Joe
Quesada was 9 years old when his father, Jose Luis, gave him his first
comic book,
Amazing Spider-Man #96. The issue was the most controversial of
its time, banned by the industry’s censor the
Comics Code Authority (CCA), for raising the issue
of drug abuse. Jose Luis’s intention was to use the book to creatively
begin an important dialogue to keep his son away from drugs during the
turbulent 1970’s. Little did he know that this introduction would also
open up a door to a lifetime of creative expression for Joe. So, it is
only fitting that more than 3 decades after being introduced to comic
art and it’s unique form of storytelling by his father, Joe’s first
solo art show brings him right back to where it all started – inspired
by his father as well.
One fall afternoon, en route to meet with Dr. Marta Moreno Vega PhD, one
of the most renowned academicians specializing in the culture and
religion of people of African descent, I was flipping through the pages
of a magazine and came across an article on Joe Quesada’s next big
project,
Daredevil: Father. What attracted me most to this book was the
introduction of a new team of super heroes based on the Orishas, deities
from the Santeria religion. Having worked on various projects with Dr.
Moreno Vega over the years I offered to introduce the two, as I had met
Joe a few years back. He discussed the inspiration for the characters,
his relationship with his family and the research he did on this to give
his heroes the authenticity he strongly felt they deserved. He stressed
his need to include a certain element that was missing to further show
the spiritual journey of the team’s hero, Nestor Rodriguez. At this
point, Dr. Moreno Vega contributed the prayer to Eleggua, which was then
featured in chapter 3 of the book.
Upon witnessing Joe and Dr. Moreno Vega’s meeting, I realized the
importance of curating an exhibit of Joe’s Santerians at an ideal
location where a profound discourse can ensue. Comic art is collected
and revered by many yet often not credited universally in the same
fashion as other art forms. Santeria is rich in history and spiritually
significant to a community yet often misunderstood and less respected
that other religious practices. To merge these two often-misjudged
mediums of expression is beyond unique - it is courageous. CCCADI is of
course the ideal location as it has devoted the last 30 years to
celebrate and raise awareness to the arts, culture and spirituality of
the African Diaspora.
In respect to the subject matter and art, each and every detail of the
exhibit speaks to the evolution of the artwork and development of these
important characters, as well as the theme of the transfer of traditions
and values from our parents and ancestors to this new world.
It is my sincere desire that this exhibit inspires conversations and
provokes thoughts that explore gaps and relationships between history,
ancestry and spirituality in connection with the arts. Edgardo
Miranda-Rodriguez
Curator | Design Director & Partner
Somos Arte
www.somosarte.com
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