‘RAD’-ICAL ART

It’s a flashback to the ’80s.

At least when it comes to Zozobra.

This year’s event will feature the giant marionette celebrating the 1980s as part of “The Decades Project,” which puts Zozobra in a different decade up until its 100th anniversary, in 2024.

Ray Sandoval, Zozobra event chair, says the organization ran an art contest open to all ages, with a mixtape ’80s theme in mind.

“Our community did the judging, and they were hard-pressed to choose a winner,” Sandoval says. “And the ’80s theme that inspired so much amazing artwork was a clear indication of just how much our fellow New Mexicans are going to enjoy this year’s Decades Project ’80s-themed Zozobra.”

Las Vegas, New Mexico, native Gabriel Garcia won the honor of being this year’s poster artist.

His punk-themed Zozobra is everything that the 1980s were about.

Growing up in northern New Mexico, Garcia worked his way up the ranks at the family restaurant, El Rialto, which he owns today.

“I took an interest in all mediums of art at a very young age,” Garcia says. “My grandmother was very creative and worked with various media, from ceramics to knitting. She was always making something, and I was always there watching and learning.”

Sandoval says four more artists were chosen to represent the youth poster, as well as two T-shirt designs and the Zozofest artist.

Jade Perea is the 2021 youth poster artist and has been a fan of Zozobra since she was little and growing up in Santa Fe.

■ Angel Del Frate is the official ■ 2021 Zozobra T-shirt artist.

■Albuquerque native Jaden Love, a student at New Mexico State University, is the youth T-Shirt artist.

■Zozofest artist Allen Hopkins designed a piece that pays homage to “Back to the Future.”