Week 9, Presentations (Sanchez, Cassandra)

 In the past week, the artists we were able to see during week 8 were amazing. We were able to view the rest of the Public Artists, along with the very beginning of the Painters’ presentations. I enjoy learning more and more about artists who clearly deserve a Wikipedia page, and made me realize how inaccessible these artists truly are. As we know, and we have learned, these artists have incredible artworks that platforming can assist in spreading their work to create bigger and stronger messages. For example, Irene Perez’s mural on the building in San Francisco’s Mission District, featuring female revolutionaries. The mural piece is vibrant and colorful, acknowledging and admiring women who have helped lead other women and create a bigger pathway for them as well. 

Female artists tend to push me forward and inspire me to continue creating, especially muralists and those who come from my hometown, San Diego. One of those artists we viewed this week was Carmen Linares-Kalo. Our peer, Helena, mentions that this artist is very private, and known for her work in Chicano Park, as well as other murals that she has developed. The mural made for the Kumeyaay tribe was especially touching, because it sends the message to remember the land we took and respect the space we were given. Growing up in San Diego, I never understood the significance in acknowledging the tribes’ land we stood on, out of ignorance and lack of education, but it is clear that these people were pushed out and the outsiders took over. Linares-Kalo is also a painter and sculptor who was featured in the 2019 UCSD Showcase, where she also sold some pieces. However, she didn’t release all her artworks, because some pieces are just so personal that she doesn’t feel right selling. I enjoy learning about the many artists that reside or grew up in San Diego, because I always felt that there isn’t as much reach or recognition. The more I learn here, the more I learn that San Diego holds so much history, culture, and artistic space and inspiration for these artists, but me as well.