Elizam Escobar
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| Elizam Escobar | |
|---|---|
| Born | May 24, 1948 Ponce, Puerto Rico |
| Occupation | poet, painter |
| Nationality | Puerto Rican |
| Literary movement | FALN (political) |
Elizam Escobar (May 24, 1948) is a poet, author and renowned Puerto Rican painter.
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[edit] Early years
Escobar was born in Puerto Rico's second largest city, Ponce, Puerto Rico, on the southern part of the island. There he received his primary and secondary education. As a child, he always enjoyed drawing and painting. After Escobar graduated from high school he enrolled and attended the University of Puerto Rico to pursue his artistic studies.
[edit] Political activist
During his years as a student, he became actively involved in the Puerto Rican independence movement. He became a member of the underground group called The Armed Forced of Puerto Rican National Liberation (FALN). After he earned his Bachelor's Degree in Visual Arts, he moved to New York City. In New York he attended the City College of New York. Escobar also taught art at the Museo del Barrio's School of the Arts from 1979 to 1980.
On April 4, 1980, Escobar was among eleven FALN members arrested by the FBI in Evanston, Illinois under the suspicion of plotting to bomb Federal installations. They were charged with seditious conspiracy and related charges. During and after the trail he sustained his position that he and the others were prisoners of war. Escobar was sentenced to a prison term of 68 years which was to be served in the federal prison of El Reno, Oklahoma.
[edit] Artistic work
During his incarceration, Escobar used his free time to produce much of his art work. He also wrote about art and his theories about art were published in journals like Rethinking Marxism, third Test and Left Curve. Escobar argued against the use of art as political propaganda and was in favor of artistic autonomy. While serving his prison term, a series of his art work, which he titled Art as an Act of Liberation, was exhibited in the following galleries:
- The Axe Street Arena
- Galeria Kalpulli
- Polvo in Chicago [[1]]
- Casa de Arte y Cultura/Calles y Sueños, Chicago
- Rafael Cintrón-Ortiz Cultural Center in Chicago; at the ABC No Rio Gallery in New York City
- The Dissident Voices Gallery in Philadelphia
- In various cities in Puerto Rico.
Among the magazines which have published his works are: Beginnings, Currents, Left Curve, De Pie y En Lucha and Polvo. His poems have been published in the Anthology of Latino Poets in New York.
[edit] Currently
On September 7, 1999, Escobar and the ten other prisoners who were arrested with him were granted clemency by President Bill Clinton. Escobar returned to Puerto Rico immediately upon his release.
Escobar is currently the Dean of the Painting Department of the School of Fine Arts (Escuela de Artes Plásticas) in San Juan, Puerto Rico. His paintings have been exhibited in New York, Chicago, Philadelphia and in the Puerto Rican Institute of Culture. He has authored two books, "Speech in the Night" and "Sonia Semenovena", published by Quinera editors.
