Puro Chingón Collective (From left: Claudia Aparicio-Gamundi, James Huizar, and Claudia Zapata), 2016. Photo Courtesy of Roj Rodriguez.

Puro Chingón Collective (From left: Claudia Aparicio-Gamundi, James Huizar, and Claudia Zapata), 2016. Photo Courtesy of Roj Rodriguez.

Let’s Get Weird: Chingozine release party. Austin, Texas, November, 2017.

Let’s Get Weird: Chingozine release party. Austin, Texas, November, 2017.

WHO WE ARE

The Puro Chingón Collective is a Latine/x art trifecta specializing in happenings, design, art toys, and zines. Collective members are three Austin, Latine/x artists: Claudia Aparicio-Gamundi, James Huizar, and Claudia Zapata. In 2012, the collective formed after their initial creation of ChingoZine, a Latine/x arts publication. ChingoZine is part of the Barnard Zine Library Collection, Pratt Institute Libraries, and Texas A&M University Zine Collection among several other libraries and research centers. In 2013, the collective initiated the Puro Chingón Social Club, a monthly Latine/x–themed interactive cinema program presented at the North Door in Austin, Texas. The collective designed the Pachanga Latino Music Festival and debuted their designer toy line, Chingolandia in 2014. Their designer toys are currently part of the permanent collection of the Mexic-Arte Museum. The Collective has worked with Birds Barbershop, Fusebox Festival, Trans-Pecos Festival, Creative Action, and Juiceland. The Nettie Lee Benson Latin American Collection currently houses their official archives. For more information go to the official website purochingoncollective.com.

 

MURALS & INSTALLATIONS

Street view of Wonderful, Amazing, Stunning, Phenomenal Fiesta public mural, sponsored by Downtown Austin Alliance, Art and Placemaking Grant, 2013.

ART TOYS

Chingolandia Toys: Fiesta Series, 2014, handsewn, screenprinted on 12oz canvas stuffed with washable stuffing.

INTERACTIVE CINEMA

Puro Chingon Social Club, Selena screening giveaways, 2013.

ZINES

ChingoZine 7: Let’s Get Weird, 2017

ChingoZine 7: Let’s Get Weird, 2017

APPAREL

Let's Get Weird Series, 2017.

Let's Get Weird Series, 2017.

PRINTS

Selena, 2013, screenprint.

Selena, 2013, screenprint.

DESIGN

Pachanga Music Festival, 2014.

Pachanga Music Festival, 2014.

HAPPENINGS

 

ACCESSORIES

Let’s Get Weird Tote, 2017.

Let’s Get Weird Tote, 2017.

ANIMATION

Still from Creative Action EAST Puro Chingón Collective animated shorts, 2015.

Still from Creative Action EAST Puro Chingón Collective animated shorts, 2015.

ARTIST CV

Puro Chingón Collective 

Artist Website: http://purochingoncollective.com & chingozine.tumblr.com

Collective Members: Claudia Aparicio-Gamundi, James Huizar, and Claudia Zapata

EDUCATION

Claudia Aparicio-Gamundi (b. 1984)
2010 Associates of Applied Science, Graphic Design Specialization, Austin Community College, Austin, TX

James Huizar (b. 1984)
2007 Bachelor of Fine Arts in Illustration and Printmaking, University of Texas at Austin, TX

Claudia Zapata (b. 1984)
2022 Ph.D., Art History, Southern Methodist University, Dallas, TX

2009 M.A., Art History, The University of Texas at Austin, Austin, TX 

2005 B.A., Art History, The University of Texas at Austin, Austin, TX

EXHIBITIONS

SOLO

2017

Collective Practice: Community Building Through Zines, Hawn Gallery (Southern Methodist University), Dallas, TX, March 27 (Curated by Emily Rueggeberg)

GROUP

2022

Past/Present/Future: Expanding Indigenous American, Latinx, Hispanic American, Asian American, and Pacific Islander Perspectives, Thomas J. Watson Library at the Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, NY, September 22, 2022 – January 3, 2023. (Curated bY Amanda Raquel Dorval, Anna Lee, and Louisa Raitt)

