John Rivas - Later Years

Later Years

On May 10, 2012 the General Archive of Puerto Rico opened is doors to the exposition: "The Art of BONZZO Visits the General Archive of Puerto Rico - Big Comic Strips Expo". Over 25 of BONZZO's comic strips and BONZZO's memorabilia will be exposed there until October 31, 2012. That same day, on the exposition's opening, BONZZO had its Second USPS Pictorial Cancellation, in which the General Archive of Puerto Rico, located in San Juan, PR, became "The Art of Bonzzo at the General Archive of Puerto Rico Station". BONZZO also got his First USPS Commemorative Stamp that day. The 45 cent postage seal will perpetuate Rivas’ character in Bonzzo in the chronicles of American history.

On 2012 John Rivas also participated, with various of his BONZZO works, on a zero violence cartoon exposition held at the General Archive of Puerto Rico.

Also on 2012, Rivas won four American Packaging Design Awards, awarded by the prestigious Graphic Design USA for four BONZZO packaging designs: “Big Comic Strips BONZZO Mobile Carrying Cart”, “Big Comic Strips BONZZO Exposition Promo Life-Size Stand”, “The Art of BONZZO BONZZO Book Case”, and “100% The Art of Comic Strips BONZZO Gift Box”. “To me, it has been a very pleasant surprise and a great honor to be recognized with four American Package Design Awards 2012 from the prestigious Graphic Design USA,” said Rivas, creator of the comic book BONZZO, which has been published by several media on the Island and the United States. The four designs created by Rivas, were selected from more than 1,600 competitors from across the United States mainland and elsewhere and its territories. Rivas’ four packaging design winners are published in the journal GDUSA and on the website of the organization. The American Package Design Awards celebrates well-designed and well-executed graphic designs of course, but also the power of design to advance the brand promise and forge an emotional connection with the buyer at the moment of truth, according to a press release.

Rivas's designs received this same year five Communicators Awards: Communicator Award of Excellence 2012 Integrated Campaign Winner (Gold Award), for "BONZZO The Comic Strip", Communicator Award of Excellence 2012 Print Winner (Gold Award), for "Posters Promo BONZZO Postal Stamp", Communicator Award of Distinction 2012 Print (Silver Award) for the Logo UNEX - Universidad Extendida UPR in Bayamón, made for the University of Puerto Rico in Bayamón for the Continued (Post-Graduate Education Department), Communicator Award of Distinction 2012 Print (Silver Award) for the Logo CuCo The Bull, made for the University of Puerto Rico in Cayey, and Communicator Award of Distinction 2012 Website Winner (Silver Award), for "BONZZO The Comic Strip/BONZZO La Tirilla Comica Website". The UPR logos were requested by Dr. Yanaira Vázquez Cruz, who leads UPR University in Utuado, and who also explained the significance of this being the first time a UPR logo gets international recognition and that the she is proud to see how the result of John Rivas creating their corporate logo has already widely exceeded expectations. Rivas has been recognized by academic and political leaders such as the President of the University of Puerto Rico, Miguel Muñoz Muñoz and the Secretary of State, Kenneth McClintock for accolades received from the international community for characters of his creation that exalt not only his talent but the talented nature of the Puerto Rican people. The Communicators Awards is the leading international creative awards program honoring excellence in innovative and exemplary forms of communication. Founded by communication professionals over a decade ago, The Communicator Awards competition is held annually. Its purpose, to be the top level contest among the best in advertising, corporate communications, public relations and identity labeling work for print, video, interactive and audio productions. The 2012 Communicator Awards received over 6,000 entries from ad agencies, interactive agencies, production firms, in-house creative professionals, graphic designers, design firms, and public relations firms, all of whom are judged and overseen by the International Academy of the Visual Arts (or IAVA for its acronym).