Collection Guide
Collection Title:
Collection Number:
Get Items:
Guide to the Luis C. Gonzalez papers
CEMA 74
CEMA 74
View entire collection guide
Search this collection
Table of contents
Title: Luis C. Gonzalez papers
Identifier/Call Number: CEMA 74
Contributing Institution:
UC Santa Barbara Library, Department of Special Collections
Language of Material:
English
Physical Description:
3.0 linear feet
(34 posters, 3 UFW flags, and 1 half-size document box)
Date (inclusive): 1980-2003
Abstract: This collection contains graphic art posters printed by Louie "the Foot" Gonzalez, a prolific Sacramento, California based
artist. He is a member of the renowned Royal Chicano Air Force, a collective of activist Chicano artists and actively supported
the United Farm Workers of America and its leader Cesar Chavez for whom he produced posters. The posters, flags, and papers
are 3 linear feet.
creator:
Gonzalez, Luis C.
The collection is open for research.
Copyright has not been assigned to the Department of Special Collections, UCSB. All requests for permission to publish or
quote from manuscripts must be submitted in writing to the Head of Special Collections. Permission for publication is given
on behalf of the Department of Special Collections as the owner of the physical items and is not intended to include or imply
permission of the copyright holder, which also must be obtained.
[Identification of Item], Luis C. Gonzalez Papers, CEMA 74. Department of Special Collections, UC Santa Barbara Library, University
of California, Santa Barbara.
Donated by Luis C. Gonzalez, August 29, 2002.
Callie Bowdish and Lauren Cain, 2014.
Luis C. Gonzalez (aka Louie-the-foot) is a prolific Sacramento, California based artist whose paintings and poster art have
been exhibited widely in this country and abroad. Born in Mexico City, Gonzalez settled with his family in Sacramento where
he completed high school and attended Sacramento State University. His creative work as an artist began in the 1960's. Gonzalez
is a member of the renowned Royal Chicano Air Force, a collective of activist Chicano artists with whom he became associated
as a youth; he also became involved with the United Farm Workers of America and its leader Cesar Chavez for whom he produced
posters. His concern and support for the farm workers is a recurring theme in much of Gonzalez' work.
He acquired his nickname "Louie-the-foot" by arriving on foot at demonstrations and marches. He continues that tradition through
his day job as a rural postal carrier. Gonzalez' aim is to foment pride in Chicano culture and history. He also is well known
for his use of concrete poetry in his artwork. His combination of colorful graphic patterns and words in his many poem-paintings
as well as posters reflect his bilingual cultural heritage as well as his sense of humor. Gonzalez comments, "my goal was
to become a writer of Chicano stories. I had a fascination with words and the fact that I was bilingual only added fuel to
the fire."
Gonzalez' silk screen print
Just Another Poster? was selected as the thematic icon for the national touring exhibition on Chicano graphic art "Just Another Poster?", organized
by the UCSB University Art Museum in collaboration with the California Ethnic and Multicultural Archives and the Center for
the Study of Political Graphics.
Royal Chicano Air Force Archives (CEMA 8)
The collection contains 41 silkscreen prints and various news clippings and paper ephemera concerning Luis C. Gonzalez's life
and work. Thirty six of the prints are on poster paper, three are on cloth flags, one is on a paper bag, and another is on
foam core.
Subjects and Indexing Terms
Royal Chicano Air Force
United Farm Workers of America
Chicano art
Mexican American art--California--20th century