José David Opened Up Eyes to Art and Artists to Win BuzzFlash's Wings of Justice Award

WINGS OF JUSTICE

José David

José David deserves the Wings of Justice award for his 20-year dedication to an artistic and cultural exchange that is totally self-governing and not beholden to any institution.

José David has put his heart and soul and much of his body into the "Calles y Sueños" (from a Lorca poem meaning Streets and Dreams in English) project in Chicago and recently in Mexico -- a project that began in 1989. That was the year José David and a few other artists took over an empty lot in the Pilsen neighborhood on 17th Place and Halsted. For four summers in a row, they made it into a vibrant exchange of art, music, poetry, performance, and political solidarity with various movements in Latin America. José David dubbed the space Casa de Arte y Cultura -- Calles y Sueños.

In 1993, when they had gained enough legitimacy and funds to open a year-round indoor space a few blocks away on 19th Street and Carpenter, this is when the real excitement began. They were able to develop momentum and continuity in a year-round space.

Among the many artists whose works were exhibited at Calles y Sueños was Elizam Escobar during the 15-year period he was imprisoned as an FALN member who was accused by the FBI of plotting to blow up federal buildings. No cultural institution would exhibit Escobar's paintings; however, Calles y Sueños had three shows of his works.

Throughout the 10-year period of Chicago's Calles y Sueños' existence, José David steadfastly refused to accept "conditional" donations because he had seen too many good causes lose their souls when they received substantial foundation and corporate funding. As a result, the nominal amounts they received for their shows and exhibits were heftily supplemented by José David's out-of-pocket contributions from his interior design business.

It is easy to understand why after 10 years, José David was worn out. He was in ill health, had no health insurance, and needed to rest. Calles y Sueños closed down in 1999.

Since 1999, José David has been living in Juchitán, Oaxaca, Mexico and has created a Calles y Sueños project there for young people to develop their artistic and cultural talents and knowledge and it is thriving.  In the photo above, José David is shown with Damián Lagunas (left) and José Angel Santiago (right), young artists he is mentoring in Juchitán.  Meanwhile, a couple of us from BuzzFlash attended the relaunching of Calles y Sueños on August 1 under the leadership of several people involved in the project in the 1990s, who will carry on José David's work in Chicago.

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Nominated by BuzzFlash staff. To see a full list of past Wings of Justice honorees, click here.