In the reading Dues ex Machina: Tradition, Technology, and the Chicanafuturist Art of Marion C. Martinez, by Catherine Ramirez, we read about tradition mixed with technology to create art. It amazes me how some artists are as creative as they are talented. For example, Martinez uses everyday items that to others it might seem like trash to create phenomenal art out of it. Oratorio a la Virgencita, Santo Nino de Atocha, Compassionate Mother, and Jesus con la Cruz, are just some of the pieces that she uses wood and computer parts. In her piece of Jesus Con la Cruz, she uses a circuit board, and fence wire to symbolize the crown of thrones Jesus wore as he was crucified. the wire can also symbolize the encroachment upon and expropriation of land in New Mexico and the West. Looking at this piece of art with my own two eyes is incredible to see. Her creation of such an image bridges the old and new and past and present. Her artistic talent is meant to challenge the dominant culture of science, and technology because African Americans and Chicanos (people of color) have been excluded from science. For the most part, new technologies allow Chicanos to link past and present, and future identities. This leads to Chicana futurism which is defined as cultural transformations resulting from new and everyday technologies that execute, create and alters narratives of identity, technology, and the future. Martinez's work links New Mexicos Indo-Hispanic traditions to the modern-day, preserving the richness of the culture of its icons and rituals. the rise of her artistic talent in the use of the Santo tradition has enabled her to gain success because people identify with their traditions and their beliefs. the Spanish market had helped to shape the Santo tradition and preserve its history as well as secure income for Martines. By using technologies to transform an image it helps preserve and give new meaning to icons and rituals that link Info-Hispanic ancestral past.
Hi Jesus, first of all thank you for including this image. Seeing it in color made me go back and look more into this particular piece. I had completely overlooked the part that the crown/halo is a circuit board.
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