Week 10 Reflection

          This quarter has taught me many important details about Chicana artists themes and the messages that their artwork depicts. I was able to name fourteen Chicana artists and they are all in touch with their indigenous roots and cultural heritage. Specifically, the Chicana artist use la Virgen de Guadalupe in secular and religious contexts, as well as indigenous goddesses to empower themselves and the Chicana community. I learned that Chicanas are not afraid to reclaim notorious figures in history, as in the case of La Malinche, and use counter-memory to make her a figure of empowerment. On the other hand, Chicana artists also detail the sexual, gendered, racial, cultural, educational, economic, and social oppressions that they encounter in their daily lives. Additionally, there is not one preferred medium but rather, mediums range from photography to sculpture to mixed media. No medium is more important or visually appealing than the next or previous, and instead the importance lies in the causes, I justices, and empowerment the Chicanas call attention to.

Thanksgiving Drawing

This is my Thanksgiving image a la Carmen Lomas Garza. I drew myself on the right, my niece to the left of me, and my mother on the far left. This was the scene as we cooked tamales and vegetable pot pie for our Thanksgiving feast. I am handing my niece a bowl of food and my mother overlooks the food to make sure that it does not over boil. I purposely colored in our clothing to have similar colors to emphasize the influence we all have over each other. This drawing spans three generations and shows how the first, last, and middle generation all work together to accomplish the common goal. I do not agree with the gendered roles and ideals that women are only confined to the kitchen and that they should do the cooking. I understand that my image places only females in the kitchen, however, this was the reality of the feast preparation and I will not tamper with the lived reality. I also intentionally left space in the background and between the spices, utensils, and pots to symbolize a sort of freedom. Even though there are only females in the kitchen, we are not confined to this area and we can leave to other areas whenever we desire, we only choose to be here momentarily.

Natalia Anciso

          These weeks presentations featured such meaningful themes that I could relate to and appreciate. The image that struck me and left the most lasting impression was Natalia Anciso's Joe (2011) pen, watercolor, and embroidery on fabric, which Roxanne Morrison presented on Wednesday. This image features colorfully vibrant images of flowers along the top and right hand borders as well as a man who has hung himself drawn in pen in the center. I was shocked to see suicide and flowers in the same artwork and I felt awe for the flower's beauty and simultaneous sympathy for the deceased individual. As mentioned my Roxanne, I really admired how Anciso gave the man a name "Joe" and therefor gave him an identity and emphasized the importance of his being. Additionally, because my eyes were naturally drawn to the vibrant flowers, I understood this image as a message of encouragement to individuals who struggle with depression or suicidal thoughts. The man is drawn with pen and he is disproportionately smaller than the flowers, or the beautiful aspects of the image. Therefore, to me this image meant that there might be internal struggles which tempt some individuals with drastic measures, suicide, however, life has so much beauty to it, represented by the flowers, and troubled individuals can push through and enjoy life.

Week 7: Presentation Image

I selected the sculpture titled "Sewing Machine" by Margarita Cabrera which was presented by Alejandra Canizales during Week 6 presentations. I chose this image because I almost selected Margarita Cabrera as my artist but decided on Marion C. Martinez instead but it was fun to learn about Cabrera's work. I did not imagine that Cabrera's sculptures could be so political but I appreciate how all the loose threads forced the reader to pay attention to the work that goes into manufacted products and production. As a consumer, I often forget that appliances, clothes, and all retail products were created and often the laborers are forgotten or not acknowledged. Moreover, in the garment industry especially, many workers do not have good wages, benefits, vacation days or safe work environments in addition to their exploited labor. I understood Cabrera's work as a statement to these unjust practices and to remind the broader public that these employees put their effort into their work and are not justly rewarded for it. I am a more conscious consumer now and will try to be more mindful of these employees behind the manufactured goods. I was intrigued by Cabrera's ability to take a household object but incorporate an unfair social and economic practice into her sculpture as well, she made her artwork political and carry a message worthy of reform.

Carmen Lomas Garza

The image I chose is Cakewalk (1987), acrylic on canvas, 36 x 48 inches. It features the AGIF members at a fundraiser to raise money for an educational program with a cakewalk. For those who may not be familiar with this contest, in a cakewalk, individuals pay a small free to walk around a circle with numbers beneath them. Music plays in the background and when it stops, someone calls out a number and the lucky participant who stands on the number wins the cake. I liked this image because it showed how individuals who may not have resources, in this cause money, did not allow the lack of funds to prevent them from achieving their goal. The AGIF used their access to cake, dedicated members, and good times to raise money on their own accord and placed themselves one step closer to the establishment of the educational program. I also personally enjoy how nonchalant everyone looks and the fact that as a community they are enjoying themselves and setting their minds to an important goal for their fellow Chicanas/os.

