Rivera, Arianna

Hello! My name is Arianna Rivera. I am a third year transfer from Mt. San Antonio College in Walnut, CA. My love for indulging in history and culture has led me to major in Art History. I have yet to decide on a concentration within my major but a possible choice is Latin American/Chicano(a) art. I have taken a Pre-Colombian Art History course at my previous college that took me through the history of Latin American art, but my recent interest in Chicana art has drawn me to take this class. The exposure to Chicana artists and their stories will assist me in choosing a concentration. While I have studied several Asian, European and African cultures, I tend to overlook the Mexican culture. Taking this course would allow me to indulge in one of my cultures. 

I grew up around two religions: Christianity and Catholicism. One side of my extended family are Christians, so I grew up with the cross as an idolized symbol. I always saw a cross hanging in the homes of my grandma and aunts. Some of my cousins have gotten a tattoo of a cross with their favorite scripture. On the other hand, my Mother grew up in a family that practiced Catholicism. As a result, she observes Catholic holidays and encourages my family to do the same. Also, I have always lived in a Latino- dominant neighborhood that practiced Catholicism, so I would observe the celebrations of The Day of the Virgin of Guadalupe. I did not grow up with the image, but I have always seen it at various Latin restaurants and markets.