In a changing world shaped by rapid social and cultural shifts, art, storytelling, media, and cinema can serve as powerful forces for connection—bringing people and communities together across generations and cultures. Comics and iconic superheroes have long served as messengers of hope, strength, and identity.
Taking place during National Hispanic Heritage Month, HEROES RISE-UP: The Power of Luchadores Cinema, Comics, and Creative Legacy, in partnership with Lost Origins Gallery, is an engaging, multi-sensory event celebrating Lucha culture and Latino creativity through art and conversations around film and history.
The evening will feature renowned designer and illustrator Jeffrey Everett, co-author of Luchadores vs. Everything, in conversation with David Wilt and moderated by Jason Torres. Drawing from Everett’s recent publication with Viviana García Besné, the discussion will explore the cultural legacy and creative impact of Luchadores cinema and comics—from iconic figures and historic heroes to the films, artwork, interviews, and traditions that have shaped Lucha culture. This program will highlight heroes rooted in Cuban and Mexican Lucha traditions and explore what makes their stories distinctive and powerful.
The event will also celebrate the closing of the Luchadores vs. Everything outdoor exhibition, featuring Everett’s vibrant artwork alongside work by local artists. The evening will conclude with a reception, offering attendees an opportunity to connect, celebrate, and experience the enduring power of Lucha culture and storytelling.
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Our Panelists
Jeffrey Everett is Jeffrey Everett is a designer, illustrator, and author running his studio Rockets are Red outside of Washington, DC. He is also an Art Director at The National Institutes of Health. He earned his MFA from The School of Visual Arts in New York City, NY. Jeffrey has had the pleasure of creating for a wide variety of entertainment, corporate, and non-profit clients. Jeffrey has created designs for such bands as Joan Jett, Social Distortion, Foo Fighters, Lou Reed, Gaslight Anthem, The Bouncing Souls, and for luchadores such as Rey Mysterio and Penta. He has created work for companies such as RedBull, Simon and Schuster, The New York Times, The Washington Post, Variety, The Washingtonian, Universal Records, LiveNation, Dreamworks, and more.
Dr. David Wilt is a Professorial Lecturer in Film Studies at GWU and a retired University of Maryland systems librarian. In more than 40 years as a film scholar, he has authored, co-authored, or contributed to more than a dozen books on film and popular culture, including Hardboiled in Hollywood, The Mexican Filmography,Companion to Film Noir, The Ten Cent War, and Global James Bond.
Jason Torres is a writer, producer, director, and lifelong pop-culture obsessive whose work spans television, comedy, sports, and the stranger corners of culture. His credits include BET, TBS, Comedy Central, Nickelodeon, MTV, CNN, Complex, Fanatics, and Hell’s Kitchen. He is a Morgan State University graduate, former Baltimore City Paper writer, and creator of The Non-Linear Writer, a talk and workshop about finding unconventional ways into stories and creative careers. Jason currently develops and produces original projects across entertainment and wrestling.
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Onsite Check-in: Lost Origins Outside:
3243 Mt Pleasant St NW, Washington, DC 20010
Main Event: Lost Origins Gallery:
3110 Mt Pleasant St NW 2nd Floor, Washington, DC 20010
Thank you to our event partner:
Lost Origins Gallery is a privately-owned arts and culture space located on historic Mount Pleasant Street in Washington D.C. Founded by Jason Hamacher.
Illustrations provided by: Jeffrey Everett
