Week 8- Sandoval, Kristy

For the presentation of artist Kristy Sandoval, she has been an active artist since 2008 but what's interesting about her is she didn't paint murals until 2013 due to a ban on painting murals. After the ban was lifted, she has painted over 50 murals. When it comes to education, she studied at the Art Academy in San Francisco. I wanted to discuss her mural "Decolonized" as it's such a bright painting. In the presentation, it was mentioned the Kristy Sandoval likes incorporating features of building into her works and this is displayed well with Kristy using the roof/tent as a skirt for the lady in her painting. She also used the barred window as a way of representing the cage that the lady holds and opens to set the butterflies and birds free. The presentations mentions that the lady sets the birds and butterflies free so they can show they are free and are able to migrate with no problems. The lady also has a tattoo on her arm that shows a moon goddess to represent Chicano culture. I liked this mural a lot due to it's use of colors and the pretty flowers. I noticed it had a humming bird in the picture and remember during one of our class lectures, the hummingbird could be used as a representation of rebirth and it being free could mean that it's been reborn and is free to do what it like just like the piece is called "Decolonized" because it's being set free and is able to be itself and move with no possible restrictions. While the artist does use cool tones such as the blues in the lady's hair and water, it overall is a painting with warm vibrant terms that give a feeling of hope.