Week 9: Chicana Print makers

In the essay Chicana Printmakers Holly Barnet-Sanchez supplies a counter narrative to a political movement devoid of recognition of the powerful role both Chicana artists and specifically Chicana printmakers played in the Chicano revolution of the 1960's. These Chicana printmakers were significant in the sense that their work provided accessible mediums to communicate and support cultural pride and the movement. They also utilized this to display their own stories and histories as a subgroup within the overarching Chicano movement, and Barnet-Sanchez righteously laces these together. 

In Yreina Cervatez's 1985 print, Camino Largo, she shows progressive Chicana thinking as well as origin story narratives for Mexican Americans. She uses strong symbolism and traditional Mexican heritage practices such as Milagros, masks, ofrenda like imagery, candles, and a jaguar. The print is supposed to represent the northern migration forced by the Mexican revolution, a huge influence on the Mexican American world. It also shows Cervatez's grandmother with a shotgun, which highlights Chicana independence and strength. The entire piece focuses on history, art and culture. All of these elements of her screen print communicate the same ideals as the Chicano movement, and would have played a valuable role if given recognition during that time.