Inspirations

Antena Aire’s endeavors built on the important work of organizers, artists, collectives, and writers historically and in a contemporary context. In the field of language justice across the U.S. and the world, we were particularly informed and inspired by the work done at the Highlander Research and Education Center, spearheaded by activist educators Alice Johnson and Roberto Tijerina. 

We drew inspiration from thinkers, artists and activists working along intellectual borderlands: Echo Park Film Center, Grupo Etcétera, Highlander Research and Education Center, Project Row Houses, Temporary Services, The Jack Kerouac School of Disembodied Poetics, and Ultra-Red. 

We were equally energized by writers and translators whose work ignites shifts in the possibilities for change inherent to language, like Ammiel Alcalay, Gloria Anzaldúa, Don Mee Choi, Lyn Hejinian, bell hooks, Madhu Kaza, John Keene, M. NourbeSe Philip, Craig Santos Perez and Rosmarie Waldrop. 

We were further informed by many autonomous small press and literary curatorial projects, like Afinidades electivas/Elective Affinities, belladonna, Civil Coping Mechanisms, Corollary Press, Dusie Books, Eloísa Cartonera and the other cartonera presses around the world, Half Letter Press, Printed Matter, and Ugly Duckling Presse.