1- first of all, thank you for sharing your illustrations on the 10charruas10crestas blog, and also for taking the time to answer these questions to be able to know more about your art, and about you too. What's your name, where are you from, and what is your goal when making your drawings?
My name is Angel Gonzalez, I currently live in Portland OR. I moved here in the early 2000s from Baltimore, MD but my father was in the military so I grew up mostly in Germany. As far as my goal with my art, really I started drawing as a kid as a coping mechanism to all the violence going on in my family. It’s remained a coping mechanism, and really it’s just for me. Occasionally I do art for friends, bands, zines, or organizing projects, but it’s seldom because I’m terrible with deadlines!
2- what interests you most in your illustrations, the drawing, the message, or both?
Most my art centers around punk and sadness. I describe it as “sad punx at the end of the world”. Honestly I wish I could contribute more political art to the world, but feel my art is too cartoony. But I try here and there. All of it is very personal to me so I’m not sure folks get the message, but the message to myself is very important.
Occasionally I do art for others. I set up benefit shows and usually design/draw my own flyers for those. So mose flyers you see on my Instagram are shows I’ve set up. The artwork from A//political, which I played guitar/yelled/did art for, is all over the place these days. I love that my art is used towards left wing purposes. I love how the punk watering the anarchy flower has been redesigned and painted on walls etc… I appreciate folks reaching out to ask for permission, I usually only contact people if they are making money off it. In which case I just ask they donate a portion of what they make to anarchist or anti-fascist groups locally where they are at.
Mostly because it’s easier. I want to get into digital drawing, and that would likely lead to color. I’ve scanned and used photoshop to color some things slightly. But I’m not used to it. Maybe someday.
5- what are your favorite bands?
This is a huge question!! I listen to everything! But I’ll try…
Punk wise: Chumbawamba (old especially but newer as well), Karma Sutra, The Mob,Thatcher on Acid, The Ex, Discharge (7”s mostly), Anti-Schism, Alternative, DIRT, Anthrax (uk), Omega Tribe, Rudimentary Peni, A Touch of Hysteria, No Hope For The Kids, Lux, 1981, Vex, Blood Robots, Kulturkampf, Icon A.D. , Scum of Toytown, Anti-Sect, Anti-System... I love UK82 Riot City Records stuff too: Disorder, Chaos UK, Violators, Destructors, The Insane, The Partisans
Otherwise: The Cure, New Order, Sioxsie and the Banshees, and other 80s new wave/goth bands. I also listen to political hip hop, and 90’s music, and old motown and so much more. I listen to everything. But mostly 80’s peace punk and new wave/goth.
6- which are the bands in your environment that you could recommend us?
Here in Portland? So many good bands! Old City, Macho Boys, Trash, Prolix Destruct, Wretched of the Earth (I was on the demo and first LP), Rigorous Institution, Horrendous 3D, Daydream, Destripados, Genogeist, Divers… There’s a lot out there. Look up and support some of these bands if you get the chance!
I’m not entirely sure I understand the question. I’m guessing that you mean record collectors? I mean, capitalism exists. We can try to circumvent that, but the reality is that if you are only able to produce limited amounts of an item, the price will go up with demand. Realistically, if people only could get what the cover on a record says, it wouldn’t be worth it for them to sell it. Therefore the records would never be on the market in the first place, and would have just a tiny fraction of folkd hoarding those records.
Not that any of that is great. But I understand it. I appreciate when there are AFFORDABLE re-issues. And when labels collaborate with foreign distributors so the shipping rates are not too much.
We are in a literal once a hundred years pandemic that has killed hundreds of thousands of people in the United States, and millions globally. It’s destroyed families and communities the world over. I absolutely support public safety regulations that are for the welfare of the most vulnerable people in our society. Any who doesn’t is a selfish narcissist who is more concerned with their own inconvenience over the literal life or death of others. That’s not punk, that’s not anarchism.
Anarcho-punk has always been about thinking outside of ourselves. Its always been about community. What can I contribute to the safety and well being of not just my community or the scene, but other communities around me. Particularly the most marginalized, oppressed and vulnerable communities.
Listen to science, and the Centers for Disease Control and World Health Organization, and help save lives. Wearing a mask and washing your hands are the least folks can do.
That said governments will use any crisis to build repression. Our job is to fight this, and fight to save lives of the most vulnerable in our communities at the same time.
9- do you follow the illustrations of other cartoonists? who are they?
Oh yeah! There’s so many great artists out there! I’m really bad with names. Let me check my Instagram. Ok here’s some Instagram handles of folks I think are incredible artists:
@johnkennmortensen
@emorydouglasart
@vrye
@artbyhenryluke
@rekless.punx
You can allso check out the hash tag to see Kevin Rashid Johnson’s artwork which is incredible. #kevinrashidjohnson
Some friends here in the Northwest:
@entangledrootspress
@nobonzo
@hazelsebastianglass
@joshum_art
@cathartshitz
@garnetdreams
@raschliska
@dismalswampshrew
@megadamson
@nickgomezprints
There’s so many more incredible artists out there!
10- how would your life be without your art and ideas?
I can’t imagine it. Art music and the politics of saving the world are central to my existence. Without them it would be bleak. Boring. Emotionless.
11- and now if, after so many little questions, how would you take advantage of this space to address those who are reading your interview?
If you are male, you have a responsibility to be a feminist and to fight and abolish mysogyny, sexism, and hold other men accountable. ALWAYS SUPPORT SURVIVORS. Read bell hooks. Calling people out is a sign of love and respect and the belief in the ability of others to change. And the only apology that is real, is changed behavior. WORK ON YOUR SHIT. Punk is nothing if it isn’t militantly feminist.
If you are white, you have a responsibility to actively fight white supremacy and white privilege and to join the rest of us in the working class fighting for liberation. This work is messy, its hard, and it is daily work. It’s more than just fighting nazis, and sewing anti-racist patches on your clothes. Punk is nothing if it isn’t fighting daily against racism and white supremacy.
If you are hetero/straight or cis-gendered, you have a responsibility to fight for the inclusion of and voice of queer, trans, and other gender nonbinary folks. You have a responsibility to fight against homophobia and transphobia. Smash the gender binary, for gender self determination. Punch homophobes, misogynists and nazis!
If you live in the united states/europe you have a responsibility to fight against U.S. social, economic, and political imperialism. You have a responsibility to support and lift up the voices of our brothers and sisters around the world. Smash colonialism and Imperialism!
If you need recommendations on where to start, what to read, groups to join, feel free to reach out and I will help connect you.
Thanks so much for the opportunity! Check out my art on instagram @sad_punx_at_end_of_world