As the first retrospective on Gordo (1941-1985), this exhibit celebrates the dazzling artistry of Mexican-American cartoonist Gustavo ‘Gus’ Arriola (1917-2008).
Gordo was a long-running syndicated comic strip in 270 U.S. newspapers and the most visible ethnic comic strip of its time. With the inclusion of Spanish words, Gordo was meant to be the Mexican Li’l Abner. At the onset, the titular Gordo Salazar Lopez, the bean farmer, reflected Hollywood’s regrettable stereotype of the lazy Mexican. In 1959, Arriola changed Gordo’s profession to a tour guide driving Halley’s Comet, a Mexican ‘colectivo’ (bus), slowly transforming the character. Later, Arriola took his first trip to Mexico where he immersed himself in Mexican culture and modernist art, influencing how he would draw the strip.
Depicting Mexico and Modernism offers the opportunity to look at the visually stunning Gordo and see firsthand Arriola’s development as a modernist Mexican-American artist who used the comics page to celebrate and share his Mexican heritage with American readers.
Curated by Nhora Lucía Serrano, the exhibition consists of animation made by Bret Olsen, and works on loan from Mark Burstein, Jim Guida, Lalo Alcaraz, Hector D. Cantú, Carlos Castellanos, and from the collections of the Billy Ireland Cartoon Library & Museum at The Ohio State University.
Additional Programing
Public Reception
Saturday, January 20
3:00pm-6:00pm
Billy Ireland Cartoon Library & Museum
This event is free and open to the public.
- 3:00-3:30 p.m. Exhibit Tour – Join exhibit curator Nhora Lucía Serrano on an exhibit tour in the BICLM galleries.
- 4:00-5:00 p.m. Gus Arriola and His Legacy – Comics scholars Nhora Lucía Serrano, Frederick Luis Aldama and Hector D. Cantú will discuss the legacy of Gus Arriola, his comic strip Gordo and its influence on their work. This program will be held in the Jean and Charles Schulz Lecture Hall.
- 5:00-6:00 p.m. Exhibit Reception – Taking place in the Will Eisner Seminar Room and galleries, light snacks and refreshments will be provided.
Nhora Lucía Serrano
