We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Agustin Equihua Ortiz. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Agustin below.

Agustin, appreciate you joining us today. We’d love to hear about a project that you’ve worked on that’s meant a lot to you.

In 2016, I participated in a group effort to clean up Lake Patzcuaro in Michoacan , Mexico along with a group of artists and indigenous community members that have lived around the lake since for hundreds of years before Europeans arrived. We created linocut prints about the importance of maintaining the lake alive and well. The artwork was then printed onto recycled handmade paper. The recycled paper was made from an invasive plant species called Water Hyacinth or commonly known as Water Lilies. The water lilies were polluting the lake and displacing the naturally occurring wildlife of the lake. The artwork was the culmination of the physical labor to actively clean up the lake and turn the plant fibers into useful raw materials such as paper pulp, and the creative effort to express and educate the public about an urgent environmental concern. The art show consisted of 64 prints about 22″x24″ by 32 artists.

As always, we appreciate you sharing your insights and we’ve got a few more questions for you, but before we get to all of that can you take a minute to introduce yourself and give our readers some of your back background and context?

Eastside Press is the name of my studio printshop. I specialize in printing hand carved block prints and silkscreen. I have more than 30 years experience in the arts. As a teen I learned about Jose Guadalupe Posada, the Mexican artist who created many iconic images of Calaveras and the Mexican revolution. His art work was very inspirational for me and a way to connect with my culture. Once I was in art school I began using the printing presses and learned about different printing processes. Eastside Press provides original fine art prints that are culturally relevant to the Latino community. Our artwork is hand carved or etched onto a printing block. Once the design is completed we ink the block and run it through the press. We strive to create art that is original and unique that speaks to the people of Los Angeles. We also print our designs onto shirts, hoodies, and tote bags.

Do you have multiple revenue streams – if so, can you talk to us about those streams and how your developed them?

Eastside Press has multiple revenue streams. We sell our products wholesale, online, and we do commissions. We sell wholesale to a few establishments in the L.A. area including La Plaza museum gift shop and a latino craft store with a few others in progress. We also sell online through Etsy and ship across the country and overseas as well. We have also done commissioned work for art festivals, the DTLA film fest, logos, and silkscreen shirts.

What do you think is the goal or mission that drives your creative journey?

Our mission is to continue bringing fine art prints to the community that support us. We couldn’t do it without or fans. Our goal is to grow and establish an arts center and gallery. A place to appreciate art and learn the process of printmaking. The printing press has historically been the voice of the people. We want to share our printing techniques and give the community a voice and place to express themselves.

Contact Info:

• Instagram: @eastside.press
• Twitter: eastside press

Image Credits

all pictures were taken by myself.