2020 Garcia, Brenda

Hello! My name is Brenda Garcia and my pronouns are she/her/hers. I am a fourth-year World Arts and Cultures major and Portuguese minor. I grew up in East Los, where I transferred from East Los Angeles College. Currently, I am doing research as a McNair research fellow where I look at climate change causing migration and how border art installations assist in bringing people together and also conversations and activism around policies and change. Additionally, my interest are centered around climate change, sustainable living, the arts, and education. After my undergrad, I will apply to graduate school (not sure what my focus will be) or apply to programs where I can teach or expand my research abroad. I enrolled in this class because I thought it would be great for me to learn more about current and past artists who identify as Chicanx as I continue to expand on my research.

Readings

In Linda Nochlin's “Why Have There Been No Great Women Artists?” I was intrigued by the way it describes the beings of a woman in existence ranging from hormones, menstrual cycles and the comparison with education and lack of access to attaining higher spots. The part that was really put into perspective for me was the one where she mentions the biggest male artist within the art world such as Picasso and Matisse but specifically makes a point that there are no women equivalents to what has been considered the greatest artist in the west. As can be seen, there are the various male artist that continue to dominate the art world but also as a society we need to reconsider who we give credit to.

In “Conditions for Producing Chicana Art” by Sybil Venegas I was interested in the way that various issues pertaining to gender, social and economic status that were occurring in the '70s continue to be relevant today. It comes as no surprise that the arts have been a male-dominated field which although is shifting in contemporary society, it still continues to be a male lead one. I appreciate the connection made in the article regarding la Virgen de Guadalupe as this is how a woman has been historically portrayed but is beginning to be challenged in today's times. Within the conclusion, I can see how Chicana's have emerged with their true talents as an artist and I hope we continue to see more of mujer empowerment with their various art practices.