Immigrantes_American Allstars in the ACCESS, An Ordinary Notion exhibition
It has been 100 years since the introduction of the Equal Rights
Amendment (ERA). This exhibition honors Alice Paul, a suffragist who re-wrote the Amendment in 1943, expanding the language to align with the recently passed legislation. Dubbed the 'Alice Paul Amendment,' the new Amendment stated, 'Equality of rights under the law shall not be denied or abridged by the United States or any state on account of sex.' The 19th Amendment, granting women suffrage, is the only mention of the word 'woman' in the U.S. Constitution. Furthermore, the only right guaranteed to women by federal law is the right to vote. The ERA has yet to be ratified.
JURORS
Elizabeth Addison, NCWCA Exhibitions Chair, Visual Artist, Educator, Curator
Karen M. Gutfreund, Independent Curator, Consultant, Artist
Meghan Lewis MacLeod, Ph.D., Ecofeminist Artist, Creative Arts-based Counselor, WCA LGBTQ+ Pod Leader
VENUE: Arc Studios & Gallery, 246 Folsom St, San Francisco, CA 94103
1. In-person Panel Discussion with Molly Gonzales (Alice Paul Institute) and Deborah L. Hughes (Susan B. Anthony House and Museum): Saturday, June 15, 2024, 3–5 pm, Arc Gallery.Â
Facebook event:Â https://www.facebook.com/events/426417220206676/
2. In-person Opening Reception: Saturday, June 15, 2024, 7–9 pm, Arc Gallery
3. Online Artist Talk: Thursday, June 20, 7–8 pm. Facebook event:Â
4. In-person Curatorial Tour: Sunday, June 23, 1:30–3:30 pm, Arc Gallery.
5. Music & Poetry Event: Sunday, July 7, 3–5 pm, Arc Gallery
About my painting: Immigrantes_American Allstars.
A turning point in my work came when I met a family from Venezuela, the Olartes. They were seeking political asylum in a refugee camp with over 2,000 people in Matamoros, Mexico. These families had been waiting seven months under dire conditions to be granted immigration status. In particular, the mothers struck me with their life force and resilience. The pandemic curtailed further investigations.
These families sought a better life for their children and freedom from tyranny and oppression. Immigrants leave their home countries because of the injustices brought about by global wealth and global warming, only to discover structural racism with low minimum wages and insufficient health and safety protections. Their resiliency and persistence prevail. Enduring living in tents for months or years, their prayers keep them resilient. As a Mexican, I have experienced and witnessed these injustices and disparities.
Not only sketching and photographing but recording their stories charged my art practice. My current work is narrative and direct, addressing issues faced by immigrant families who work in the farmlands during the week and come into the city to sell their produce and mothers working in domestic, service, and/or childcare jobs. I would like these paintings to help advocate for their rights and better realities.
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