Rites of Passage: Muejeres de Maíz Flor Y Canto
Issue No. 10
ISSN: 1947-4210
Los Angeles, CA
2012
An anthology of art, poetry and prose written on issues of concern by women of color.
Mujeres de Maíz is a collective for, by and of the people, specifically urban wombyn of color. The group started among the writings of empowering mentors; where the penetrating power of Xicanisma and important historical lessons and stories were shared through women’s creations and thereby planted in the hearts, minds, and spirits of las Mujeres de Maíz. The influence, inspiration, and empowerment of these women’s art, has had a profound impact on various generations and together las Mujeres de Maíz, have created a much needed space for their own generation, style, and vidas.
After 15 years, Mujeres de Maíz, a wombyn of color creative art collective based on activism and personal, artistic, and spiritual growth, continues as a groundbreaking force within underground Los Angeles Chicana, artist, and activist circles. The group has pushed across many borders to create sacred spaces for women to share their thoughts, experiences, prayers and politics through the arts and to push theory into flesh. Mujeres de Maíz is where emerging and established women of color artists share the same stage and page, a group where intergenerational, intercultural and interdisciplinary work is applauded and encouraged, and where a myriad of wombyn of color, from different cultures, generation, religions and traditions come together to honor themselves and all wombyn. It is a place that for many years was the only of its kind, having been the home and started of many of Los Angeles’ wombyn performing ARTivists, and where many have shared their creations for the first time and later to publish and tour their work.
In honor of International Womyn’s Day (March 8th), Mujeres de Maíz creates an annual live art show and publication in solidarity with thousands of women across the world, who march for women’s rights and important issues. In L.A., the women of this open collective march, pray, organize, and share their gifts, their sacred words, music, and art…themselves. In these turbulent and changing times, Mujeres de Maíz welcomes you to delve into their amazing creations within a generation’s sacred creative codex and experience, in the words of the Zapatistas, “a world where many worlds fit.”
About Linda Vallejo
Linda Vallejo’s work is a response to a life of travel and study in many countries. After several tours of the USA in 2006, Linda began to create work from re-purposed materials and appropriated imagery. “Make ‘Em All Mexican” is a joyful statement about dissolving color and culture lines.
Artists included: Jacky Acosta, Margaret ‘Quica’ Alarcon, Iris De Anda, Pilar Rodríguez Aranda, Binyamina Aisha Barrios, Sylvia L. Rubalcava-Chavez, Yreina Marissa Urrutia Gedney, Martha Ninozka Gonzalez, Nancy Aidé González, Vica G or Jovita Angelica Guillen, Aurora Guerero, Yvette Rae Hinojosa, Arlene Galindo Jimenez, Tala Khanmalek, D’Lo, Pola Lopez, Kristy Lovich, Erika M. Martínez, Andrea García Mauk, Diea May, Sara Haskie-Mendoza, Marilynn Montano, Felicia Montes, Patricia Paz Moya, Angeles Muñoz, Lynette Najar, Diana Ocampo, Diana Pando, Jenuine Poetess, Susana Ramírez, Lilia ‘Liliflor’ Ramirez, Elizabeth Retolaza, Martha Rodriguez, Elvia Susana Rubalcava, Betty Sánchez, Ramona Sandoval, Amita Swadhin, Adilia ‘Negra’ Torres, Maria Guillen Valdovinos, Linda Vallejo, Cora Ramirez-Vasquez, Christine Xihuitl Vega, Lydia Zulema Martinez Vega, Rachel Veliz, Patricia Zamorano, Zuleica Zepeda
View excerptMujeres de Maiz website