Julio (Juls) Mendoza
Location: College of DuPage
Hometown: Denver, Colorado
Sponsored by: Latino Cultural Arts Center
Julio Mendoza (Juls) is a Denver-based multi-disciplinary artist who celebrates his heritage through art. His art style "Surrealismo Cultural" or "Cultural Surrealism" focuses on Cultural Identity, Community and Social Justice. Born in El Paso, TX and raised in Ciudad Juárez, Mexico, Juls’ style is defined greatly by his Mexican heritage and Latino culture. He’s created large-scale murals around the Denver Metropolitan area, Colorado, Europe, and Mexico. “I am who I am in most part because of my Mexican and Latino heritage, therefore incorporating my heritage into my art is meaningful to me, and I feel it's meaningful to those that can relate to that sentiment as well." Juls finds the greatest inspiration from his own traditions, food, people, and colors and calls it a blessing to put these into art pieces that inspire others.
Title of Work: NUESTROS INICIOS - OUR BEGINNINGS
Description of Work: The artwork highlights the beginnings of the ball game that was invented by the Olmecs and later other cultures such as the Aztecs and the Mayans followed this tradition. With this work, I want to give value and recognition to the Olmecs for inventing the ball game and also show modern-day soccer. In the back of the head you can see a person of Olmec culture and also an icon of Mexican soccer, Hugo Sanchez, in the middle of a ball game. I also want to highlight my city, Denver, CO, and its beautiful landscapes that are made up of great mountains, pine trees and beautiful sunsets. On the front of the head, I wanted to focus on iconic elements of our Mexican culture. We have the feathered serpent known as Quetzalcoalt to the Aztecs and as Kukulkan to the Mayans. It is also believed that he could have been a God in which the Olmecs also believed, but it is not proven due to lack of information known about the Olmecs. The ajolote is an amphibian also known as axolotl (from Nahuatl, water monster) that is native and endemic to the lakes of the Valley of Mexico and survives in the Lake Xochimilco. I also wanted to include corn because it was and continues to be one of the main sources of nutrition from our ancestors to today for Mexicans. Just as the maguey plant has been used since our ancestors for various things such as drinks, fibers and even healing. Through this work I want to highlight some of the beginnings and beliefs of our ancestors through my style called cultural surrealism.
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Timeline of Events
Artists in Mexico have begun painting and 15 national artists will arrive in May of 2024 to paint 15 heads here in DuPage County on-site at the McAninch Arts Center at College of DuPage. This exciting international exhibition has already begun and will be completed in June of 2024.
Get Involved!
Artists can only participate by way of a sponsorship. Local, state and private institutions in the US or Mexico are invited to join in this unique opportunity to showcase modern-day murals reflecting Mexican American culture and regional interpretational art. We are confident that by participating in this project as a sponsor, you will be fulfilling the mission of your organization. Sponsors will be a part of a once in a lifetime opportunity to collaborate with multiple entities and organizations around North America, which can bring more awareness and support to your organization’s efforts. We are working together for one cultural, artistic, and educational purpose that will bring so many people together in a very unique way. Additionally, you will be supporting one of your local artists taking part in a major career opportunity that promises unique experiences, enhancement of their artistic skills, and a chance to display their talents on a monumental canvas. What an amazing opportunity!