Week 4 Ofelia Esparza

On Friday of Week 4, Ofelia Esparza, a well known Chicana artist gave a presentation on her artwork and some information on her childhood. She shared with us her family history with a particular focus on two very important womxn in her family, her great grandmother ( Mama Pola) and her mother. I found her love and respect for the womxn very heartwarming, especially because they are very much present in her work. One of the most beautiful ways to honor a person's memory is by constantly showing how they've impacted your life and displaying this knowledge to your community. To me, Ofelia does just that. She's taken what she's been given by her mother and turned it into beautiful art that will carry on not just her legacy, but her family's legacy for the rest of time.
     I wanted to talk about the painting of the young Zapatista girl with the rifle over her should because of the power it gives to the indigenous peoples south of the border currently in the struggle over their land. I recently attended a book talk for a book written by an indigenous organizer in Mexico and she said, "In a crowded street you can always tell who the Zapatista womxn are because they will always walk with their head held high and with a certainty of where they're going." And I was reminded of this statement when I saw Ofelia's painting because she depicted the young womxn with such power and autonomy.
    Ofelia explained some of the different mediums she's explored throughout her years as an artist and one thing that struck me was the fact that she is basically self-taught. This makes her relatable especially to someone like me, who's never received proper instruction up until now and to see a Chicana making beautiful work is truly inspiring. I found her artwork to be very comforting as if I were seeing a reflection of a community's culture and values. It was truly a wonderful experience to hear her stories about her childhood in East Los Angeles and about her journeys in her community.