Deborah Vasquez, artist and activista in San Antonio, Texas, has transformed the comic book stereotypes onto canvas - creating a brown superhero who fights for love with a vengeance.

CITLALI, THE FIRST CHICANA SUPERHERO ARRIVES ON VALENTINE'S DAY FIGHTING FOR TRUE LOVE

For Immediate Release: 9 febrero 05
Contact: Irma Mayorga, Esperanza Center 210.736.0310
Or Graciela Sánchez 210.228.0201
To interview Deborah Vasquez: h) 210.534.8014 or c) 363.1689
for images:  http://www.esperanzacenter.org/_temp/vasquez/index.htm


 http://www.mysanantonio.com/entertainment/visualarts/stories/MYSA020905.1P.vazquez.8a6450ec.html


Just in time for the most romantic day of the year - Citlali - muscular, morena, and bien sexy - is coming to San Antonio to take on Valentine's Day - with a vengeance.

Citlali, which is an Aztec term of reverence meaning “reach for the stars”, is known for sporting a red bandana accentuating her panteresca-eyes and long black hair, tight green pants and a skinny top emblazoned with an indigenous woman standing on a crescent-moon.

Citlali is the creation of Deborah Kuetzpalin Vasquez , a visual artist and activist who has revolutionized the classic male comic-book stereotypes, inventing a superhero for brown women who deserve more than supermodels, anchor-stars and desperate uber-housewives.

A comic-book is in the works.

Citlali rejects the sugary concoction that our society has made of love, instead exploring love's deepest faces. Using the Nahuatl term Tlasohtla, which means “to love”, Citlali's love is for la gente and the social justice they deserve. In the process, she challenges war, cultural tourism, and the Bible as interpreted by White men, finding her divine inspiration in the erotic imagining of her mothers' embrace.

Unlike other superheroes, Citlali's birth was no accident. Born of indigenous goddesses, Citlali is a ferocious beauty, a woman made sensual because she is fearless and loving. Tlasohtla for la gente is more powerful than violence, as Citlali protects and defends women, her cultura and Mother Earth.

Working in a mix of traditional materials, like huipil fabric, but revitalizing them in a contemporary context, Vasquez brings Tlasohtla: El Amor Tiene Muchas Caras to the Esperanza Center to show us that love has many faces, and ay! how delicious it is to change the world.

Tlasohtla: El Amor Tiene Muchas Caras. (Love Has Many Faces) will arrive at the Esperanza Center on Saturday, February 12th, 922 San Pedro, at 7:00 pm for a one-woman art exhibit and celebration of love that is much more than hearts and flowers.


Reception at 7:00 pm.
Admission is free. Donations are welcome.

The Esperanza is located at 922 San Pedro, one-half mile north of the enchilada library in downtown San Antonio.

For more Information, please contact the Esperanza Center at 210.228.0201

e-mail:: esperanzapeaceandjustice@yahoo.com homepage:: http://www.esperanzacenter.org phone:: 210.228.0201

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