The Invisible: Latina Activists
As a multidisciplinary artist, I am currently working on a portraiture series; these artworks incorporate mark-making and erasing to convey the concept of presence and absence. What transformative societal contributions are remembered and valued? Whose activism is forgotten or marginalized? The series’ intention is providing visibility to Latina activists and highlighting their contributions to the archives of human history. Latina, the term used in this series' description, is inclusive of Indigenous and Black people; thereby, I acknowledge the heterogenous nature of Latinx identity. Women portrayed include María Elena Moyano, Isa Noyola, Francia Márquez, Sylvia Rivera, Sara Mora, and Dolores Huerta. Representing both the past and the future of activism, these women fought for justice and equity. They advocated for the rights of women, LGBTQIA+, immigrants, agricultural workers, and transgender persons. Sociopolitical issues addressed by these activists encompass environmental racism, gender-based violence, and immigration reform. The application of drawing techniques such as cross-hatching, extended scribble, stippling, and hatching will result in value patterns across forgotten faces. An eraser, a drawing tool, metaphorically insinuates the erasing of history. This project employs the first fiber: human hair. Hair is an appropriate medium for this project; correspondingly, the material culture of hair reflects culture and gender. Video artworks, produced by manipulating the drawings, allude to historical memory. This series will shape our understanding of the past and chart an inclusive future. Latinas are honored and remembered at the intersection of memory, revision, and inclusion.