Lucha Libertad
In this series, Lucha Libertad, I hand formed and welded steel luchador masks to highlight the vibrancy and strength of the Xicanx community. The title meaning, freedom fight, is a reference to the lived experiences of the Xicanx community within the United States. While there has been progress, the fight for equality and retention of rights is continuous, and those who participate in this fight are Luchadores.
Luchador masks carry honor and imbue the wearer with power. The designs on the mask often refer to a power source. In this series, aspects of Xicanx culture are the source of power and pride. This exhibition features seven masks: Zacatecas is based on a state in Mexico where my mother and grandparents were born. My ability to pursue art is possible because of the sacrifices made by my parents and grandparents. I am eternally grateful for all that they have done to provide my siblings and I with a good life. The colors red, white, and green refer to the Mexican flag while the ribbons reference the practice of interlacing braided hair with ribbons. Nopal is based on the prickly pear cacti found in the Sonoran Desert. I admire their endurance and resilience despite the harshness of the desert. Continuing to think of the desert and sun, I created El Dorado. This mask is gold in color and adorned with scorched flames. I am considering the legend of the city, ruler, and the practice of metal working in ancient societies. Con Amor is an embroidered mask inspired by another practice with a long history, Otomi embroidery. I remember seeing this style of embroidery in my abuelita’s home and how she worked at a sewing factory. This mask is a reflection of how I think of her. She is bright, smart, beautiful, and fierce. She has taken a skill and used it to provide for her family. My father also helped with the final stitches. This meant a lot to me as my abuelo’s machismo would have prevented him in helping his son embroider anything. My father has let go of that machismo in order to care for his children in a healthy way. La Sirena is a mask based on the suits worn by mariachis. Music is an integral component of the Xicanx community, and mariachis are a large source of pride. The music is bold and dynamic. It is unapologetic and full of emotion. Where I live now, I can hear rancheras, cumbias, and bandas play on the weekend. While this may seem insignificant, I would argue the opposite. I have been told to “speak English” and “go back to your country” while previously living in a predominately conservative and white neighborhood. A neighbor had his nazi, trump, and confederate flag proudly displayed on his balcony. It would not have been safe to play that music there. 62 Impala speaks to the ingenuity and intelligence of our community. Drivers were engineers, painters, artists, and activists. They figured out how to modify and install hydraulics making a car move in ways it had never done before. Candy paint, flakes, striping, and leafing are all a part of a delicate series of chemical reactions. Every inch of these cars is covered in art, and car clubs to this day still organize community events and put the people first. Vuelo Libre is a mask based on a dream. The birds fly freely above flowers in a beautiful world. It is the world I hope our future holds. In researching for this series of work, I learned of the progress made within the Lucha scene. At its inception, it was only men, but women and others have fought for a place in the ring. We continue these fights for inclusion outside of the ring today.
All together these cultural identifiers become a type of armor. For this reason, steel is the primary material of these masks. Unlike fabric, it retains the shape providing protection for the wearer and acclaiming strength. We are luchadores for our community and culture past and present.