September is National Hispanic History Month!
Below is a small collection of facts, images, links and videos to help you discover the artwork, artists and influences in the Latinx community. Before you begin, I ask that you take a moment and try to recall a hispanic visual artist. Can you name one? how about two? For many, this is a difficult task. I challenge you to take some time to learn and appreciate more artists of hispanic origin. Please explore the collection. Click on images for full size! THERE'S A LOT HERE. . .
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LATINX -VS- HISPANIC:
Hispanic refers to people in the Americas and Spain who speak Spanish or are descended from Spanish-speaking communities. Latinx is a person of Latin American origin or descent (used as a gender-neutral or nonbinary alternative to Latino or Latina). |
WHAT IS FOLK ART ?
Although there is no one definition of Folk Art, it usually covers all forms of visual art made in the context of folk culture. It often reflects shared cultural aesthetics and social issues. It's often times handmade, and the skill is taught from one generation to the next.
Although there is no one definition of Folk Art, it usually covers all forms of visual art made in the context of folk culture. It often reflects shared cultural aesthetics and social issues. It's often times handmade, and the skill is taught from one generation to the next.
MEXICAN FOLK ART
Mexico was the home of great civilizations, like the Mayan, the Zapotec and the Teotihuacan. With the Spanish conquest in the middle of the 16th century most of the native cultures were destroyed. One of the most well known styles of Mexican Folk Art is Amate Bark paintings. The tradition of turning bark into paper dates back to the ancient Maya and Nahua peoples. The Maya lived in the jungles of what is now the Yucatán Peninsula. They were the only civilization in the Western Hemisphere to develop a true written language. After the Spanish arrived, many traditional systems were destroyed. However, the tradition secretly lived on in the remote villages of an ethnic group called the Otomi, who live in what is now the Mexican state of Puebla. Traditional bark paper and painting was maintained for centuries by the Otomi as part of important traditional ceremonies and rituals. |
ANTONIO BERNI
Berni lived in Argentina, and painted portraits of poverty. He used discarded, ready-made materials in his work. He was raised by Italian immigrant parents in 1905, and was able to study painting. He thought that art should truthfully reflect the social realities of the working class. At the time, Argentina was suffering through an economic crisis.
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FRIDA KAHLO
Frida was a painter, born in 1907 in Mexico. Her artwork incorporates her culture's folk art style. She suffered great pain, both physically and emotionally, and her artwork often tells us what she's thinking and feeling. Her paintings are like riddles, full of symbolism that give insight into her life story if you take the time to look. Her VERY eventful life was documented in a movie in 2002, where she was played by Salma Hayek. To learn more about her life and her work, click the link below.
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TARSILA DO AMARAL
Do Amaral was born in 1886 in Sao Paulo, Brazil, to coffee plantation owners. While traveling between Europe and Brazil, she developed her signature style of painting. In 1929 her family lost their fortune, and she traveled to the Soviet Union, where she began focusing on social class, and the struggles of workers.
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DIEGO RIVERA
Rivera and his twin brother, where born in Guanajuato Mexico in 1886. He spent time in Europe and The United States, but he called Mexico City home. Rivera is one of the most well known muralists. He was married to Frida Kahlo (another very famous artist.) He was involved in politics and was a dedicated Marxist, and joined the Mexican Communist Party.
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DAVID ALFARO SIQUEIROS
David Alfaro Siqueriros was one of the three great Mexican muralist painters. He was born in Chihuahua City, Mexico in 1896. He was born into a wealthy family, but became involved in the Mexican Revolution and joined the revolutionary army. After the war, he traveled to Europe, where he spent time with Diego Rivera and became interested in Cubism. He even traveled to the U.S. and painted a mural in Los Angeles - but it was immediately painted over after being deemed too controversial.
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DIY Papel Picado
This video is in English |
Este video es en español |
DIY Flores de Cempasuchil
Este video es en español |
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