Taco 'Bout Awesome

Brightscapes: The Way To Beauty

Taco 'Bout Awesome #307

gouache paint on Bristol paper

2.5" x 3.5" (6.35 cm x 8.89 cm) 
NOT A PRINT OR REPRODUCTION

201808108

© copyright Mike Kraus

To purchase, please visit: https://www.etsy.com/listing/625605604/taco-bout-awesome-307-artist-trading

Many Mexicans remained in the southwest after the invasion of the Mexican-American War.  While the Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo promised Mexicans and Native Americans in the captured territory US citizenship, they lost their civil and political rights for at least 120 years .  From this came a group of women entrepreneurs called "Chili Queens" that sold tacos as street vendors, an easy to make meal for the silver miners of 18th century Mexico.  When the railroads came in the 1880s, the tourist sought out the Chili Queen's tacos just as much as any other attraction.  From there, tacos evolved to use ingredients available in the United State and the development of food processing; including iceberg lettuce, cheddar cheese, and tomatoes.  This culinary delight is a tribute to our turbulent shared American history.  And something to remember every time we celebrate Taco Tuesday.

This artist trading card or ACEO (Art Card Editions and Originals) is frameable, collectible, enjoyable and can be given as a special gift for a birthday, wedding, new baby, anniversary, thank you or other occasion. It is a one-of-a-kind original work of art, NOT A PRINT OR REPRODUCTION. It is signed on the back and lends itself to framing in a standard trading card frame or book.

Please listen to my Graphic Ear Interview on WAYO 104.3 FM​ Rochester at:
https://www.mixcloud.com/graphic-ear/070518-graphic-ear-with-mike-kraus/

Michael Kraus was born on the industrial shoreline of Muskegon, Michigan. After earning his Fine Arts Degree from The School of the Art Institute of Chicago, he attended Grand Valley State University for his graduate degree. From there, he gained varied experiences from the Chicago Architecture Foundation, Art Institute of Chicago, Hauenstein Center For Presidential Studies, Lollypop Farm Humane Society, and the Children's Memorial Foundation. And every place he worked, he had his sketchbook with him and found ways to be actively creative. In 2014, Kraus became a full-time artist by establishing Mike Kraus Art. Since then, he has sold hundreds of paintings that are displayed in nearly every state and dozens of countries. Currently, Kraus lives in Rochester, New York with his beautiful wife and goofy dog.

For more information or custom order, please visit:

Store: MikeKrausArt.etsy.com

Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/MikeKrausArt

Pinterest: http://www.pinterest.com/MikeKraus/

Instagram: https://instagram.com/mikekrausart

LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/mkraus

Twitter: http://twitter.com/MikeKrausBlog

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Taco 'Bout Awesome

 Taco 'Bout Awesome, 2017

acrylic paint on canvas board

5" x 7" (12.7 cm x 17.8 cm)

201706068

© copyright Mike Kraus

To purchase, please visit: https://www.etsy.com/listing/248187027/taco-bout-awesome-original-acrylic

10% OFF with coupon code JOINTHEFUN

Many Mexicans remained in the southwest after the invasion of the Mexican-American War.  While the Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo promised Mexicans and Native Americans in the captured territory US citizenship, they lost their civil and political rights for at least 120 years .  From this came a group of women entrepreneurs called "Chili Queens" that sold tacos as street vendors, an easy to make meal for the silver miners of 18th century Mexico.  When the railroads came in the 1880s, the tourist sought out the Chili Queen's tacos just as much as any other attraction.  From there, tacos evolved to use ingredients available in the United State and the development of food processing; including iceberg lettuce, cheddar cheese, and tomatoes.  This culinary delight is a tribute to our turbulent shared American history.  And something to remember every time we celebrate Taco Tuesday.

