Week 7 - La Memoria de Nuestra Tierra (Memory)

La Memoria de Nuestra Tierra by Judith Baca (mural at Denver International Airport) 

    Judith Baca honors the history of her family and that of many other Mexican-Americans from La Junta, Colorado. Baca portrays family, immigration/migration, hard work, and the overlooked and erased presence of many Mexican-Americans in the United States. 

    In observing this mural, I could not help but think about the story of Baca's grandfather's grave that she describes in her essay. Judith Baca's mother instilled and modeled activism in a specific instance pertaining to her father's unkept gravesite. Baca's mother advocated and succeeded in getting the governor of Colorado to maintain not only her grandfather's grave, but also those of other Mexicans that had been buried in the Mexican section of the La Junta cemetery. The stark memory of segregation, even in death, which Mexican-Americans faced just like many other communities of color served as factor in Baca's decision to create the mural.

    The creation of this great mural and especially where it is displayed, has allowed Judith Baca to finally have found a place where she could honor Mexican-Americans who have experienced discrimination, erasure, among other things. Also, Judith Baca brings light to these pressing social issues as they are publicly displayed at the Denver International Airport. The visibility of the mural and the issues it depicts allows people traveling in and out of Colorado to examine and reflect on what they see; what they believe. 

    Something very interesting and unique about La Memoria de Nuestra Tierra is that Baca not only combined history and memory into the mural, but also computer technology and hand-painting. Judith Baca's choice in combining all of these elements reflects not only her creativity as an artist but also her dedication to justly and humanely portray the history of her family and that of many other Mexican-Americans. 

    I believe Judith Baca's work portrays the importance of memories quite well and reminds me of Carmen Lomas Garza's work. Both artists dedicate their work to incorporating and preserving memories. They are both activists in their own unique way.