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José Montoya
Born in Escobosa, New Mexico, José Montoya, a Chicano artist, poet, and musician/songwriter, is one of the pioneering art activists in the Chicano movement. Having grown up in central California, Montoya became involved with organized labor, and collaborated with Cesar Chavez and the United Farm Workers movement in the struggle for migrant farm workers rights. In 1970, he co-founded with Esteban Villa the RCAF, the Rebel Chicano Art Front, aka the Royal Chicano Air Force, one of the groundbreaking Chicano artist collectives. The RCAF set the standard for using art to bring public awareness to Chicano history and culture and as a tool for educating youth. Montoya also founded CSUS’s Barrio Art Program in 1970. The program continues to thrive to this date. A multi-talented artist, Montoya is presently the Poet Laureate of Sacramento. He is the author of three collections of poetry, including the highly acclaimed In Formation: 20 Years of Joda. He is completing his 4th book of poetry essays, and memoirs, How I Came to America From Chili, to be published by Charley Trujillo’s Chusma House. José Montoya lives in Sacramento, CA.
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