Art exhibit showcases the origins of locals in the Trump era
SAN LUIS, Ariz. (KECY/KYMA) - The profile of a woman wearing a headpiece adorned with an array of colorful plumes. Atop of her, the Aztec god, Quetzalcoatl in his mystical dragon form seems to embrace her. Opposite of the deity, tucked beside her is Einstein's theory of relativity.
The woman in the painting? The Aztec goddess Ixchel, goddess of the earth and war. The artist behind the painting is Maria Luisa Barajas, born in the San Francisco Bay but since the age of 7, Barajas has called the desert southwest home.
"With everything that is going on out there in the times we are living," said Barajas. "It is important that you don't forget to tell yourself, especially all the goddesses out there, to hold your head up high."
Hispanic Heritage Month is well underway, and many events around the desert southwest have honored the legacy and rich culture of Hispanic Americans
San Luis Library has opened a pop-up gallery inside of their space to feature the work of local artists in honor of Hispanic Heritage Month.
The gallery titled, "Origins" brings works of art that range from mixed media to oil paintings, sketches, recycled material and even attire that can be worn.
Over 200 pieces of art were submitted to the gallery, but not all artwork featured is meant to depict the cultural significance. Other artwork features deeper often political messages of self-expression produced in a time and place where much anti-immigrant and anti-Latino rhetoric is alive.
San Luis Library manager, Megan Baird describes the importance of having these spaces available to feature the art of artists, who often don't get the chance to have space or platform.
“It's important for the library to carry this on, there are few places that people can display their work," said Baird. “People from the outside community can come to see the breadth and depth of the talent that we have because some artist may never have their work shown in a museum.”
For artists like Barajas, displaying her art serves as a way to beat down on the negative but it also serves as a way to honor the arduous trek and experience that many immigrant parents, like hers, have had to endure to give their children the opportunities they now have.
"The cuadros [frames] that I gave to them were like gifts to my parents," said Barajas. "To bring honor to them for what they worked hard to come here and to bring them a little sense since they've had to fight so much.“
We all know the quote, 'Those who do not learn history are doomed to repeat it'.
That is why many of the elements that Barajas uses in her art include moments of history where social justice was at the center of. Other elements she uses include science as an ode to her autistic brother whose interest in science and space falls in line with her interest in Aztec mythology.
"I don't want things to repeat as they did in the past,“ said Barajas. ”I want people to be open and have awareness in their hearts and make it a message that we are all one and that I'm not going to stop."
Beyond the meaning, Barajas wants her art to educate but more so to inspire the next generation of dreamers.
“My art is the most important,“ said Barajas. “It's what I'm passionate about, it's what I can give back and prove to children that you need to be proud, que si se puede.”
