Boyle Heights: Representation In Contemporary Arts

The portrayal and the representation of the Chicano Art Movements are entrenched by the Mexican-American artist who institute artistic personalities and identities in the United States. The plenteous amount of the artist is massively influenced by the immense Chicano Movement (El Movimiento) which, was established in the 1960’s. The influence of Chicano Art was due to the Mexican- Revolution philosophy, art of Pre-Columbia and indubitably European techniques of painting, cultural, social, political issues. The movement took a stand to fight against stereotypes of Mexican- Americans conducive and to resist typical social norms. The movement to concentrate on awareness of collective history, equal opportunity, grants and social mobility. Chicanos have used the movement in pursuit of expressing their cultural values. Ever since it first appeared in America the art of Chicanos has matured to illustrate common struggle and social issues in conjunction with uniting the youth of the Chicano people to their culture and history. Chicano Art is not only Mexican- American artwork; it further emphasizes and accentuates the histories of the Chicano people in a superb and sublime way of American art.

Artworks have played an indelible work to the lives of humanity. The creative nature in Artists is a complex matter to define. The uncertainties in the intrinsic nature in art lay difficult aspects that can only be answered by values, themes and skills depicted in an artist artwork. Apart from playing the intricate psychological effect on humans, the artworks have been used as a tool of expression that has been revered and uniquely preserved for future generation. Among some of the most revered modern forms of artwork has included Chicano Art that had a core relationship to Las Carpas, Indigenismo, rascuachismo and other forms of performance art.

As a placebo for a changing guard, La Virgen de Guadalupe proved highly successful. The iconic image of La Virgen de Guadalupe remains static in both form and symbolism until the mid twentieth century, when a new movement among Mexican-Americans emerges in California, dubbed the Chicano movement. As visual propaganda becomes a large part of the movement, a significant body of art with common themes and styles, known as Chicano art, follows. This shift in subject matter among Mexican-American artists toward a specific social and political agenda began earlier, as evidenced by the work of Rivera, Orozco, and Posada, but, it isn’t until the mid 1960’s that national or religious iconographic images are recycled to support a larger political or social agenda.

     Public art conquers so much more than the simple task of making the street a little easier to look at. It involves those who created it, those who supplied the means to create it, and those whose lives it continues to impact. Wall paintings in particular take an important role in working for a greater good. Judith F. Baca, a Hispanic-American woman and artist- activist has contributed an unaccountable amount to the mural movement in Los Angeles. She has accomplished this by giving individuals the chance to create art and develop a sense of pride, she has taught younger generations a respect for their ethnic identity, and from the many walks of life that continue to view her

Without a doubt, The Hispanic Society of America is a museum where the artwork does not show Hispanic people fighting, but instead, it shows a healthy image. A visitor of the museum said, in a 2016 article that “one feels transported to another time and another place.” This shows that when you are in the museum, you can concentrate, and feel peaceful. You can feel what the paintings are trying to communicate in the most comfortable way possible.

There are many reasons why art exist, and why people continue to make it. Art can bring joy and hope to a group of people, but it can also dehumanize the same group. This all depends on who creates the art and the motivation behind the creation. Throughout the history of the United States, in regard to race, we see how art has done and does both. According to Paul Von Blum (2012), historical “depictions of Black women, men, and children were highly stereotypical and demeaning.” These negative visual representations of black individuals were set to devalue their existence. They perpetuated “visions of African Americans as lazy, irresponsible,

The museum represents the distinct way in which many of these artist were uplifted due to the ideas set forth by Ortiz. He was able to set out to gather a community in which people would feel proud and inspired by their cultural background. The main purpose of the museum was to promote a sense of identity and give the Latino community a way to promote their culture. The museum would eventually bring together the community and inform others of their prominent role in society. Also, it would help empower the Latino community, as the museum would voice their opinions through the artworks shown. El Museo is a representation of the cultural history and the way that people were able to establish a foundation of cultural unity. The positive impact that the museum had on the community was forced upon the people as they realized how important the culture was, as the community began to crumble. El Museo served as a way to preserve the culture and enforce the voices of the Latinos for future generations. (Hackshaw,

