Morton alumnus Alex Covarrubias AKA Red Cave returned to Morton East on March 27 to present a collection of his artistic work, and talk to students about his art and process.

Alex Covarrubias (who artistically goes by Red Cave) is a Cicero-based artist specializing in Mecixan folk and Chicano art.  From an early age, Alex developed a deep passion for drawing, which has grown into a career dedicated to story-telling through visual art.  Red Cave showcases a collection of works blended with mixed media that bring rich cultural stories to life.

Red Cave answered five quick questions with the Pony Express News.

Question:  Your art features Mexican folk and Chicano influences. How do these cultural elements shape your creative vision, and what messages do you aim to convey through them?

Answer:  These cultural elements shape my creative vision in the way that I grew up.  Different perspectives and experiences have given me different ways to express and create my craft.  For instance, I want to include experiences through different historical time periods in my art.

Q:  You’ve created digital illustrations of iconic Mexican figures like Frida Kahlo and Maria Felix. What draws you to these individuals, and how do you approach reimagining their legacy in your work?

A:  Creating these digital illustrations of these iconic Mexican figures were important to me because wanted to emphasize the big impact and shift these figures have given to the Hispanic community. Their vision, uniqueness, and creativity has given inspirations and representations to the Mexican culture. Capturing a certain moment or a certain era from them is something that I grasp upon in reimagining their legacy.

Q:  As a Cicero native, how has your upbringing in this community influenced your artistic themes and choice of mediums?

A:  Being a Cicero native has influenced my artistic themes and choice of mediums by being surrounded by the people who talk culture. For instance, talking “Spanglish” with others and having the humility to embrace my culture has given me the opportunity to mix my Chicano style into my pieces.

Q:  The name ‘Red Cave’ is unique. Is there a particular story or meaning behind your artistic moniker?

A:  The word ‘RedCave’ is broken down in two, “Covarrubias” It just represents my last name “Cova” meaning cave, and “Rubias” meaning red.   Thank you for inviting me it was a pleasure being able to inspire the youth and teaching.