Week 5 - Ofelia Esparza

Last Friday, Ofelia Esparza came to visit our class and speak to us about her work. Esparza is a Mexican-American altarista from East Los Angeles. Esparza has been doing work in and about her community and culture for most of her life, participating in the artistic traditions that have been passed down to her by the strong line of matriarchs in her life. I really enjoyed hearing her talk about her work and where her ideas and stylistic choices stem from. She seemed very much in tune with her familial roots as well as her connection with her own community, especially since she hasn't left East Los and still current lives and creates there. I really liked hearing her speak about how her family has influenced her work and how they actively participate in helping her create her work, from making the flowers that are found in her altars to creating pieces of papel picado to adorn her altars. She has a wide breadth of work, but she is especially known for her work in alter making and knowledge of Dia de los Muertos rituals and traditions. I liked that despite being a National Endowment of the Arts National Heritage Fellow, she remains very grounded and humble. My favorite piece of hers is the large Los Angeles themed altar that is found in the Natural History Museum, especially because I had seen it in person a while ago and I remember it has stayed with me even months after I had first seen it.