For more information or custom order, please visit:
https://www.etsy.com/shop/MikeKrausArt

Want to see my work in person?  Then visit these galleries:

Whitman Works Co. 1826 Penfield Rd, Penfield, NY 14526 (585) 747-9999 https://www.whitmanworks.com/

Rochester Contemporary Arts Center (RoCo)  137 East Avenue, Rochester, NY 14604 (585) 461-2222 http://www.rochestercontemporary.org/

Art Cats Gallery 1845 Lakeshore Dr, Muskegon, MI 49441 (231) 755-7606 http://artcatsgallery.com/

A Wicked Good Time In Beantown

Welcome to Boston, Massachusetts.  How quickly can you do the Freedom Trail?


Enjoy the view from the hotel.  It's a months rent for a couple nights and parking is not validated...  Sometimes I miss the midwest.


The Park Street Church across from Boston Common

Brewer Fountain in the Common




Massachusetts State House and a kid with a backpack monster


Here lies Samuel Adams, founding father of the United States and beer guy.


Victims of the Boston Massacre are in the Granary Burying Ground.



Hope this guy wasn't too important...


Try telling the renter of this place that their apartment isn't haunted because it's built on top of a tomb.  But, the award goes to the basement day care center with the view of gravestones.  Poor kids and their therapy bills...


If I got a tattoo, it'd be something like this.  Born (and will die) in the wrong era.


Ben Franklin's parents


John Hancock...




Ben Franklin overlooking a Chinese restaurant at Old City Hall and "the Founding Father of Funny"


Here's Old City Hall


Jonathan Phillips.


The Old South Meeting House where they planned the Boston Tea Party


The Old State House and site of the Boston Massacre




Faneuil Hall (or Nathaniel Hall to those in the know)


Sam Adams


BREAKDANCING IN AMERICAN FLAG SHORTS!


Quincy Market


This is for Vicky.  Muller Greek Yogurt samples thrown at tourist on the street.


I guess a lot of Boston looked like this (or worse) before the Big Dig and without the Leonard P. Zakim Bunker Hill Memorial Bridge.


Instead of a nasty highway, Boston has parks and other amenities (Rochester: take note for the Inner Loop)


The North End


Paul Revere's House.  You can tell he was worried about the British coming because of the bars on his front door


Paul Revere's Ride and maybe the bride's as well


For Megan, the place where Rose Kennedy was baptized


Paul Revere statue


Old North Church where Paul sent the signal "One if by land, and two if by sea" 


The USS Constitution.  I have to mention that this place had the most intense security of any tourist trap I've ever been in.




Taking aim at Boston.  The tour guide/soldier warned us not to pick up the large cannonballs because we don't want to hurt ourselves or others by dropping them on our feet.  





The USS Cassin Young


HUZZA!  For Pete


Bunker Hill



William Prescott


Beautiful neighborhood in the Charlestown neighborhood




Waiting to eat at Antico Forno.  Great food and worth the short wait


Feast of St. Anthony in North End (Little Italy)


The band and stage






After this and our honeymoon, I realize that my religious bretheren really like bright colors and lights.


Woody Boyd outside of Cheers


I'd shop more if this was common...


Trinity Church 


Boston Public Library


It seems the library was designed by Tim Burton




I feel smarter after just walking through here


The First Church of Christ, Scientist


The Christian Science Church Library and Sunday School


The Muddy River in the Fenway


Fenway Park, home of the Boston Red Sox

Outside of the Green Monster


The bridge in the Public Garden 


The swan boats


Peddling these boats all day must give you really strong legs



St. James the Greater Church where the wedding was


This was the first time I've ever been to a wedding with a Dragon Dance and it was awesome.  I kind of wish we had done some kind of entertainment like this at our wedding.


Also, it was the first wedding I've ever been to where they sang the national anthem.  The groom is a big Bruins fan and they brought in Rene Rancourt as a wedding gift.  I wish the pictures would have turned out, but the didn't.  I've never seen wedding guest get so excited.

That's more than enough for now.  Congrats to Jen and Michael on their wedding.  Also, congrats to my cousin Mallory and Tim on their marriage.  I give my best wishes to my cousin Eric on his nuptials to Cierra.