Week 5

Being able to learn from Maestra Ofelia Esparza felt like a true honor. I only learned about her work a few years ago, but I've been a fan of her work ever since I first laid eyes on it. On the day she joined our Chicana Art and Artists class, Gregg started us off with a PowerPoint introduction. As Ofelia is his tia, it felt extra special to have him introduce her to our class. Gregg talked about her roots in Los Angeles, her matrilineal line of influence in her work, and showed many examples of her art across various mediums. I appreciated the fact that she incorporates her family into her work both as subject matter/inspiration and as creators. As inspiration, she seems to constantly either be channeling the energy of her mother and abuelas or directly portraying their image. She also is constantly working in collaboration with her children, extended family, and friends as they collectively install altares. I appreciated her spirit and knowledge she shared with all of us. Towards the end of her platica, she shared that she is still pushing her boundaries at her age and finding new ways to create. For example, she's starting to test the waters with virtual reality production. Maestra Ofelia also shared so much joy about being an integral part of the Disney film Coco and that actually gave me a newfound appreciation for the movie. It was also really exciting to learn that Ofelia and her family have their own studio open to the public in their neighborhood, Tonalli Studio. I wasn't aware of this space and can't wait to visit!