National Museum of Mexican Art- Jessica Oliva Navarro, Week 2


I hope everyone is doing well!


During Week 2 I have been able to get to know NMMA’s Bilingual Summer Camp students so much more. Interacting and laughing with them definitely makes the daily one-hour commute worth it! Their creativity impresses me each and every day. They are not afraid to express themselves and think outside of the box. They truly are award-winning artists and storytellers! 

This week's activities were crafted by Marilyn Lara Corral, NMMA’s Education Program Coordinator/Art Educator. The first activity surrounded the topic of spooky stories. Artwork by Carmen Lomas Garza, specifically La Llorona introduced campers and myself to the power storytelling can yield through a canvas. The painting captures Carmen's grandmother telling the tale of La Llorona. It is interesting how storytelling can connect generations. El Cucuy also posed a form of inspiration for the students when it came time for them to develop their own spooky tales. The texture that was added with mod-podge and model magic created a 3D like-image that captured the eeriness of their unique stories. From sharks bigger than megalodon to vengeful ghosts, I kept getting goosebumps when listening to them recite their stories. 








  La Llorona by Carmen Lomas Garza 







Scary story depictions


Towards the end of the week, connections were made between the magical works of Remedios Varo and Leonora Carrington as well as the magical plants and fantastical creatures of the Harry Potter series and Fantastic Beasts. The students were so excited when Marilyn explained that they would have the opportunity to bring to life their own ideas. 




Mystical plants/creatures


Campers painting their magical creatures


Christian and I carved out time during week 2 in order to work on our NMMA en Casa video. We settled upon a craft inspired by Ojos de Dios. While researching, we were able to discover that Ojos de Dios were first created by the Huichol people who mainly lived in Central Northwest México near the Sierra Madre Occidental Mountains during the 15th century. The Huichol people focus their worship on nature and the earth. One can see traces of such respect in Ojos de Dios. For example, the center or eye represents the sun while the ends of the sticks represent the earth's elements. Ojos de Dios continue to be made by many of Huichol descent. These beautiful pieces of artwork serve as a form of protection and represent wishes for good health. This project has been challenging because it has raised critical questions. To better explain, Christian and I are not a part of the community from which Ojos de Dios originated from. Consequently, we have had to keep in mind that we do not have the authority to replicate Ojos de Dios but rather draw inspiration from them. It is also vital for us to respect the history of the Huichol people and Ojos de Dios. Furthermore, NMMA staff have challenged us to keep our young audience in mind when drafting our script. We have been encouraged to make our versions of Ojos de Dios relate to personal stories and experiences in order to draw youth in with a storytelling aspect. We will have to continue to edit our script in order to better deliver our message of respect and acknowledgment. The process has opened my eyes to the challenging aspects of education programming in regard to the fine lines that exist.  

I also took another trip throughout the galleries. I would like to highlight one artwork each week from now on and share my own take on the underlying message. This week I would like to share with you all a piece by Marcos Raya named R.S.I. (Repetitive Strain Injury). This 3-dimensional artwork depicts a factory worker in a “pledge allegiance to the flag” stance. His lips look almost as if they are glued shut. His voice silenced. He wears the top of the Statue of Liberty. Also, his robotic arm allows viewers to reflect upon the strenuous labor that many immigrants endure in factories across the United States. This piece is immensely powerful. It boldens the fight for just working conditions in Chicago. Also, it reminds me of a quote by Amanda Groman: “All art is political, the decision to create, the artistic choice to have a voice, the choice to be heard, is the most political act of all.” If you find yourself in search of something to read that surrounds the topics discussed above, I recommend Working in the Shadows by Gabriel Thompson.                                                                   

 R.S.I. (Repetitive Strain Injury) by Marcos Raya
                                                   

    I have felt incredibly supported by NMMA staff and the campers. I am looking forward to week 3 in which I will be able to visit Yollocalli and expand my knowledge of this program's outreach efforts. 


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