Photo credit: Griselda Rosas

Opening Reception: Saturday, July 9, 2022, 5–8 PM

July 9–August 20, 2022

ATHENAEUM ART CENTER GALLERY

HEM Crew, graffiti artists: Israel Elizondo "Shente" and Nestor "Spel Uno" Mondragon

The exhibition reception opens with a live painting event during the Barrio Art Crawl.

HEM Crew (Hecho en Mèxico) started in 1989 in the streets of Tijuana/San Diego with cross-border graffiti practices. Over the years, the HEM crew's talent has earned them recognition as one of the oldest and most established graffiti crews in the binational region. In addition to the urban space, HEM Crew has gained a reputable space in museums and galleries. For instance, in 2012 HEM crew retrospective was featured at CECUT Tijuana's largest Museum (Centro Cultural Tijuana.) Showcasing the first graffiti retrospective of the region.

The show opens with a reception from 5 to 8 p.m. on Saturday, July 9 during the Barrio Art Crawl.

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Mural Artist Biography

‎Israel Elizondo (Shente Hem)

Israel Elizondo (Shente Hem) was born in Tijuana, Baja California, Mexico and has a bachelor’s degree in Fine Arts from Universidad Autonoma de Baja California (UABC). He is also a co-founder and member of the urban graffiti collective HEM (Made in Mexico), established in 1989. Shente has represented HEM in numerous regional and international art events such as in Mexico, South America, the Caribbean, the United States, Europe, and the Middle East.

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Highlighting his collaboration and participation with La Escala, Tequila Cuervo in London 2005, The Cervantino International Festival in Guanajuato 2007, intervention in the wall that divides Bethlehem and Jerusalem 2009, Tel Aviv Festival, Israel 2017. Centro Cultural Habana, Cuba. Workshops at the Book Fair in Medellín, Colombia. Graffiti at Five Pointz in Quince, New York.

‎Néstor "SPEL" Mondragón

Néstor "SPEL" Mondragón was born in Tijuana, Baja California. He trained professionally in plastic arts at the Autonomous University of Baja California and graphic design at the University of the International California’s. Currently, Spel’s work can be also seeing at the Natural history Museum (The Nat) in Balboa Park, San Diego. Spel created a stunning mural inspired by the stories in the expedition Baja exhibition at the Nat.

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Néstor’s most representatives’ exhibitions are Historias de flores (2012, 2013), Los Normales (2010), Trial and Error (2010), and Pink Cigarette (2007). He also has participated in several collective exhibitions and created several murals in the Southern California and Baja California regions. See below for an example of one of his murals.

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Spel began as a street artist using graffiti, experimenting with various techniques and materials. He landed his style quickly through the technical knowledge learned from his time at university along with his practice in the Urban Space. His work features bold, unsophisticated lines inspired by his childhood love of comics. He aims to connect with people through art by creating pieces that represent social and urban topics of personal interest. Spel says that there is an intention every time he paints, trying to put a little color in the day of a spectator. He hopes that his murals will break the monotony of the day and make people smile.

Biografía del artista mural

Israel Elizondo (Shente Hem)

Israel Elizondo (Shente Hem) nació en Tijuana, Baja California, México y es Licenciado en artes plásticas por la Universidad Autónoma de Baja California (UABC,) así mismo es cofundador e integrante del colectivo urbano de grafiti HEM (Hecho en México) establecido en 1989. Shente a representado a HEM en numerosos eventos de arte regional e internacionalmente como en México, Sudamérica, El Caribe, Estados Unidos, Europa y Medio Oriente.

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Destacando su colaboración y participación con La escala, Tequila Cuervo en Londres 2005, El Festival Internacional Cervantino en Guanajuato 2007, intervención en el muro que divide Belén y Jerusalén 2009, Festival Tel Aviv, Israel 2017. Centro Cultural Habana, Cuba. Talleres en Feria del Libro en Medellín, Colombia. Grafiti en Five Pointz in Quince, New York.

‎Néstor "SPEL" Mondragón

Néstor "SPEL" Mondragón nació en Tijuana, Baja California, México y es Licenciado en artes plásticas por la Universidad Autónoma de Baja California (UABC,) además es licenciado en y diseño gráfico en la Universidad de las Californias Internacionales. Así mismo, es integrante del colectivo urbano/grafiti HEM (Hecho en México) establecido en 1989.

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Spel comenzó como artista callejero a través del uso del graffiti, experimentando con diversas técnicas y materiales. Aterrizó su estilo rápidamente a través del conocimiento técnico aprendido de su tiempo en la universidad junto con su práctica en el espacio urbano.

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Su trabajo presenta líneas oscuras y poco sofisticadas inspiradas en su amor de la infancia por los cómics. Su objetivo es conectar con las personas a través del arte mediante la creación de piezas que representan temas sociales y urbanos de interés personal. Spel dice que hay una intención cada vez que pinta, tratando de poner un poco de color en el día de un espectador. Espera que sus murales rompan la monotonía del día y hagan sonreír a la gente.

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Actualmente su obra está en exhibición en el Museo de historia natural de San Diego (The Nat) Spel realizo un mural enorme y bello poético mural sobre la flora y fauna de Baja California, inspirado en las investigaciones del museo. Hasta la fecha, ha tenido cuatro exposiciones individuales: Historias de flores (2012, 2013), Los Normales (2010), Trial and Error (2010) y Pink Cigarette (2007). También ha participado en varias exposiciones colectivas y ha creado varios murales en las regiones del sur de California y Baja California. Vea a continuación un ejemplo de uno de sus murales.

The exhibition can be viewed in the AAC Gallery at the Athenaeum Art Center (1955 Julian Avenue, San Diego, CA 92113) during open hours, Tuesdays and Thursdays from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m., and every second Saturday from 6 to 8 p.m., during the Barrio Art Crawl, and by appointment.