As part of the “movimiento” Chicano artist needed an outlet to portray and protest societal inequality. They wanted to advocate ethnic identity as well as wanting to express self-identification. Consequently, they began to convey their message through art in murals, posters, magazines, logos, etc., which is considered public art. These Chicano artists wanted to represent the facet of the battle for human rights. Let’s take

The idea of the Chicano community muralism as a requirement for the “art of place” shows that the practice is specific to an area. Even though they are understood in the context of the history of a location, they rarely remain to be a still symbol of a certain moment or a place in the record of events from the past.

Frank Romero’s Chicano art served as a point of communication that illustrated the role of Chicano culture in Los Angeles, and also drew attention to the social and political implications that manifested on the behalf of the rise of this cultural perspective. Throughout his career, he produced works such as “the police brutality series” which drew attention to political issues, and works like “Going to the Olympics” and “History of the Chicano,” which illustrated the beauty and pride of Chicanos in LA. Moreso, the paintings “La Llorona” and “El Teatro Campesino” displayed the origins of chicanismo and the cultural affiliations that originated in Latin America.

Hispanic art, food, and entertainment all have a common theme; they are all fun, light-hearted, yet fulfilling and rich in cultural heritage. On one side, Mexican culture in particular loves to make fun of itself. There are many depictions in song and art of lazy Mexicans in large sombreros with thick mustaches eating burritos. On the other hand artists like Diego Rivera paint large murals depicting rich historical events like the revolution, in bold colors on controversial topics (This Old, n.d.).

Art is a conveyor of whatever message or story a person wishes to share. As a society, we’ve become accustomed to the abundance of diverse messages and stories stemming from a multitude of cultures and people of varying backgrounds. However, the art scene has not always been this representative of all people. Contemporary artists such as Titus Kaphar, Kerry James Marshall, and Norman Rockwell have taken it upon themselves to proclaim the importance and presence of African Americans in history. Using purposeful art composition and meaningful symbolism, these artists address the imbalance power between African Americans and whites in regards to the lack of representation of African Americans in the history of art. By addressing this imbalance

I believe that the Chicana/o art isn’t being appreciate by the American society or isn’t acceptable. The Chicana/o art has been in this country for years but yet no recognitions of the art pieces in the museums. There are some exhibitions here and there but rarely at the big museums such as the Getty. The impression that the museum is leaving is that there is no room for Chicana/o art and no need to explore the cultures that they have to offer. This is sort of a reason why I didn’t feel as comfortable because there wasn’t any work that I could relate to or feel excited to see. Whereas the art exhibition that took place in East Los Angeles made me feel comfortable because I knew that the people that made the work where coming from a familiar background that I’ve grown up inn; I can relate to the art pieces they have created. I can recall that the art I’ve seen throughout my life were mainly American art pieces or European art pieces but rarely or none of Chicana/o pieces.

It is the patience to win.” Cesar E. Chavez In the art world the artwork that comes from the brilliant minds of Chicanos and Chicanas is more than just art. Its art with a cause that many of Chicanos can relate to because of the themes that are depicted throughout the art for viewers. Chicano art has a major theme that is being told by the artistic.

Bright colors jumping at you asking for attention, images so real viewers can not tell the difference. These are the thoughts that came to my head as I gazed at two works of art by two Mexican artists at MoLAA museum of art . I visited two museums, Bowers Museum of cultural Art in the heart of Southern California and the Museum of Latin American Art in Long Beach for my report unfortunately I only liked the works in MoLAA and will talk about it through out my paper. I will talk about two Mexican artists Rafael Cauduro and David Alfaro Siqueros that caught my eye, and made me want to learn more of them and their approach to art. Siqueiros caught my eye and interest because according to his biography “no