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Alma y Corazon de Las Kalaveras by Sal Rojas
Votan's Latest Master Piece for FIRME CLOTHING / Photography by Salvador Rojas
Alma y Corazon de Las Kalaveras by Sal Rojas
In the barrio of Parque Echo in Los Angeles (Yangna) a local artisan represents his proud heritage by tagging his moniker “Votan” on his latest master piece. In the ancient language of the indigenous people of Mesoamerica the word “Votan” translates to the “heart” and from his heart is where he draws his creativity. In the streets they call it “having CORA”. It’s that special something that keeps you moving forward with your head towards the sky, striving to fulfill your destiny when the world expects you to fail.
Votan walked the same barrio streets that a lot of our peers have, but he didn’t fall victim to the gang banging, drug dealing, and robbing. Votan found his peace among the chaos through his love of art. As a young graffiti artist he was able to develop a better understanding of who he was as a native on indigenous land (Abya Yala). This paradigm shift of thought combined with the heart of a warrior is what separates Votan’s artwork from the bootleggers in the downtown Los Angeles alleyways that counterfeit his latest designs to the suburban malls where fake counter-culture stores that have blatantly bitten his style in their designs.
Two of Votan's designs for INSURGENTES
These bootleggers and biters do what they do because they don’t have any soul or style of their own to run with, their main motive is simply to make a quick buck. With artist like Votan and others in our small circle, the art and inspiration are based on our ancient traditions from the Mayan, Aztecs, to Los Pachucos. That’s why I encourage you to shop at homegrown stores like Votan’s “Nahui Ohlin” in Echo Park and “Teocintli” in Boyle Heights and support Latino-based clothing brands that are truly 100% Latino owned and are not what we call “Culture Vultures” (counterfeiters, bootleggers, and copycats).
Firme Clothing | Kalavera Lowrider Bike Logo by VOTAN / Photography by Salvador Rojas
CLICK HERE TO BUY NEW KALAVERA LOWRIDER GRAPHIC TEE
For the new Firme Clothing 2008 Collection, I had to approach Votan the man behind the famous Kalavera designs that he hand draws with the passion and creatively of a young genius with the precision and patience of an old master. Some of his pencil drawings can take weeks if not months to complete. In collaboration between Votan’s Insurgentes Clothing Company and my Firme Clothing line we are proud to announce that we are now carrying Votan’s Official Merchandize here on BrownPride.com. Every Insurgentes garment is authentic, designed, created, and printed by Votan himself. Real Recognize Real!
Diga No A La Pirateria!
Salvador Rojas / BrownPride.com / Firme Clothing INC.
CLICK HERE FOR NEW INSURGENTES CLOTHING COLLECTION
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