Garduno,Samantha

In the reading “Out of the House, the Halo, and the Whore’s Mask” Alicia Gaspar de Alba discusses the oppression and sexism that Chicanas and women of color face when they are trying to display their art for their community. Art for Chicanas is a vulnerable subject trying to make an impact in their community and expressing themselves to an audience. The Chicano Art movement is the beginning of a safe environment for Chicanos and it initiates progressive ideologies. However, the movement had their flaws by limiting and adding another barrier for Chicana and Chicanx artists. The Chicano Art movement is influenced by machismo; it is a recurring problematic ideology since the Chicano Movement in the 1960s. Chicana artist work created an understanding of intersectionality and began their intersectional movement to include women of color. The reading uses Mujeres Muralistas and Asco, how they began an inclusive notion to show their art for everyone and to catch people’s attention on their hardships and culture. Art is for everyone and the exhibition CARA showed that by including Chicana artist’s work and the beauty of Chicanas work. Chicanx art has become a political statement and an expression of their status in the United States. Chicana artists deserve recognition in how their art is a historical monument for Chicanx communities.

I would like to do my project on Laura Aguilar, a Chicanx photographer. I appreciate how it shows queerness and Mujerxs in a still photo. I am a queer Chicanx student who wants to follow a creative pathway and I have always loved their work. Their projects resemble intersectionality and double consciousness the Chicanx feels in the United States.

My question for the presenter: What advice would you give to young Chicanas and Chicanx artist who are trying to follow and creative/art path, but have fallen into the imposter syndrome or their families don’t approve? (I will love to hear other fellow artists answer this question. I have always wanted to follow a creative path with my writing, but have always been scared to commit.)