Artbound

- Season 12

(2021)

A pioneer of Chicano rock 'n' roll, Rubén Funkahuatl Guevara recounts his life in music, performance art and activism - from his time as lead singer of the doo-wop band The Apollo Brothers, his collaborations with Frank Zappa and Cheech Marin, and his crossover into the Chicano performance art world of the 1960s and 1970s - all of which shaped Mexican American culture.

Renowned ceramicist and educator Helen Jean Taylor has not only crafted timeless artworks inspired by colors found in home gardens, but also helped her students improve their mental health through the art of throwing clay.

Learn how "Sweet Land," named the Best Opera of 2020 by the Music Critics Association of North America, was made. See how it recasts the origin story of the United States through the eyes of Native Americans and immigrants. Explore how this revisionist opera was shaped by an unusual collaboration of diverse creative voices and what it says about the roots of our divided nation today.

The desert is both a place and idea. Learn how the recurring site-specific, international art exhibition "Desert X" in 2021 explored issues such as land ownership, water scarcity and overlooked histories.

The Autry Museum is working to recontextualize a large mural, dating from the 1980s.

See how a roving LGBTQ night club event in Los Angeles became a creative incubator for today's leading edge contemporary artists.