Today, in honor of the famous author Gloria Anzaldua, I represented Mujeres de Maiz and did a silkscreen workshop for La Raza Coalition at Occidental College.
In my one hour workshop: "Nepantla Prints: Visions From l@s otr@s," students created a poster using stencil making techniques and the ancient art of silkscreen to express a moment within their process of decolonization and what Gloria Anzaldua describes as Nepantla.
"Nepantla is the Nahuatl word for an "in-between state," that uncertain terrain one crosses when moving from one place to another, when traveling from the present identity into a new identity…. For women and people of color, nepantla is a constant state; dislocation is the norm." -Gloria Anzaldua
In this workshop we explored these Anzalduan themes and created from our conocimientos.
When I teach it's always from the heart, guided by mindfulness... and it feels like a whirlwind of tasks, feelings and responses to what my students are trying to solve and create....
I am always amazed, inspired and challenged by their discoveries and skill levels.
Upon my reflection, I remember many of my students saying things like:
"Thank you so much for coming here and being so generous with your time"
"We would love to have you come and do this again"
"Art is so healing"
"your work is so amazing"
"This feels so awesome"
"I'm scared"
"How do I make my design/stencil better?"
"This is so amazing"
"Thinking on my own, without so much structure, and coming up with my own ideas, is so challenging"
"I have never seen this process... silkscreen before"
"I love doing this"
"can i do this for a living?"
All I could say was, "Well, maybe. Some artists do... there could be opportunities everywhere, especially when you work hard to create them."
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