Blog 4: Laura Alvarez

I choose to write about “Clean Up at the Monsanto House of the Future” because I like the concept of a maid looking fashionably put together as a very strong and bold statement by the artist. In Laura Alvarez painting, there is a futuristic architecturally designed house with a family to the middle-right, and the maid to the middle left. The maid, or better yet Double Agent Sirvienta, is sweeping golden leaves and accumulating them into a big pile of gold. Double Agent Sirvienta is dressed in a chic and upscale dress while her hair is nicely put up with a flower to the side of her head. The black and white with hints of gold truly make the piece stand out and gives the artwork personality. The artist depicts her mother and herself as both being strong and beautiful women. I love her whole concept of making the stereotypical Mexican lady a nanny/maid and flipping it into a 180 degree to make this character a symbol of honor and gracefulness. I believe all women have the ability to take pride and honor in their work, despite all the negative views others have.

In the book “Chicana Sexuality and Gender” by Debra J. Blake, the writer mentions the effects of the Virgin of Guadalupe on Mexican-American second-generation women. Blake states “for many women, Guadalupe represents both Mexican culture and a valued woman: ‘Our Lady of Guadalupe provides them with a spiritual form of resistance to the sociopolitical negotiation of Mexican-American women.” I believe that Laura Alvarez is encompassing the whole concept of La Virgin de Guadalupe is to Mexican American women through her painting/artwork of maids.  The image of La Virgin and Laura’s painting display powerful fearless women as role models to a Mexican American audience.