Human Rights Portfolio

(Cover Page -- Portada)

Ken SWINSON -- Cincinnati

Ken Swinson is a printmaker in rural Kentucky. His work is influenced by folk art, the Ohio river valley and his experiences in Oaxaca, Mexico. He works at the Log Cabin Print Shop, a 200+ year old log cabin in the historic village, Old Washington, KY. "Barbed wire constrains human movement and for me represents the oppression of human rights' and freedoms. For the cover, I wanted to represent both cities coming together to overcome our struggles for human rights. The cover features Cincinnati's skyline, bridges and river, Oaxaca's Santo Domingo Cathedral, Aga ve plants and mountains. To further the idea of cross-cultural connectedness, I decided to weave the English and Spanish words for "human rights" together m a way that high lights the similarities between the two lan guages. I have firsthand experienced printmak ing with artists in both Cincinnati and Oaxaca and I love both communities. In my experience, the arts are a way to break through cultural barriers and learn more about each other."

Ken Swinson es un grabador viviendo en la zona rural de Kentucky. Su obra esta influen ciada par el arte popular, el valle def rio Ohio y par sus experiencias en Oaxaca, Mexico. Tra baja en Log Cabin Print Shop, una cabana de troncos de mas de 200 anos en el pueblo hist6rico, Old Washington, KY. "El alambre de puas restringe el movimiento humano y, para mf, representa la opresi6n de los derechos humanos y de las libertades. Para la portada, quise representar a ambas ciu dades uniendose para superar nuestras luchas por los derechos humanos. La portada mues tra el horizonte, los puentes y el rf o de Cincin nati; y la catedral de Santo Domingo de Oaxa ca, plantas de agave y montaf\as. Para promover la idea de conexi6n intercultural, decidf entretejer las palabras en ingles y es paf\ol de "derechos humanos" de una manera que resalte las similitudes entre los dos idio mas. Tengo experiencia de primera mano en el grabado con artistas tanto en Cincinnati co mo en Oaxaca y amo ambas comunidades. En mi experiencia, las artes son una forma de romper las barreras culturales y aprender mas unos de otros."