George Navarro, Misty (Abstracts for Marcelina Gonzales)

Colon-Uvalles II, Jose. “Marcelina Gonzales.” BAM Zine Issue #2, 2016, https://issuu.com/bamtexas/docs/finished_zine. 

This magazine article is an interview conducted by Jose Colon-Uvalles II with Brownsville artist Marcelina “Marcy” Gonzales and her solo exhibition, “NEVER SORRY”. Her 2016 exhibition included large paintings of thin and gangly women, some of which are versions of Gonzales while others are portraits of her friends. Gonzales used these paintings to represent, not only female identities, but chingonas who are empowered women that defy society. The exhibit itself is a manifestation of breaking out of what society deems as normal which can be seen in Gonzales’ use of sculptural elements, blacklights, and other unruly elements all of which challenge the notions of traditional art. 

Longoria, Paulina. “'An All-Women Art Exhibition' - the Rider Newspaper.” The Rider Newspaper, UTRGV Brownsville Rusteberg Art Gallery, 24 Jan. 2020, www.utrgvrider.com/an-all-women-art-exhibition/. 

In this article, author Paulina Longoria discusses the 2020 all women art exhibit, “GIRLS will be GIRLS” which was curated by Marcelina Gonzales. Gonzales, whose day job is a health care worker, sought to establish this exhibit in order to demolish societal expectations of women. Once her concept was developed she found 13 artists—including herself— to include in the exhibit. Gonzales chose to feature her piece “Let’s See What That Mouth Can Do” which is meant to draw attention to the objectification of women when men partake in actions such as catcalling. 

Muñoz, Jazmin. “No Estas Sola!”: Reclaiming Space & Place through Transformational Solidarity & Coalitional Healing , The University of Texas at San Antonio, Ann Arbor, 2020. ProQuest, https://www.proquest.com/dissertations-theses/no-estas-sola-reclaiming-space-place-through/docview/2475899239/se-2?accountid=14512. 

In her thesis, Jazmin Muñoz, analyzes the Texas zine St. Sucia which includes published work from artists across the Americas including Marcelina Gonzales. Muñoz argues that St. Sucia challenges oppressive ideologies by demonstrating the ways in which power can be created through acts of love and solidarity. Gonzales is featured on the cover of St. Sucia Issue X with her piece “Mi Cuerpo, Mi Futuro”. Muñoz argues that this piece, which includes two women holding each other while other women berate them, is a demonstration of not only the damage that women can do to other women, but the protection and nourishment that mujer-mujer love can provide.