Hamilton-Lecky, Colleen

Hi, Class!

My name is Colleen Hamilton-Lecky and I am a Sophomore in the World Arts and Cultures/Dance Department. I grew up in Berkeley, CA and the exposure to diverse groups of people and ideas deeply affected my worldview, which is one of the many reasons I decided to take this class.

I have always been interested in the political power of art to address challenges and change minds, particularly surrounding identity. This class seemed like an excellent way to further explore this interest, especially since I do not know much about Chican@ art or history. Since I have grown up in California, which heavily benefits from
many strong Chican@ communities, this seems like a major oversight in my education.

Beyond this, I hope to become an Art Curator, so developing knowledge about a wide range of historical and contemporary artists is essential. Too often we only focus on the dominant white male figures in Art History. As a Curator, I hope to challenge this practice in as many spaces as possible.

I did not grow up with the Virgin de Guadalupe as an important figure in my household, although I remember going to the Fruitvale and Mission Districts in Oakland and San Francisco as a child and seeing murals in which she was predominantly featured. Her grace and power always interested me, although I never formally learned her story - until this class!

Since my household was irreligious, spiritual symbols or images were never valued. However, in High School, I sought out images of female strength and power to guide me through the uncomfortable years of puberty. As a result, collages and images of women such as Miriam Makeba, Beyonce, and Naomi Shimada lined my walls, giving me strength and power to exist in moments when I felt weak or disempowered. Although these images were not religious per se, I believe they still provided me with guidance and inspiration in the moments I needed it most.