Sketchbook Stencil

         I chose a hibiscus flower for my sketchbook cover stencil. There are multiple reasons why I decided I wanted this image to define who I am. Firstly, I love plants and flowers and the hibiscus is my absolute favorite because of the large petal shape as well as the protruding style in the center which gives the flower so much personality. Secondly, I adopted this adoration of plants from my mother who always keeps a fresh bouquet of flowers in our home in addition to a a few dozen plants both inside and outside our home. My mother means the world to me and she is my wonder woman. Any passion, hope, and happiness I possess can be attributed to her joy, struggles, and endless supply of motivation. The third significance is that I am a proud vegan of nine years and counting and plants and a plant based diet are very near and dear to my heart and lifestyle. The fourth and final significance is that agua de jamaica is one of my favorite drinks and my father makes this drink from scratch and it is delicious! It reminds me of simpler times in my childhood and how some memories never fail to bring a smile to my face. To put it simply, the hibiscus flower has a important personal and familial significance to me, one which I will carry with me for the rest of my life.

-Jessica

Laura Alvarez Images

          I am absolutely fascinated with the idea of Laura Alvarez's Double Agent Sirvienta (DAS) and how the character empowers Chicanas. The two images which were the most empowering and which will be discussed below are the drawing titled "At The Park" and the painting "I'm With The Nanny." Even though DAS conceals her role as a double agent with a domestic worker facade, which is a job location within the home, the sirvienta does not conform to the typical gender roles within the home. As Blake states in her reading, sexist and gender stereotypical notions would "con[fine] women to the domestic space" to complete housework and take care of children. Contrary to these stereotypes, DAS, in both of images mentioned above, is located in public and far from the confines of the home. In "At The Park," DAS casually stands in the park as she distributes DAS information and in "I'm With the Nanny" DAS appears to be in front of a flame or tall grass of some sort. Most importantly, the nanny is still on duty and carries the baby on her back, however, the baby does not hinder to interrupt with DAS duties. In "At the Park" the baby patiently sits while DAS distributes her leaflets and in "I'm With The Nanny" the baby actually acts as an accomplice and throws a bomb for DAS. Here, DAS demonstrates that neither household duties, in this case being a nanny, or responsibility to care for a child will stop the nanny from being an "agent of self-fulfillment" and accomplishing her tasks as DAS. This artwork was inspirational and I am a huge fan of how it empowers and gives agency to women, especially domestic houseworkers.

Questions for Professor Gaspar de Alba

1) Compared to female representations, how do males and queer individuals perceive Aztlán differently?

      Based on the reading, I would think that the queer community can relate to Patssi Valdez's motifs of a claustrophobia. Not only are the queer Chicanos oppressed for being Chicano but they are also oppressed for being non-heterosexual which could create a claustrophobic environment. I also believe that males might have a more patriarchal and male-inclusive perspective.

2) How does the artwork "Las Tres Maria's" push against the notion that Chicanas should only fall into three categories?

       The reading has lead me to conclude that Las Tres Maria's counters the stereotypical views of Chicanas by being inclusive to all and every individual who steps in front of the artwork. The viewer may not identify with the third pre-established "spot" in the artwork, the viewer may not agree with the depictions of the two other individuals or the viewer may be a man or an LGBTQ figure and not be the traditional image of the third spot. Regardless of the situation, Las Tres Maria's opens the doors to endless possibilities and allows that the viewer fill the image with their own unique personality, display and experiences. I am interested in both questions due to the subjective nature of every individual's perspective, not every Chicana and Chicano will have the same depiction or Aztlán just like not every viewer will have the same reflection when they see Las Tres Maria's.

Marion C. Martinez

I have chosen Marion C. Martinez because I am fascinated by her ability to upcycle old circuit boards and create such beautiful, recognizable, and meaningful sculptures. I have always liked the Eco-Friendly factor behind upcyclyed artwork but I have never heard of Martinez's specific tool of choice and I am excited to learn more about her creation process and inspirations.

Montes, Jessica

Hello fellow Chicana/o Studies M175 peers! My name is Jessica Montes and I am a third year English major, Chicana/o Studies minor, and Education Studies minor. My current post-graduation plan is to attend graduate school and become an preschool/ kindergarten teacher in low income communities and help children who may mot have the adequate resources to begin their education successfully. I realized my career goals last year when I worked for Jumpstart and was a TA for a preschool classroom and fell in love with the environment, rich curriculum, and the young infants who were eager to learn.
I grew up in Huntington Park, CA in a community with 95%+ Latinos and not much racial or cultural diversity. When I came to UCLA, I was exposed to students of diverse ethnic and racial backgrounds and for the first time in my life I felt like a minority. This initial feeling of alienation from the majority lead me to appreciate and embrace my culture, heritage, language and customs as a Mexican-American. More importantly, I have gone through the consciousness and awakening to consider myself a proud Chicana, an individual committed to empowering fellow Chicanas/os and combating against educational, political, structural, social and any other form of injustices. This is the reason I am in this class, I have read literature about the Chicana/o struggle but have not come across visual forms of activism. I hope to learn of the ways in which artwork and visual formats can convey similar messages and work to empower and inform the Chicana/o community.