Exhibition Preview

Who are you? For some, the answer is simple: “I am a doctor,” “I am a student” or “I am a parent.” The road each person travels to reach these places is filled with a number of variables including culture, economics, schooling, religion, family and favorite activities. This exhibition, presented in September 2011 at the Tempe Center for the Arts in collaboration with the Hispanic Research Center at Arizona State University, celebrates and examines how works created by Mexican American artists are influenced by the cultures of both Mexico and the United States.

The exhibition address themes about personal identity: national identity, family and community and labor. The participating artists have an interesting way of “mixing up” these themes to reflect their own identities. Some of the artists embrace cultural duality, some share more kinship to one culture and others struggle with balancing all of these ideas. “Mixing It Up” also showcases the wide-range of stylistic influences Mexican American artists tap into, such as graphic art, folk art and traditional art.

In a larger sense, “Mixing It Up” is reflective of the general human condition and the question that every person, regardless of race, culture or gender, asks: “Who am I?” This preview presentation highlights a few of the 42 artists exhibiting at the Tempe Center for the Arts.

Laura Álvarez The Double Agent Sirvienta: Blow Up the Hard Drive,1999 serigraph

Álvarez grew up in Orange County, Calif., and spent many summers on her grandmother’s ranch in Mexico. She received a Bachelor of Arts degree from the University of California Santa Cruz and a Master of Fine Arts degree from the San Francisco Art Institute. She is an active writer, recording artist and film maker. D.A.S. stands for Double Agent Sirvienta. DAS is a character that Álvarez created in The Sirvienta is a spy posing a maid on both sides of the border. Álvarez has created paintings, prints, films, installations and music about this character and her adventures. Laura Álvarez, Venice, Calif. Born and raised in Southern California

Manuel R. Burruel Self-Portrait: The Journey, 1998 monotype with collage

Burruel was adopted by a family in Phoenix, and his interest in art and drawing developed at an early age. He studied art at Glendale Community College. In much of his work, Burruel enjoys envisioning the elements of everyday life. For “The Journey,” Burruel focused on nationality and personal identity as dualities in his own life. “I was the only child of Manuel and Betty Burruel, who wanted a child so badly they went to another country to find me. I lived in Mexico the first week of my life. ‘The Journey’ was created 13 years ago. When I look at it now, I’m almost surprised to realize that I am an ‘immigrant.’ ” Mannuel R. Burruel Born in Mexico; raised in Phoenix

Maya Gonzalez Blue Grandfather and Yellow Birds acrylic on archival paper, 2002

González studied creative writing and fine arts at the University of Oregon at Eugene. She is an artist and teacher and has illustrated more than 20 children’s books. Much of her artwork speaks about the experiences of women. “I make art to ritualize the truth that we are the creators: of ourselves, our lives, our hearts, our world and all that we see and feel. We are one with all things, made of the same light and imbued with the same force and the same love.” Maya González, San Francisco Born in Lancaster, Calif.; raised in California and Oregon

Ester Hernández Libertad (Liberty), 1987 etching

Hernández describes herself as a Chicana of Yaqui and Mexican heritage. Her family worked as farm laborers and was involved in the United Farmworkers Movement of the 1960s. She credits her family, nature and community as the most influential elements in her work. Hernández sees the art form as an accessible form of popular expression for working-class people and strives to use it as a means to challenge the norms assigned to women. “As a Chicana artist, it is important to produce and disseminate positive images of our varied lives.” Ester Hernández, San Francisco Born in San Joaquin Valley, Calif.

Isabel Martínez VG Got Her Green Card, 2001 serigraph

In 1986 Martinez relocated from Mexico to Los Angeles where she received a Master of Fine Arts degree from California State University. Much of her work communicates issues surrounding race, religion, family, class and the sometimes bittersweet struggle for the “American Dream.” Martínez has mixed feelings about images of the Virgin of Guadalupe. “I was very disappointed in the way her image was used in Mexico by the conquerors to control and manipulate native people. I wanted to show how the Virgin of Guadalupe in the Chicano/a culture is a positive and very important icon of liberation.” Isabel Martínez, Los Angeles Born in Alpoyeca, Guerrero, Mexico

Moníca Aíssa Martínez Milagros from the Milagros series, 2011 mixed media on paper

Martinez earned a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree at the University of Texas and a Master of Fine Arts degree at New Mexico State University. She enjoys researching a variety of topics including human anatomy, art history, Yogic philosophy (Chakra), Catholicism, folk art and Mexican symbolism. For her, the search for the sacred is the key. “The body is like a landscape of intricate structure, complex and full of variety. I find it exciting and beautiful. I find myself searching deep within the nooks and crannies. I am trying to understand and locate what makes the body tick and what makes the mind tick. What makes me tick?” Moníca Aíssa Martínez, Phoenix Born and raised in El Paso, Texas

Jerry Montoya Soy Americano, 2002 acrylic on canvas

Jerry Montoya grew up near the Los Angeles Harbor. He began drawing and doodling at an early age and today works as illustrator, graphic designer, editor and fine artist. He studied art at San Francisco’s Academy of Art University. Soy Americano was painted in response to an individual who commented on Montoya’s lack of Spanish speaking skills and overall “whiteness.” The piece explores the dual nature of Montoya’s upbringing, being an American with Mexican roots, which he cherishes. "My grandfather always said our family is 'American of Mexican descent. We are Americans first and always.' I feel very fortunate to have both cultures in my life…cultures very rich in tradition, honor and beauty." Jerry Montoya, West Hollywood, Calif. Born in Wilmington, Calif.