2019

El Zine: Contemporary Underground Archives, The Latinx Project, New York, NY, September 17-December 10. (Curated by Barbara Calderón)

Expresiones en Esculturas, Mexic-Arte Museum, June 21-August 25, 2019, Austin, TX (Curated by Rebecca Gomez)

Case Study Space, Houston Center for Contemporary Craft, June 19-Septemeber 1, Houston, TX (Curated by Maria-Elisa Heg)

2018

City of San Antonio District 3 My Home My History, James A. Bode Center, January 19, 2018 

2016 

Anything for Selenas Pop-up Art Exhibition, Oak Cliff Cultural Center, Dallas, TX, March 25-April 10, 2016 (Curated by Sour Grapes Crew)

2015 

Reflect the Times: Visions for Social Change, Creative Action, Austin, TX, November 14-22, 2015 (Curated by Creative Action)

The Zine Society Library , CentralTrak: The UT Dallas Artists Residency, Dallas, TX, October 24, 2015 (Curated by Taro-kun) 

All the Signs are (T)Here: Social Iconography in Mexican and Chicano Art from Collections at the University of Texas at Austin, Blanton Museum of Art, Austin, TX, April 30 – August 9, 2015 (Curated by Alexis Salas)

Gently Fried, Mexican American Cultural Center, Austin, TX, April 18-June 13, 2015 (Curated by Los Outsiders) 

Selections from the Contemporary Art Collection,  Mexic-Arte Museum , Austin, TX, January 23, 2015–May 31, 2015 (Curated by Rebecca Gomez) 

A Variety of Art from Around the Austin Area, Austin–Bergstrom International Airport, February 04, 2015 – May 05, 2015 (Curated by Matt Coldwell) 

2013 
Zineshow, Tymutopiyapres Gallery, Lviv, Ukraine 

2012 
Ravioli Project, Portland, Oregon; Curated by Portland State University Art and Social Practice 

AWARDS, GRANTS, & HONORS

2017

EAST AUSTIN STUDIO TOUR fellowship recipient

2014 
EAST AUSTIN STUDIO TOUR fellowship recipient

Juiceland Make Your Mark Contest Winner, Austin, TX

Austin City Council Proclamation “Puro Chingon Collective Day: June 20”

2012 
Downtown Austin Alliance, Art & Placemaking Grant Recipient, Austin, TX 

RESIDENCIES

2018

Changarrito Residency, Austin, TX 

PUBLICATIONS

2018

ChingoZine 7.5, Founders and Publishers, 28, July, 2018, (Latinx art zine, self-published)

2017

ChingoZine 7, Founders and Publishers, 11, November, 2017, (Latinx art zine, self-published)

ChingoZine 6.5, Founders and Publishers, 11 June 2017, (Latinx art zine, self–published).

2016
ChingoZine 6: Summer Jams, Founders and Publishers, 18 June 2016, (Latinx art zine, self–published).

2015
ChingoZine 5: Selena Quintanilla Edition, Founders and Publishers, 10 April 2015, (Latinx art zine, self–published).

2014
Puro Chingon Collective and Federico do EAST Special Edition, 15 November 2014, (Latinx art zine, self–published).

Puro Chingon Collective San Antonio Special Edition, 2 August 2014, (Latinx art zine, self–published).

ChingoZine 4, Founders and Publishers, 19 April 2014, (Latinx art zine, self–published).

2013
ChingoZine 3.5, Founders and Publishers, 8 October 2013, (Latinx art zine, self–published).

ChingoZine 3, Founders and Publishers, 21 June 2013, (Latinx art zine, self–published).

ChingoZine 2.5, Founders and Publishers, 27 April 2013, (Latinx art zine, self–published).

