My presentation will be on Chicana Artist Martha Ramirez-Oropeza who is a muralist, philosopher, teacher, visual and theater arts practitioner and instructor. Martha Ramirez-Oropeza is also a professor in Mexican Indigenous Nahuatl Philosophy, and Spanish Language immersion. She was an apprentice to the great Maestro David A. Siqueiros in México. As a resident artist at the Social and Public Art Resource Center (SPARC) in Venice, CA., Martha Ramirez-Oropeza enacts a sacred ritualistic ceremony for the Day of the Dead every year, for ancestor worship Día de los Muertos at SPARC. At this special event there are many elaborate altars set up representing different regions in México with specific items placed on or around the altars that may vary by regional locality.
In the Fall of 2019, Martha Ramirez-Oropeza was the tlamachtihquētl (teacher) for Chicano 113 - Day of Dead Ritual, here at the University of California, Los Angeles. I really enjoyed that class and I believe that it has a lot to offer to people interested in learning about the Day of the Dead.
From what I learned in my Chicana / Chicano courses artist Martha Ramirez-Oropeza utilizes images that are associated with pre-Columbian origins. The indigenous Mesoamerican influence in her work is so important. Because it has strong ties to a historical past that was almost eradicated by the European / Spanish conquistadors. Through her artwork she connects to our ancestors and is able to tell stories and myths from the past that are relative to our present.
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“Sosteniéndome de mis raíces”
Martha Ramirez Oropeza
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I really like how artist Martha Ramirez-Oropeza’s work is closely tied to indigenous pre-Columbian culture. And I consider her to be a talented artist because her work has an important story to tell, a sacred myth that is meant to be preserved and passed onto future generations to keep our history and traditions alive through Topializtli (what should be preserved). She is an amazing tlacuilo (artist) and a Tlamatini (wise person).
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