An artist that I enjoyed learning about was Ruby Chacón presented by Lilibeth Chavez. Chacón is a Chicana artist that was born in Salt Lake City Utah and graduated from the University Of Utah College Of Fine Arts. Chacón creates art to remind herself of who she is. She utilizes different materials to create public murals. I think there is power in creating public art as it lowers the barrier to see it as access to galleries or museums is limited. I learned that Chacón aims to expand the representation of Latinx people in the United States beyond what is taught in school. To do this, Chacón creates personal murals to emphasize the working-class family and how she views her community. For example, a mural displayed at 600 W Salt Lake City Utah, there is an image of the Virgin Mary, but in casual clothes. In addition, there are construction workers, field workers, and the Utah landscape. In this mural, Chacón attempts to demonstrate the hard working and lively nature of her community.
The mural that stood out to me the most was “Mi Abuelo Cosme Chacón” because it was displayed on the ground and created in chalk for the Joy Foundation (an organization dedicated to giving young people the opportunity to engage in the arts). The mural is of an older gentleman with an expressive look on his face. Not only is this mural deeply personal and emphasizes family, but it is also a work that is a form of arts activism. I also liked the fact that this mural is temporary (as it is made with chalk). The temporary nature of the mural makes it so that those that got to see it in person had a unique experience.
Pastels on Cement Ground
60 " x 48"
Temporary Artwork for the Joy Foundation
All in all, I think Lilibeth did a wonderful job presenting the work of Chacón. I am grateful that I got to learn more about another Chicanx artist.
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