Santillan Olmos, Crystal (Week 10 Reflection)

    Initially when I enrolled in this course, I first thought we were only going to be exploring artists that have already published and made history in the art world for Chicano/a/x culture. Therefore when we began exploring for our own Chicana artist, it gave a lot of hands on work and research as well as self reflection. Throughout all the blog posts, books, and presentations I am definitely satisfied of how much we learned and why these discoveries are important. Some key artists that have changed my perspective in this course is Carmen Lomas Garza and Yolanda M. Lopez. 

    Carmen Lomas Garza has brought so many familiar feelings and memories to me when I look at her art.  It allows me to reminisce on the traditions and roles in the family that my family also has. As I admire Garza’s art pieces and think on self reflection and these important themes, I also enjoy how Garza’s style of art doesn’t necessarily give advocation or political messages. I learned that not all Chicana artwork has to give out a message for change, it could simply just exist to make people happy. 

    The other Chicana artist, Yolanda M Lopez, does actually mean to give out political messages. Her way of doing it took me by surprise. Her collection of potraying La Virgen de Guadalupe was very interesting because of the different not-so-traditional images such as La Virgen with feet to signify her freedom of standing there, or Coatlique to go against the tradition Christian norms of having just one mother and bring back important history of Indiginous culture. All of this interested me, as it challenged me to go beyond my catholic traditions and think about other perspectives and what that meant for society or how people seen it. 

    

These artists and themes we discussed throughout the quarter really inspired me to look on my own and do my own research for Chicana art. Currently I am following SandOne and her art on social media and her exhibitions or pieces around the world.