Karen Boccalero facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Karen Boccalero
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Carmen Rose Boccalero
May 19, 1933 Globe, Arizona, US
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| Died | June 24, 1997 (aged 64) |
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Karen Boccalero (May 19, 1933 – June 24, 1997) was an American nun and talented artist. She is best known for starting and leading Self-Help Graphics & Art, a very important art center in Los Angeles.
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Growing Up and Learning
Karen Boccalero was born Carmen Rose Boccalero in Globe, Arizona. Her parents were from Italy. When she was a child, her family moved to Los Angeles.
She went to Immaculate Heart College in Los Feliz, California. There, she studied art with a famous artist and nun named Sister Corita Kent. Karen Boccalero continued her art studies in Rome, Italy. She earned a special degree called an MFA (Master of Fine Arts) in printmaking from Temple University.
Starting Self-Help Graphics & Art
In 1971, Karen Boccalero started Self-Help Graphics in Boyle Heights, a neighborhood in Los Angeles. She worked with a group of Chicano artists. Chicano refers to people of Mexican descent living in the United States.
She found a printing press and set up a workshop in a garage. This garage was rented by her religious group, the Sisters of St. Francis of Penance and Christian Charity. Self-Help Graphics became both a place to create art prints and a community center. Sister Karen was its director for many years.
Sharing Culture Through Art
Sister Karen worked hard to show off Mexican culture in the art made at the studio. She also included it in the educational programs they offered. She was very important in starting the first Dia de los Muertos (Day of the Dead) celebration in Los Angeles. This is a special Mexican holiday that honors family and friends who have passed away.
An instructor named Linda Vallejo said that Sister Karen really wanted to teach young people in East Los Angeles about Mexican history and symbols.
Supporting Artists and Community
Karen Boccalero was great at raising money for the art programs. Her own experience as an artist helped her support new artists. She saw the art studio as her special mission as a Franciscan nun. Her religious order supported her work. She even helped bring local punk bands to perform at the studio.
In 1988, Boccalero won an award called the Vesta Award. She received it from the Woman's Building for her work in helping the arts community.
Sister Karen lived to see Self-Help Graphics featured in a big art show. This show was at the Laguna Art Museum in 1995.
Her Lasting Impact
Karen Boccalero passed away in 1997 at the age of 64. She died from a heart attack. After she passed, a special altar was set up to remember her. It was covered with artworks, photos, and flowers.
Ten years after her death, there was a special art show at Self-Help Graphics & Art to honor Sister Karen. Posters made by Boccalero and other artists from her community were shown in an exhibit called "American Sabor." This exhibit was at the Bob Bullock Museum in 2010.
Sister Karen's art was also part of a traveling show. This show was called "Now Dig This! Art and Black Los Angeles, 1960–1980." It was organized by the Hammer Museum in Los Angeles and traveled from 2011 to 2013.
A gallery in Austin, Texas called Galería Sin Fronteras was inspired by Karen Boccalero's work. Today, Self-Help Graphics & Art is still an important community place in East Los Angeles.