2012
ChingoZine 2: Chingos of Death, Founders and Publishers, 2 November 2012, (Latinx art zine, self–published).

ChingoZine 1, Founders and Publishers, 20 April 2012, (Latinx art zine, self–published)

DESIGNER TOYS

2017

Chingolandia: Let's Get Weird Series, Toymakers and artists, 11 November 2017, (three resin figures)

2015
Chingolandia: Selena Series, Toymakers and artists, 10 April 2015, (two plush figures)

2014
Chingolandia: San Antonio Series, Toymakers and artists, 15 November 2014, (three resin figures)

Chingolandia: Day of the Dead Series, Toymakers and artists, 2 August 2014, (three resin figures)

Chingolandia: Fiesta Series, Toymakers and artists, 19 April 2014, (three resin figures and three plush figures)

PROFESSIONAL SERVICE

2019

Skateboard Designer, MonkeyWrench Books, Austin, TX

2016
Original illustration, Deborah S. Esquenazi Productions, LLC, Austin, TX

2015
Trans-pecos Festival, On-site Installation, Marfa, TX

Walker Gates Vela PLLC T-Shirt Design, Austin, TX

Fusebox Festival Merchandise Design, Austin, TX

Fusebox THINKEAST Series Event participant: Interactive Selena screening, Austin, TX

2014
Birds Barbershop E. 6th street special edition t-shirt and print designers, Austin, TX

Pachanga Music Festival Brand and Identity Design, Austin, TX

Fusebox Series Event participant: ChingoZine 4 and Chingolandia Release Party, Austin, TX

2013 
Creators & Event Coordinators Puro Chingón Social Club (Monthly Interactive Latino Film Screenings), ND Studios, Austin, TX

Pachanga Music Festival VIP Pavilion Artist & Layout Designer, Austin, TX 

2012 
Workers Defense Project Gala Special Edition Print artists 

INTERACTIVE CINEMA

2015

Selena, April 10, The Off Center, Austin, TX

2013

La Bamba, December 10, The North Door, Austin, TX

Rudo y Cursi, September 3, The North Door, Austin, TX

Up in Smoke, August 6, The North Door, Austin, TX

Frida, July 9, The North Door, Austin, TX

Machete, June 11, The North Door, Austin, TX

All About My Mother, May 21, The North Door, Austin, TX

Y Tu Mama Tambien, February 12, The North Door, Austin, TX

Selena, March 26, The North Door, Austin, TX

2012

Mi Vida Loca, December 18, The North Door Austin, TX

VISITING ARTIST: ARTIST WORKSHOP

2017

"Zine History and Workshop," Southern Methodist University, Dallas, TX, October 19

2016

"Zine History and Workshop," Creative Action, Austin, TX, May 21 

VISITING ARTIST: ARTIST LECTURE

2019

INVITED SPEAKER, “OUR CURATED SCENE: DIY PUBLISHING, ZINES & ARCHIVES PANEL,” THE LATINX PROJECT, NEW YORK, NY, OCTOBER 8.

Invited speaker, De-colonize Austin: The Unconference for People of Color, Austin, TX, January 20

2018

"Let's Get Weird: El Mundo Zurdo as a Designer Toy," El Mundo Zurdo: Borderlands 1987-2017, Trinity University, San Antonio, TX, May 17-19

Invited Speaker, "Puro Chingón Collective," Intro to Women's Studies, Kristin Gamez, Department of Women's Studies, University of Texas-San Antonio, San Antonio, TX, April 19

2017

Panelist, "Experiencing Artists' Books," Fine Arts, Library, University of Texas at Austin, Austin, TX, November 7

Invited Speaker, "Latinx Matrix Artist Panel," Full Court Press Print Symposium, Corpus Christi, TX, October 6

2016

Zines!", The University of Texas Fine Arts Library, Austin, TX, November 3

2015

Invited Speaker, "Puro Chingón Collective," Art as Activism, Gender and Sexuality Center Program, University of Texas at Austin, Austin, TX, March 10 

Invited Speaker, “Public Mural Making,” Creative Action, Austin, TX, January 22

2013 
Invited Speaker, “POC ZINE RACE RIOT TOUR: PURO CHINGÓN COLLECTIVE,” Texas A&M University, College Station, TX, October 7

Invited Speaker, “The Puro Chingón Collective”, Hybrid Arts Summit at the Fusebox Festival, Austin, TX, April 20 

PRESS

2019

Julyssa Lopez,"'El Zine' Is an Exhibition Spotlighting Latino DIY Artists & Creatives, Remezcla, December 10.

