Laura Aguilar

Laura Aguilar is an artist that stood out because she was the most distinct artist in terms of medium that we looked at. Aguilar is a photographer and often models herself do depict beauty not as society sees it, but how she sees it. Rather than publishing a thin body, which has become the standard, she uses larger women, a trait that characterizes her as well. I admire this artist because it is my understanding that she had issues to the point she contemplated and even attempted suicide and yet she managed to not only recover from that but to work in a way that inspires others like her. Media being what it is, it is common for lager women to feel insecure and Aguilar's work shows that there is no universal definition of beauty. In finding a refugee for herself, she provides a support system for other people as well.
I also like her involvement with nature in some of her pictures because I think nature is a beauty that we as humans often under appreciate or take for granted. We harm our natural world sometimes without even realizing it and this is a problem, to say the least. While I'm not certain this was something that she had in mind, it is something that passed through my mind when I saw her pictures.

Letter to Margarita Cuaron

Dear Margarita Cuaron

My name is Erick Gutierrez and I am a UCLA student currently pursuing a degree in Chicana/o Studies with a minor in education. I am a senior and while these were not my goals when I was a freshman, my time in this school has given me a different perspective and thus, I experienced a shift in my interests. While studying Chicana/o Art, I was exposed to your work and also learned that you are a Garfield Alumni- I found that interesting because I was a bulldog too! Then, when I saw a picture of you, I recognized you because I actually met you as a  freshman in Garfield along with Bobby Verdugo and Sal Castro. It struck me that I shook your hand in a time and age where I couldn't fully comprehend what you did and represent for us as Chicanas/os. Now, having a little more knowledge, I wish I could go back in time and ask you a few questions because at the time, all I thought was that it was pretty cool that I walked through the same halls that some of our activists and organizers did.
Now, I would like to know what did it feel like? What was it like being a student during a time where discrimination was far more blatant than it is today? How much did you struggle? At what point did you decide that you wanted to fight for something better? And once you decided, how did that feel? What were some fears or concerns? How difficult was it to even begin asking for support? Once grievances were addressed, how satisfying was it? What were the plans then? How difficult was the fight that continues today, but made significant progress then? Looking back, and looking at the present, how could we as students and as people of color fight the injustices of today? Injustices that include, but are not limited to financial barriers, documentation and everything that this entails, and just the state of being brown. All of this not only in everyday life, but particularly in the educational field. This is one of if not the most empowering element one could obtain and I believe that because of that, the system continues to make it more difficult for 'minorities' to obtain it. These are questions I would like to ask you if I should ever meet you again. Until then, I would like to have these discussions with my peers in hopes for a better tomorrow.

Best
Erick Gutierrez  

Carmen Lomas Garza

One of the images that most interested me from Carmen Lomas Garza is one that Constance Cortez includes in her book, Carmen Lomas Garza, which is titled Cakewalk. Most of Lomas Garza's work revolves around family, community, and culture, and this work really reflects these themes. I really like it because it is a scene de la vida cotidiana of the brown people in her hometown. It depicts the unity of the community which was very important in their movement(s) for social justice and really creates a support system that encourages and calls for success. Lomas Garza declared herself an activist at an early age and this type of environment was crucial in that. Besides the work, I like the actual event that is taking place which is a fundraiser aimed to aid the studies of the brown youth. Events like these reiterate the involvement of the community and the solidarity among the people as if they were all a large family. Lomas Garza's parents are also in the image which reinforces the theme of family- they were very supportive of Lomas Garza and her personal interests from the get go and this is something that many people take for granted. By acknowledging this, Lomas Garza shows us she is grateful and humble which speaks very highly of her as a person. What I also liked is the various scenes that are taking place because it reminds me of my younger days(not that I'm old). The children, which includes Lomas Garza herself, remind me of my childhood when I too would play with the kids on the block. The youngsters doing their thing in the back remind me of my high school days where I was a little less discrete with my 'romantic life'. Overall, just the overall feeling I get where everyone is doing something in a family event just reminds me of the tradition and culture of 'our people'- it makes me feel warm. This picture is awesome for me and there is a lot that goes on in my mind when I see this picture.

Week 4; Margarita Cuaron

This week, one of the artists that was presented was Margarita Cuaron. Her name sounded familiar, though I couldn't put my finger on it right off the bat. I paid attention to her story and her background, and thought it was pretty cool that she was also a student at Garfield High; I am a Garfield alumni myself. Then when I saw a picture of her, it hit me- I actually met her while I was a freshman in Garfield. I had many instructors that felt strong about chicanismo and always displayed their pride, and on one occasion, we had an event in school where we had a panel from three figures that were important for Chicano History. I thought it was an amazing experience because I was taking my first ever Chicanaa/o Studies class and I knew who they were. However, I did forget the names of two of them, but I didn't forget their faces, and remembered immediately when I saw them in documentaries. The three people I had the honor of meeting were Salvador Castro, Bobby Verdugo, and Margarita Cuaron. I was looking through my old pictures and I came across one that I really liked, and I attach here. Viva La Raza!

  

Week 3: My Stencil

For my stencil, and thus the cover of my sketchbook, I chose an image of a flying eagle. While I love animals in general, the eagle is one that I've admired for a long time. I think eagles are amazing creatures; they are very beautiful birds and tenacious predators- an animal worthy of respect. Another reason for which I am connected to the eagle is because I am close to my culture. The eagle represents a big part of Mexican history, culture, and identity. When I think of an eagle, and think about all the traits that make it the predator it is, I like to imagine us humans as eagles. I like to think of flight, not necessarily in a literal sense, but just having that will, that power, and that ambition to 'fly'- whatever that may mean to each individual (Side note- I was reminded of Botello's "Dreams od Flight"). The predator instinct that the eagle possesses is one I feel we need if we want to achieve our goals. We need to be smart and know our worth; know that we are creatures with power, creatures that deserve respect, and ultimately, creatures that can do what we want because we are eagles. 

Week 2: La Virgen

I am of Mexican descent, so naturally La Virgen is and has been important in my family since I can remember. I don't recall at what point I learned about her, but I know I've always understood that she is someone to respect and venerate. While I was never forced to go to church like other people, I still grew up believing of the existence and importance of such deities. For this reason, La Virgen and Jesus became important figures for me since I was a child. Because of this, it was difficult for me to accept that this may in fact be a lie. I was first exposed to this possibility in Alicia Gaspar de Alba's class CCS101 in Spring '14. In all sincerity, my first reaction was something along the lines; "can you believe this shit? How dare she question something that is sacred to me and many others?" And how else would I react if all of a sudden, I hear that what had been so important to me for my whole life is not real. I couldn't accept it... it was difficult. By consequence, I was also disgusted when I saw what Chicana artists had done with the image. I thought it was disrespectful for anyone to mess with an image that means so much to so many people; including myself. However, when I allowed myself to actually take in the information and the arguments presented not only by Gaspar de Alba, but by other intellectuals, I realized that they may be right. It was something hard to accept, and even now, I can't get myself to say that it isn't real. I want to believe, and I want someone to prove that La Virgen is not a lie; that she was real. I have a tattoo of her on my arm because she means that much to me, and while I am beginning to accept the possibility that it may be a made-up story, I will choose to believe because it is what makes me feel good. While there are good arguments that say otherwise, there isn't enough evidence, in my mind, to say that she was made up. There isn't concrete evidence to say either, and in the midst of the uncertainty, I will continue to believe while allowing myself to get educated. I want an answer, and I don't know when or how, but I want to find it. In my opinion, there is nothing worse than uncertainty.