This class has introduced me to a large variety of talented artists, and it has been such a great experience to be exposed to their unique pieces of art. This past week, I loved Perry Hernandez’s presentation on Emilia Cruz, a first generation Chicana artist. Her online gallery is beautiful, and there, she has 3D sculptures, drawings, and paintings. Her work displays messages on vulnerability, self-love, and empowerment, and are strongly influenced by her Mexican background. In an interview I found online, she reveals that she hasn’t always been proud of her physical appearance and culture, but through art and coming to this realization, she has healed and grown (https://journal.malcs.org/artistas/past-artists/emilia-cruz/). A piece that I love is her self-portrait titled “Cruz,” where she is depicted wearing a red dress, a leather harness, bold makeup, and holding blue flowers. She says that the red dress is one that her prima gave her from Tijuana, and it represents passion, anger, power, and also love. Her harness shows her rebellious side of her personality, and she wears a cross necklace around her neck to show her religious beliefs. The way she painted her blue aura is mesmerizing, and it contrasts beautifully with the red she wears.
Aside from the presentations, an artist that I loved learning about in this class is Yolanda Lopez. I admire her strength and ability to turn her hardships and life-shaping experiences into beautiful works of art. Her art radiates feelings of individuality, freedom, femininity, and power. Her outlook on life and perseverance inspired me, and I hope to see multiple pieces of her art in person someday. Her series titled “A Donde Vas Chicana” stood out to me because of the meaning behind it. Lopez compared a runner’s short-lived burst of speed to women’s physical and mental sustaining power of endurance. She also painted herself running to represent her want to regain control of her own body during college. As a college student, I can recognize how easy it is to feel overwhelmed with responsibilities and as if you don’t have control. Although I did not have a similar childhood nor upbringing as her, I relate to some of the feelings she had during college, and seeing art representing those feelings is comforting.
No comments:
Post a Comment