"Our Curated Scene Event Recap," The Latinx Project (blog). October 10.

2018

Mike Lee, "Arts Collective On Creating, Sharing, And Championing Latinx Art," KUT.org, June 4.

2017 

Emily Rueggeberg, "Collective Practice: Community Building Through Zines-Curatorial discussion of Selected Works, Part II," Hamon Arts Library (blog). November 18.

Emily Rueggeberg, "Collective Practice: Community Building Through Zines-Curatorial discussion of Selected Works," Hamon Arts Library (blog). November 18.

Rachel Rascoe,“Lone Star Zine Fest Rounds Up Local Mini-Mags,” AustinChronicle.com, June 8, 2017.

Wes Harbison, “Zines 101,” St. Louis Public Library Blog, January 10, 2017.

Sage Foster, "Reimaging Art Books and the Reader Experience," Orange Mag (blog), December 8.

2016 

Karly Mueller, "Get to Know San Anto's Zines," San Antonio Current, June 10.

"Puro Chingón" KLRUArts in Context Shorts.

NBC Universal, "Curve Report: Recollectives."

Elena Meija, "Puro Chingón Collective aims to reform ‘white-centric’ Austin art scene," Daily Texan, March 8, 2016.

2015 

Cindy Casares, "Puro Chingón Collective Says Selena Is Art History," Latina.com , May 23, 2015.

Kate Messer, "Siempre Selena," Austin Chronicle , April 10, 2015. 

2014 

Barbara Calderón-Douglass, “The Rise of Austin’s Puro Chingón Collective and ChingoZine!” Remezcla, April 25, 2014.

2013 

Laura Zapata, “Hot Spots,” Cosmopolitan for Latinas, Fall 2013.

Nancy Flores, “Cult film screenings, music shows in Austin,” Austin American Statesman: Austin 360, August 30, 2013. 

2012 

Jason Urban, “Industry and Inkslingers,” Printeresting.org, November 12, 2012.

ESSAYS

2019

"Let's Get Weird': El Mundo Zurdo as a Designer Toy." El Mundo Zurdo 7: Selected Works from the 2018 Meetings of the Society for the Study of Gloria Anzaldua, (2019): 109-116.

2017

Undocumented doodles, ‘Chola-fied fly girls’, and chingos of paper: the history and beginnings of ChingoZine.” Aztlán: A Journal of Chicano Studies, Volume 42.1 (Spring 2017): 217-223.

COLLECTIONS

Thomas J. Watson Library at The Metropolitan Museum of Art, Museum of Modern Art (MOMA) Library and Archives, Museum of Fine Arts-Houston,  Mexic-Arte Museum, Pratt Institute Library, Nettie Lee Benson Latin American Library, Texas A&M Zine Library, Barnard Zine Library, Austin History Center, Austin Public Library, TIJUANA, University of Texas at San Antonio Libraries Special Collections, London College of Communication Library, Michigan State University, Bibliothek des Ibero-Amerikanischen Instituts PreuBischer Kulturebesitz, Saint Louis Library, Amistad Research Center at Tulane University, Sloane Art Library at University of North Carolina-Chapel Hill, Albert B. Alkek Library at Texas State University, Williams Chaplin Library Zine Collection, and New York Public Library.

OFFICIAL ARCHIVE

Nettie Lee Benson Latin American Collection 

AUDIO ARCHIVE

StoryCorps, 2018

SPONSORS

Treasure City Thrift

CLIENTS

Pachanga Music Festival

Birds Barbershop

Trans-pecos Festival

Fusebox Festival

Walker Gates Vela PLLC 

Workers Defense Project

Creative Action

Deborah S. Esquenazi Productions, LLC

The North Door

Juiceland

MonkeyWrench Books