Martín Moreno Esperando la luna acrylic on canvas

Moreno grew up as a migrant farm worker in Michigan. At an early age, learning the English language became important not only for his family’s needs but also to cope with the struggles of being different at school. He later worked for the United Farm Workers Movement and was inspired by people such as Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., the Kennedy’s and Cesar Chavez which led to Moreno’s lifetime commitment to questioning inequalities. In 2011, Moreno was honored as Arizona artist of the year at the Governor’s Arts Awards for his dedication to art, youth mentoring and community service. In a 2003 interview by Eduardo Barraza, Moreno described his art philosophy: “I think the arts should be inclusive in all aspects of our existence. Regardless if you are rich or poor, art is important for everyone, and a necessary element of a healthy community.” Martín Moreno, Phoenix Born and raised in Adrian, Mich.

Tony Ortega La Marcha de Lupe Liberty, 2006 serigraph

Ortega’s work reflects people as a collective, especially Latinos, living and working in urban and rural settings. These glimpses into everyday lives tell personal stories about issues such as immigration, education, family and civil rights. “Individuals in my artwork are faceless because they are important only to the extent that they help define the group – the community interacting and participating in its many rituals, social settings and group functions.” Ortega explains that La marcha de Lupe Liberty depicts a melding of the Statue of Liberty and the Virgin of Guadalupe as female icons placed in a scene representing the May 1, 2006, national rallies known as “A Day without Immigrants” that took place in cities across the United States. Tony Ortega, Denver, Colo. Born in Santa Fe, N.M.; raised in Santa Fe and Denver

Vicente Telles The First and Greatest mixed media on metal, 2011

Telles is a self-taught artist from New Mexico. He also studied education and Chicano Studies at the University of New Mexico. Today, he describes himself as a “santero” (a person who creates Catholic devotional art). He paints in a comic book-style on both metal and wood. He also uses natural pigments that can be derived from natural materials such as clay and vegetal matter. “I paint retablos and Catholic saints because, as a Chicano, I feel my language has already been taken from me…. I paint to send a message that my culture and heritage will live on. Not everybody tolerates words, but a beautiful image can [send a message] silently.” Vicente Telles, Albuquerque, N.M. Born in Albuquerque, N.M.

Larry Yáñez Concina Jaiteca, 1988 serigraph

While growing up Yañez was surrounded by everything from American television and music to Mexican food and oral traditions. “Cocina Jaiteca” is loosely based on childhood memories of family kitchens and is a tribute to the warmth and color found in a southwestern Mexican American kitchen. The title is a mixture of wordplay Yañez calls “Spanglish.” It plays on a meeting of old and new imagery and themes by using "Jaiteca" instead of "high tech." “It wasn’t until after finishing ‘Cocina’ that I noticed the similarities between my piece and Rockwell’s ‘Thanksgiving’ piece [“Freedom from Want”]. We both celebrate our American culture and invite you to sit at the head of the table as an honored guest. Is it possible that in finding pride and humor in Mexican American working class values that I see myself as a Chicano Norman Rockwell? In any case, welcome to the human familia!” Larry Yáñez, Yuma Born and raised in Yuma

Frank Ybarra Backyard Pachanga, 2003 serigraph

Frank Ybarra grew up in a family that was proud of its Mexican roots but encouraged him to speak English so that he would fit easily into society. He uses bright, bold colors and a mixture of landscapes and familiar landmarks from around Arizona to blend both Hispanic culture and Americana. "When I was a young child, speaking Spanish was not prevalent in my family, nor was practicing the traditions and rituals of my native culture. This is not to say that we were trying to disassociate ourselves from our heritage, but rather it may have been my family's attempt to 'fit in' with our suburban surroundings. Therefore my work is (in a lighthearted manner) a tribute to my 'suburban ethnic' upbringing." Frank Ybarra, Phoenix Born and raised in Phoenix

Thank You Friends of Tempe Center for the Arts Hispanic Research Center at ASU Highlighted Artists: Laura Álvarez Manuel R. Burruel Maya Gonzalez Ester Hernández Isabel Martínez Moníca Aíssa Martínez Jerry Montoya Martín Moreno Tony Ortega Vicente Telles Larry Yáñez Frank Ybarra

Curatorial Team Marco Albarran, Tempe Center for the Arts Michelle Nichols Dock, Tempe Center for the Arts Mary Erickson, Herberger Institute for Design and the Arts at ASU Gary Francisco Keller, Hispanic Research Center at ASU Melanie Magisos, Hispanic Research Center at ASU Pat Villeneuve, Florida State University

Acknowledgements for the “Mixing It Up” exhibition: The Tempe Center for the Arts and the Hispanic Research Center at ASU worked collaboratively with many Arizona institutions, individuals and local artists to make the broad scope of the exhibition possible. Special thanks go to the Jules Heller Print Collection at ASU Art Museum, the Tucson Museum of Art, Friends of Tempe Center for the Arts, Tempe History Museum and Xico. These institutions have given graciously of their time, support and expertise.