Robles, Harlow (Artist presentation blog)

 

Graciela Carrillo (Las Mujers Muralistas 1974)

I enjoyed all the presentations; they were informative on the artist and their art. I was surprised to learn that my classmates were able to obtain good information and background on their artist.  Jacqueline Torres and her presentation on artist Graciela Carrillo was well done.  I did not know that Jacqueline’s artist was part of a group of Chicana muralist called “Las Mujers Muralistas”. The Chicanas worked together to create “Latino America”. They all put a little of their knowledge and spirit into the mural to depict Latino culture. To be honest, I really didn’t think that there were so many Chicana female artists that were creating murals so I was a little surprised when Jacqueline mentioned that. So, not only does her artist paint murals but she also connected with other Latinas who paint them as well.

In the mural “Latino America” that located in San Francisco, I can see how Latino culture is represented. In Latin culture, corn is a valuable source of energy used to be used to trade, and in the mural it’s the plant that sticks out the most. The medicine man looks like he is praying for good crops as the other natives bring gifts. In the center of this depiction, there is a circle with what looks like a family. To me this means that the sacrifices my people made in the past are what made it possible for my family to be here today. In Latino culture, family is important and in the mural I can see at least four representations of family. There is so much that Jacqueline’s artist is saying in this mural about Latino culture from how it used to be to the present day. The colors that Graciela used are bold so they make the mural stand out. The mural looks huge and I hope to one day visit SF and take a look at this wonderful piece of art and history for myself.