Clubs, organizations and local artists tabled their work at the ninth annual Latino Comics Expo. For the first time ever, the Expo was chosen to be held at Modesto Junior College (MJC).

Founded in 2011, the Expo was created to highlight and recognize the work of Latinx comic creators and artists.

Dr. Theresa Rojas, the co-organizer for the Expo, wanted to bring the Expo to the Central Valley after seeing the turnout for cartoonist and storyboard artist, Rafael Navarro, last year. She also wanted to bring the Expo to MJC because of the high Latinx student and community population.

Many local artists took advantage of the event to promote their work and networked with other artists, much like Jazz Diaz (senior, Studio Art) did. Diaz displayed and sold her art at the Expo and felt empowered to see an event like this in the Central Valley.

“To me, it’s a really big deal because being from the Central Valley, living in the Central Valley, we’re definitely always overlooked. We’re the ones that usually have to travel to the cities to have access to all this stuff,” said Diaz.

Movimiento Estudiantil Chicano de Aztlan (MEChA) also came to represent Stan State at the expo. They tabled “Know Your Rights” information and sold handmade bottle cap earrings.

Guadalupe Piceno (sophomore, Business Administration), treasurer of MEChA, said, “I think it is very special… I’m seeing people that look like me expressing themselves through their art.”

Event goers were exposed to a day full of workshops and panels. The first day, Friday, March 15, consisted of workshops on “Latina Power,” “Si Se Puede: Making a Career in the Arts,” “Comics in the Classroom” and more.

Gisselle Ceja (sophomore, Pre-Nursing), said, it was “nice to see” everyone’s individual creativeness as she was able to “relate to some of the artwork.”

With this being the first time MJC hosted such an event, Dr. Rojas hoped “that it will be an epic opportunity for both attendees and our exhibitor.”  

Day two of the event was scheduled to show a Lowrider Exhibit, a “Tales from La Vida” exhibit and more workshops.