Week 4--Patssi Valdez and Asco

One of my first assignments for my first ever college class was to go to LACMA and see the exhibition on Asco. It was during Pacific Standard Time, an initiative of the Getty to create thematically linked exhibitions and programs in museums across Los Angeles. The exhibition entitled Asco: Elite of the Obscure, A Retrospective, 1972-1987, showcased various works, both conceptual and performance, created by Asco during the 70s and 80s. I so vividly remember walking through that exhibition and watching with awe a film created by Asco. I remember thinking how cool the group was, namely how cool Patssi Valdez was. I remember thinking, this is art; this is something I want to see when I come to museum. Their work felt relevant and purposeful, like they fully dedicated themselves in their process of creating art. I am some one who does not typically enjoy going to museums because I feel they present a sanctioned space that is catered for a very particular elite demographic; I dislike going to museums because I often just feel like I am not educated enough to be there, or that the work being presented is completely devoid of my life. This experience going to LACMA was different. I felt a sense of urgency in the work being shown; the exhibition as a whole felt relatable and relevant. Back in 2011, I did not know the history of Asco in relation to LACMA. In fact, had forgotten about that exhibition until the presentation on Patssi Valdez this past Monday. I appreciated the presentation on Monday because it not only provided a critical framework within which to understand Valdez’s work, but also told the untold story that the museum would never tell, namely about her relationship to the fine art world. I find it a bit ironic that LACMA chose to showcase Asco’s work years after the political and racial contentions that arose back in the 1970s. I appreciate that the presenter provider us with this information, as I feel it is a crucial factor in understanding Valdez’s, Asco’s, and other Chicana/o’s relationship and role with the art world.