US, Them, You

US, THEM, YOU

March 1-April 9 2016

While occupying a single earth, many generations of people have amplified their differences from others and the similarities within their own defined groups. Rather than coalescing around the idea that "we're all in this collectively," these extremes "US," not "THEM" perspectives are expressed in both radical and in socially-accepted ways through racial and class prejudice, genocide, wars, political corruption, resource allocation, and fear messaging on social media.

Studio Place Arts is hosting a global, invitational exhibit involving artist from the U.S. and around the world that explore the highly charged topics of "US" and "THEM". The exhibition will open March 1-April 9, 2016.

My pieces entitled #MurrietaProtest and #DREAMers will take part of this exhibition. #MurrietaProtest, addresses a shameful display of anti-immigrant sentiment in this country- specifically an event that took place in California in July of 2014.  A response to #MurrietaProtest came after Obamas Executive Actions on Immigration, entitle #DREAMers. Activism by young immigrants at the Iowa freedom summit January 2015 and  attendance to Obamas remarks at Town Hall at Florida International University Miami held April 2015. Consequently, my explorations led me to appropriate images online and represent found selfies. By painting from images that are inherently informal and impermanent, I seek to draw attention to how we interpret our engagement with one another as a series of fleeting yet meaningful encounters, thereby pointing a lens to our culture of instant gratification metaphorically pressing pause. I slow down the viewers engagement by painting the portraits the size of a cell phone. This slows down the viewer’s gaze. The “gaze” has been theorized as a means of exerting power through the act of looking; by encouraging a slower gaze in my repainted selfies. I encourage the viewer to consider the lives of others. In this regard, my paintings serve to celebrate the diversity within the Latino community in the United States and to explore the complex ways in which people negotiate issues of ethnic identity using social media as a means of social activism.

Exploring my Historical Identity

This past Spring I came across the recently published book entitled War Against All Puerto Ricans by Nelson Denis. I will admit that i have not been a person interested in History, any history. But with the help of articles published by Latino Rebels on above mentioned book my curiosity got the best of me. There is an untold history of Puerto Rico and its relationship with the United States, that it is ugly. Just like a lot of its history in the mainland.

The book scared, astonished, and angered me to my inner most core. And awoke an intense desire to investigate my family's past with Puerto Rico's #1 Nationalist, Pedro Albizu Campos.
Having read about Don Pedro I gained respect and admiration for his passion and vision. It has taken six months for me to properly digest the information i read on the book and have come up with a plan as to how to regurgitate it Artistically.

Revisiting History is a determination to change how we understand the present. When we revisit history, time collapses; what was once present and is now past becomes vividly present once again.
(quoted from Themes of Contemporary Art: Visual art after 1980. p.135)

Not Naydas Art but a clue

What is significant in an artists own life is tied to larger public events. Will I be able to evoke passage of time?

Stay tuned to drawings, drafts, and explorations.
Links:

http://www.latinorebels.com/2015/09/27/historian-slams-lies-of-war-against-all-puerto-ricans/

http://waragainstallpuertoricans.com/

Social Construct of Race: Latino

by Raúl Quiñones-Rosado, Ph.D states in his blog

"Personally, as a Puerto Rican, I do not have a problem with being included under one umbrella with my Mexican, Cuban, Dominican, Salvadoran and other Latin American brothers and sisters.  There is much we have in common, even when our beans and our slang are spiced differently.  In fact, I believe that it is necessary that we be seen as one group, given the racialized nature of U.S. society and, in that context, the need to find strength in numbers, in unity.

But in this matter of what to be called—”Hispanic,” “Latino/a”—it is very important that all of us, particularly those who work to ameliorate racism and other forms of oppression, are aware of where these terms come from and what they mean.  And it is especially important that we “Hispanics” or “Latinos/as” are clear about the impact these labels have on our sense of identity as a social group in the United States and, therefore, the implications they may have for our collective future and the future of our politics."

related link: http://www.raulquinones.com/?page_id=44

Raul Quinones words hit close to home. As a child coming from Puerto Rico at the age of 10 relocating to Florida I experienced racism. As a young person I struggled to understand the need to classify myself as other. I was fortunate to have had a father (1st generation born in the states of Puertorrican parents) whom had lived through all the racism and guided me to be proud of where I was from. He taught me to respect others, to become friends with everyone and not to segregate myself. My portrait paintings represent a journey in my continuous search to make connections with the people around me and in the place I live. Exploring my identity produces a visceral exchange of personal and political identity while cultivating an awareness of “otherness.”

#InBetween2Worlds, oil on panel, 2015

When placed in a new national or cultural setting, people tend to define themselves first in terms of how they are distinct–namely by nationality and culturIt is only after time–sometimes after many years depending on their skin color (and hair, nose, lips and hips), last name, accent, or class background–that Latin Americans discover that, regardless of how they may see themselves, in the United States they are seen by others primarily from within a very specific racial context.  Further, they will find that context has been defined, historically, in terms of the subordination of “blacks” by “whites” of European ancestry

#Latina:Reclaiming the Latina Tag

At MASS MoCA I aim to complete another 15-20 selfie paintings making #Latina:Reclaiming the Latina Tag,  series the largest in my painted selfie series.

