In the Spirit of Itzpapalotl, Venceremos by Ruby Chacon.
Through a collaborative practice this cover art is part of a series that draws from feminist scholarly research by Dr. Sonya Alemán and Flor Olivo. The series of paintings, alongside photographs by Flor Olivo (flawurmedia.com), will exhibit from January-February, 2018 at American River College’s Kaneko Gallery in Sacramento, California.
The two women show highlights feminine leadership exerted by Chicana editors of the newspaper “Venceremos,” established at the University of Utah in 1993. This particular piece is about Chicana editor Yajairda Katzi, her passion for science juxtaposed with the story she covered during her tenure at Venceremos about the “Black LivesMatter” movement.
We define the driving force and power of these women, to carry the paper forward, as a reclaiming of Itzpapalotl. Itzpapalotl Spirit as we have named this feminine energy “is grounded in an indigenous worldview that reveres women as fierce protectors of the domains that produce life, ideas, and knowledge.” (Aleman and Olivo) Archived issues can be found: http://venceremosutah.com/publications/archived-issues/
Our intention is to ensure that forms of storytelling and art making produce life-affirming realizations and continue to uplift our communities. By seeking to create spaces of belonging, shaped by shared histories of marginality and resistance, the images tell a story of conviction. In our own ancestry we continue to retell herstories of feminine leadership, specifically Chicana Feminist leadership, that have enabled spaces of creativity and that have birthed ideas, art and knowledge amongst systems of oppression.
Ruby Chacón co founded Mestizo Institute of Culture and Arts (MICA. She has been published in books, magazines, calendars, as well as covers for academic books. Her most recent book cover is: “Transforming Educational Pathways for Chicano/a Students” by authors Dolores Delgado Bernal and Enrique Aleman, Teachers College Press. Her numerous awards include: Utah Governor’s Mansion Award for visual arts, Salt Lake City Mayor’s Award for Visual Arts, Humanitarian Award, Distinguished Alumni, and Utah’s 15 most influential artists.
Chacón moved to Sacramento in 2013. Her Sacramento public art projects include: Cesar Chavez Intermediate outdoor mural, Utility box designs in the Alkalai Flats and Meadowview neighborhoods, and upcoming: a design for the light rail and community mural on 2nd Avenue in Oak Park. Contact: rubychacon759@gmail.com or https://www.facebook.com/groups/ChicanaArtRubyChacon/
DRAW Inc Art Gallery
752 6th Ave. Salt Lake City, Utah