Diaz, Hector (Week 9)

 This week, I found the presentation on Carmen Linares Kalo very interesting. Carmen is known for her mural paintings and her work is mostly based in San Diego, California. She is both an artist and spiritualist which can be seen in her art. Something I found interesting about the artist was that she is typically guarded about her art out of respect and the strong connection she has with the people it’s about. I was also astounded to hear that preparations for a mural in Chicano park took 26 years for her. It’s amazing to learn how much time and planning goes into big art like this because it makes you appreciate the work even more. I have always been interested in the process of art because there may have been some great ideas that did not make it on the mural. The first image depicted a blue heart that represented the creator and animals which represented humans. I liked this mural because the animals are beautifully painted and the colors are vibrant. This was a mural to detail a Creation story, and I enjoy learning more about the origin of humans and how different groups view the creation. The next two murals were dedicated to people. The second image was dedicated to Laura Rodriguez and Florencio, who were large contributors in founding Chicano Park. I liked this because it’s great to recognize the people that have advocated for representation. The third image was dedicated to the people who have died due to the policy, Operation Gatekeeper. I appreciate that the mural helps remember those that have tried to seek better opportunities for themselves and their families, but unfortunately passed away. A lot of the Chicanx community in California came due to immigration and it's an important part of many of our families history. Overall, I enjoyed learning more about a new artist and her work!