Class Reflection

The subject of Chicana art was straightforward at first.  This is because I have taken many Chicana/o Studies courses where we study the identity development of Chicanas and Chicanos; however, this course elaborated on this identity within the context of art activism.  I found that Chicana identity is more than a hybrid of cultures but that of intersecting identities that results from experience.  The course challenged me to build basic artistic skills, but also to think of art as a means of identity and political activism.  Given that art is not the core of my academic interest, I have never taken the time to engage with art at a personal level.  At first, our drawings felt as a skill development, but as we learned about the purpose behind each artist’s work, I began to appreciate each assignment as personal.  For example, the last assignment in which we had to draw a family gathering  ‘a la Lomas Garza’, as I was drawing I felt a sense of comfort and exposure.  Drawing my families gathering made me realize how much family has changed in the past three years.  As I was drawing the scene of the gathering, I noticed that my family has shrunk in size.  I grew with four brothers and two sisters along with both of my parents, which meant that my family celebrations were full of music and plenty of food for all to enjoy.  After my father past away about three years ago, my family started disintegrating.  The drawing shows what my family gatherings look like now; It is my mom, two little brothers, and I preparing a large dinner for ourselves.   Drawing this scene made me realize that art is a coping mechanism that allowed me to “voice” out my discomfort with my current family gatherings.  I did not even know that I felt that way until I drew it on my sketchbook.  At this point, the work in my sketchbook felt personal and alleviating.  Over all, this class allowed me to understand Chicana art through an identity and political consciousness perspective.