Arroyo, Cristina (Week 10)

 Over the course of the last 10 weeks I become more and more grateful for the opportunity to learn about Chicana/x artists in such a unique setting. It is extremely rare to be able to learn about the Chicanx community in an academic setting, and I am glad that this course is able to highlight Chicanas in my community. During my interview with my artist, she was interested after I explained the nature of the course and expressed that she wished she had the opportunity to take a course like this one. After hearing, researching, and learning about so many artists it is difficult to choose only one that stood out to me because they all did in one way or another. However, the one I would like to highlight is Xandra Ibarra. Her art included several pieces that I was completely shocked to see, but simultaneously intrigued to learn more about. From The Rag to her performances, her pieces made me even more interested in her artistic process and how it impacts her. I appreciate her guest lecture presentation where she went in depth about how it impacts her. She was honest about how the performances and how they can be draining. I was surprised, but completely understanding how some of her performances and artistic choices could feel repetitive and lack luster after a period of time. She emphasized resting from these performances and clothing and how in the process of retiring them, it turned into another artistic demonstration that she labeled as an exoskeleton. As growth, as change, similar to that of insects and other animals. Overall the experience was great and it’s always interesting to hear from the artists in addition to seeing their work.