physical Description: Poster Dimensions: 21.5 x 27.5

flat-file 45/1/15, folder 3

Palacio Nacional, part of Imagenes del Viejo San Salvador 1996

Creator: Osorio, Romeo Gilberto

Physical Description: Poster Dimensions: 15 x 23

flat-file 45/1/15, folder 3

Guardia Militar, part of Imagenes del Viejo San Salvador 1997

Creator: Osorio, Romeo Gilberto

Physical Description: Poster Dimensions: 15 x 23

flat-file 45/1/15, folder 3

Correos, part of Imagenes del Viejo San Salvador

Creator: Osorio, Romeo Gilberto

Physical Description: Poster Dimensions: 15 x 23

flat-file 45/1/15, folder 3

Candelaria, part of Imagenes del Viejo San Salvador 1997

Creator: Osorio, Romeo Gilberto

Physical Description: Poster Dimensions: 15 x 23

flat-file 45/1/15, folder 4

[Paper screen print bag for ArtBeat Gallery and Gifts] undated

Creator: Roman, Michael

Physical Description: Bag Dimensions, including handle: 7.75 x 14

flat-file 45/1/15, folder 4

[Paper screen print bag for ArtBeat Gallery and Gifts] undated

Creator: Roman, Michael

Physical Description: Bag Dimensions: 6 x 10

flat-file 45/1/15, folder 4

[Paper screen print bag for ArtBeat Gallery and Gifts] undated

Creator: Roman, Michael

Physical Description: Bag Dimensions: 6 x 10

flat-file 45/1/15, folder 4

[Paper screen print bag for ArtBeat Gallery and Gifts] undated

Creator: Roman, Michael

Physical Description: Bag Dimensions: 6 x 10

flat-file 45/1/15, folder 4

[Paper screen print bag for ArtBeat Gallery and Gifts] undated

Creator: Roman, Michael

Physical Description: Bag Dimensions: 11.75 x 15.5

flat-file 45/1/15, folder 4

[Letter-screen print and spray-paint printed envelope] 1994

Creator: Roman, Michael

Physical Description: Envelope Dimensions: 11 x 13.5

flat-file 45/1/15, folder 4

[Day of the Dead Screen print poster with note] undated

Creator: Roman, Michael

Physical Description: Poster Dimensions: 17.5 x 18.5

flat-file 45/1/15, folder 4

Day of the Dead an Intercultural Visual Discourse, Announcement poster for 1994

Creator: Roman, Michael

Physical Description: Poster Dimensions: 26 x 40

flat-file 45/1/15, folder 5

La Virgen de la Guadalupe/Tonatzin de Tepeyac, Announcement poster for 1999

Creator: Roman, Michael

Physical Description: Poster Dimensions: 18 x 24

flat-file 45/1/15, folder 5

La Virgen de la Guadalupe/Tonatzin de Tepeyac, Announcement poster for 1999

Creator: Roman, Michael

Physical Description: Poster Dimensions: 23 x 35

flat-file 45/1/15, folder 5

[Letter from Gilberto Sanchez Lujan "Magu"] 1990 August 15

flat-file 45/1/15, folder 5

[Oversized handmade card from Gilberto Sanchez Lujan "Magu"] 1990 August 15

Physical Description: Poster Dimensions: 16 x 20

flat-file 45/1/15, folder 5

Old Lady and Dog 1975

Creator: Smith, Jeffrey

Physical Description: Photograph Dimensions: 11 x 14

flat-file 45/1/15, folder 6

Cover, part of The New Immigration: Ten Etchings 1998

Creator: Self-Help Graphics and Art, Inc.

Creator: Galería Sin Fronteras