The second Poster Monday spot of the month comes from San Diego, United States, it’s entitled “The Child who is not Embraced” and belongs to Ruben Hernandez. He is studying design at SD City College and do skateboard and play jazz, when he was 17 going to an AIGA art program for at-risk teens in San Diego “It changed my life and I feel a calling to be a designer/creative. A few years later I did start school but because of bad grades I have come close to being banned from San Diego City College. Candice Lopez a great leader of the program, but I am a failed student. I did not apply myself. I would procrastinate and spend my time playing jazz drum set at bars after class 3 nights a week. I would spend a lot of time skateboarding, drinking and getting high. I am not in class right now, I am on school probation and I feel like never going back sometimes. But now that I am 9 months sober, I plan on finishing what I started, with a clear mind, and putting together a polished portfolio with the guidance of the design program. I try to design something every day. Like a Japanese pot artist, I have to make 1,000 pots and throw them away in order to develop the craft. I learned about the Japanese pot discipline from the same person who told me about The Child who is Not Embraced” tell us Ruben.

The poster “The Child who is not Embraced” born during quarantine, Ruben tells us how it happened: “my girlfriend and I were in face timing, her parents talking about the riots (for George Floyd´s dead) going on in the news. Her father is a child psychiatrist and he said the quote, “the child who is not embraced by its village will burn it down to feel its warmth.” That line was so powerful, my girlfriend said she “got chills” hearing her father say that. A poster isn’t going to save the world at this time, says renowned illustrator Christoph Neiman. “We need video, film writing and information” to change the view of the world, but some would argue a poster can do that. I have showed posters of mine to people who are black men and women, and they say my posters are strong. I have gotten a “wow” from a stranger who has seen my poster “The Child Who is Not Embraced.” She said with her heart “That is so true you really do need a village.”

If you would like to see more from Ruben visit his instagram and you would like to submit a poster to be featured on Poster Mondays find all the info you need to participate in our submissions page.