We all have a cultural identity that is formed by family, community, country, and the world in which we live. Today, selfies aid in constructing identity by providing a new mode and venue for negotiating values, perceptions, and assertions. I present myself and my Latino identity via my selfies. By re-presenting the quickly created, ever changing, and widely circulated selfie with a more traditional, time sensitive painting approach and hanging it on an art gallery wall, I want viewers to also slow down and more deeply engage the politics of identity negotiated in a portrait, from ethnic identity to social activism.

#Latina at MASS MoCA

Being invited to the Artist in Residency at Studios MASS MoCA/Assets for Artists (a mayor contemporary art museum in this country) Validates my artistic skill and my artistic voice.

Thank you to my 14 Backers and supporters. I will be Attending the Residency at the end of October 2015.

Invited to attend Studios MASS MoCA/Assets for Artist in Residence

A new initiative from MASS MoCA’s Assets for Artists Program offers artists and writers opportunities to...

Get inspired. Be productive. Focus on the future.

Hai, I’m Alysia from Sunny So Cal! 21 years & I’m Mexican, French & Spanish

Exploring the selfie, and its increasing prevalence in our culture, led me to realize that there are subthemes within how people examine or present identity such as ethnic, gender, or religious identity. Selfies are an expression of one’s identity, however contrived or imagined it may be. For this reason my artwork calls attention to the ways in which new technologies allow individuals to actively voice their opinions through self-portraiture.

Coming across the campaign entitled "Reclaiming the Latina Tag", in which the founders goal is a dedicated blog to reclaim the said Tag. "Because we do not belong to your hypersexualization and fetishization" said Founder Xochitl.
My portrait paintings represent a journey in my continuous search to make connections with the people around me and in the place I live. Exploring my identity produces a visceral exchange of personal and political identity while cultivating an awareness of “otherness.”

In this residency not only will I have the time to Paint more Amazing #Latina Portraits I will be in an environment of support in which i will pick the brains of Professionals in the Art world to help me realize and Present #Latina: Reclaiming the Latina Tag. One of my hurtle is how i will incorporate, in the art or art display, the text written by every participant who posts a selfie on the Tumblr Blog.

I’m a first gen chicana who just finished her first year of uni. I’ve never been so proud of myself and I owe all of my success to my parents

AAAaaa... i have been invited to attend the Artist in Residency at Studios MASS MoCa/Assets for Artists!!!!!!!!

I am beyond excited to have received invitation to a two week Artist in Residency at MASS MoCa/Assets for Artists. 

But i need your help to fund it! 

I need help  funding it, Cost/Expenses $1500, $1000 residency housing fee and $500 airplane ticket for my Mom to come take care for my 3 yr old, Lucas.

With your support I can add further dialogue to my new series entitled Reclaiming the Latina tag, which will be the series I will be working on while in residence.

$20support      Postcard of me at work at the residency

$50support      Postcard and 5x7 print of the series to be dispersed within 6 months of Nov. 2015

$100                Postacrad and original sketch made of my process during the residency. Dispersed within 6 months of Nov 2015

Money can be sent by check or via paypal to missartzy@yahoo.com

This is what I submitted:
Exploring the selfie, and its increasing prevalence in our culture, led me to realize that there are subthemes within how people examine or present identity such as ethnic, gender, or religious identity. Selfies are an expression of one’s identity, however contrived or imagined it may be. For this reason my artwork calls attention to the ways in which new technologies allow individuals to actively voice their opinions through self-portraiture. During my MFA program I explored three different hashtag/ series. The first is #WhatLatinosLookLike, a group of painted self-portraits on those selfies posted on Twitter by individuals who demonstrate diversity within Latinos. The second series, #MurrietaProtest, addresses a shameful display of anti-immigrant sentiment in this country- specifically an event that took place in California in July of 2014.  The third series, entitled #Inbetween2worlds will be composed of a collection of my own selfies taken of me in Arlington, Massachusetts, and in Puerto Rico.
I have recently come across the campaign entitled "Reclaiming the Latina Tag", in which the founders goal is a dedicated blog to reclaim the said Tag. "Because we do not belong to your hypersexualization and fetishization" said Founder Xochitl.
My portrait paintings represent a journey in my continuous search to make connections with the people around me and in the place I live. Exploring my identity produces a visceral exchange of personal and political identity while cultivating an awareness of “otherness.”
My intention is to take images from this Tumblr Blog "Reclaiming the Latina Tag" and paint 15-20 paintings. I have begun four thus far. An opportunity, such as this residency, to set aside time and be in a supportive environment will be a change from the balancing act as a stay at home mother, wife, and artist. I look forward in the opportunity to allow myself time in continuing building this dialogue and potentially make work for a solo exhibition. I would highly benefit from Financial assistance and business coaching as this is an aspect of the industry in which MFA programs do not really provide adequate guidance.

Reclaiming Latina tag

Im following and joining the Campaign to reclaim the Latina Tag

We all have a cultural identity that is formed by family, community, country, and the world in which we live. Today, selfies aid in constructing identity by providing a new mode and venue for negotiating values, perceptions, and assertions. I present myself and my Latino identity via my selfies. By re-presenting the quickly created, ever changing, and widely circulated selfie with a more traditional, time sensitive painting approach and hanging it on an art gallery wall, I want viewers to also slow down and more deeply engage the politics of identity negotiated in a portrait, from ethnic identity to social activism.

Here is a link of the founder- 

 http://reclaimingthelatinatag.tumblr.com/

another great link http://www.buzzfeed.com/yezminvillarreal/these-women-are-using-selfies-to-reclaim-latina-identity-on#.xdapb7kMAx