Jose Guadalupe Posada’s legacy continues at Fullerton Museum Center exhibit

A view of the last half of the exhibit shows a large portrait of Jose Guadalupe Posada and other pieces inspired by Posada’s art. Photos by MADDIE MANTOOTH, Staff Photographer

A skeleton wearing an extravagant hat is a famous image that resurfaces during Día de Los Muertos, or Day of the Dead. Her name is “La Calavera Catrina” — the elegant skull, the dame of death. Though La Catrina is iconic herself, the artist who created this image is often forgotten: his name is José Guadalupe Posada. 

From Feb. 19 to May 15 at the Fullerton Museum Center, guests can be greeted by a portrait of La Catrina painted on a massive salmon-colored slab as they enter the exhibit. The gallery is called “José Guadalupe Posada: The Iconic Printmaker and his Legacy in Popular Culture,” featuring Posada and other Chicano artists inspired by his work.

Elvia Susana Rubalcava, the Fullerton Museum Center executive director, told The Panther she hung up a picture of La Catrina in her Chapman dorm while she was still in college in 2000. 

“It was just so important (and) brought so much pride," Rubalcava said. "But, what I loved about it is this yin and yang of life and death, and keeping it humorous and keeping it light.”

Posada was born in 1852 in the war-torn city of Aguascalientes, Mexico and centered his art around the Mexican revolution and political turmoil. His influence on satirical artwork lasted long after his death in 1913.

Guest curator Consuelo G. Flores began the tour with a photo of Posada and his father and then weaved through Posada’s numerous prints and zinc etchings. The majority of Posada’s work was for newspapers, because his goal was to make news more accessible to a mostly illiterate public. 

“(Posada) tried to create images that were easily legible by people who couldn't read text,” Flores said. “That was really important because it absolutely helped to educate the masses and to let them know what was going on without actually having to read it in text.”

Posada successfully dodged censorship from the government through his playful prints. After he created La Catrina, Posada carried the skeleton theme throughout his future satirical works. 

“If you had done any kind of critique on the government (in that time period) … you took your life in your hands,” Flores said. “But because (Posada) cushioned it in a very cute way, and he did so along with other high profiles, the government officials would get embarrassed.”

Further into the exhibit, art inspired by Posada’s work is displayed. Modern artists like Lalo Alvarez, who currently hosts “The Pocho Hour of Power” talk show, brought criticism and calaveras to present day issues. 

A mannequin wearing a colorful dress created by costume designer Gina Davidson stands in the center of the exhibit. 

The piece with the most immediate resemblance to Posada’s work was “Muerto Mouse.” The piece was designed like a movie poster and read, “It’s coming to trademark your cultura!” across the top and “Opens nationwide on Día de Los Muertos” across the bottom. It pictures a Godzilla-like skeleton with Mickey Mouse ears terrorizing civilians to criticize Disney’s attempt at copyrighting Día de Los Muertos.

“(Alvarez) doesn’t have a direct style associated with José Guadalupe Posada, but the concept of his work — conceptually, he is like Posada’s child, or grandchild, or great grandchild,” Rubalcava said. “Because what he does is he’s poking fun at the politics and the social injustices of present day.”

Rubalcava highlighted the contrast present in her favorite piece in the exhibit, a dress made by costume designer Gina Davidson. Colorful flowers and monarch butterflies adorn the dress and black lace creates a rib cage pattern on the bodice. Skeletons painted in black populate the bottom of the skirt. 

“I'm really grateful that (Davidson’s) work is highlighted, in that it kind of centers between the two worlds of Posada — of the past — and also the contemporary work,” Rubalcava said.

Pieces by artists from Self Help Graphics & Art hang near the back of the exhibit.

Rubalcava said she hopes the exhibit will remind visitors to support art wherever they can.

“I hope what people take away is the importance of supporting their local museums and their local art galleries," Rubalcava said. "Posada passed away over 100 years ago, but his work is still important. And art is extremely important and needs to be in the forefront.”

Flores said she was inspired by the individuals she met who embody Rubalcava’s statement.

“To see the young people that I've interacted with of all backgrounds, to take a vested interest and be so caring and so knowledgeable and so responsible about caring for this art brings me a lot of hope," Flores said. "Art should be the last thing to go. Because art is one of the things that brings you joy. It brings you hope, and tells your story, gives you something to identify with and to make you feel like you are valued. And that's really important, especially now.”