Corazón de la Revolución
Corazón de la Revolución is a series of screen prints highlighting some of the many women whose actions have fueled the struggle for liberation. This series contributes to the legacy of printmaking as a tool of resistance by incorporating the use of multi-colored silkscreen layers on paper as a form of visual storytelling. This body of work takes on a unique approach to the medium through its use of the color brown as the basis, from the minimal monochrome color palette to the paper choice. The intentional use of brown is in reverence to the Land, to the faces of the women of color at the forefront of various interconnected struggles, and to the people who see themselves reflected in these women’s stories and the continuous fight for liberation. Additionally, the aesthetic choices for this series challenge the ways in which whiteness has been accepted as the standard and foundation in many spaces, the art world not being an exception.
Corazón de la Revolución was created using a non-traditional method of screen printing with vinyl stencils rather than an exposure unit and emulsion. This method was first introduced to me in community with Melanie Cervantes and Jesus Barraza from Dignidad Rebelde. The lack of consistent open access to printmaking studios and equipment is one of the struggles printmakers continue to face. By learning this different approach to screen printing, I was able to print this series from my living room. I embraced both the challenges and possibilities that this method of printmaking opened up, which I believe falls in alignment with the spirit of printmaking as a medium with a deep history of resistance. Through community, I have learned that just like us, this medium can withstand the challenges of adapting to less than ideal conditions, resisting our environments, dealing with unexpected setbacks and in the end still serve as a critical release of truth and power.
Across places and time, women have been at the heart of social movements by taking on roles, as educators, healers, protectors, artists, visionaries and more. The convictions and actions of the women in this series have been deeply rooted in a love and commitment to their communities. The responsibilities each of these women have taken on throughout their lifetimes have helped sustain and shape movements. The stories behind each of these prints serve as testimonies of the innumerable ways we can make meaningful contributions and actively work towards a future where we are all liberated.
