By Armando Durón Boulevard Night , 1970, Gelatin silver print with hand-applied pigment I might as well begin with a full disclaimer: I have been a fan of Ricardo Valverde since I first met him in the late 1980s.  I have collected his works, and I was honored to speak at his funeral in 1998.  So this missive doesn’t come from some alleged objective space where pseudo art critics roam.  A retrospective of Ricardo’s work, which opened at the Vincent Price Gallery at East Los Angeles College on May 17th (and runs through July 26th), under the title Ricardo Valverde: Experimental Sights, 1971-1996 , is the first solo exhibition since 1994.  But this is his first retrospective and it is well-worth seeing.  Featuring a twenty-five year career, with over one hundred works, guest curator Cecilia Fajardo-Hill presents an artist on a mission to distinguish himself even as he might have struggled to seem to stay within the bounds of Chicano artspeak of the times. This exhibition is a l

Brooklyn & Boyle is proud to once again offer an original work of art on the cover. Our next issue, due out next week (May 21st), features a painting by Ricardo Garcia entitled Sunset. An acrylic on canvas, the piece was selected because it evokes the hard working moms who have raised us while holding it down both in and outside the home. If it wasn't for them, we wouldn't be here,and  we would definitely have an appreciation for beauty and art. Our next issue will also once again include a question-and-answer piece by El Art Pocho, who spoke to photographer Oscar Castillo, an artist who is considered one of the preeminent Chicano lensmen in the nation. Senior Contributing Editor Thomas Varela, offers an intimate look at funnyman Rudy Moreno, who packs them into the Pasadena Ice House every week. Founding editor Abel Salas reviews Give It To Me , a new novel by Ana Castillo, a writer of extraordinary prowess and world-wide acclaim. In addition, readers will once

LA Mayor's Chief of Staff Ana Guerrero We are proud to share a link from the LA Weekly . This week they feature an article by Brooklyn & Boyle Editor/Publisher Abel Salas on LA Mayor Eric Garcetti's Chief of Staff Ana Guerrero. http://www.laweekly.com/informer/2014/05/14/ana-guerrero-mayor-eric-garcettis-chief-of-staff