Events January 17- March 21, 2009
516 ARTS is pleased to announce Chicana Badgirls: Las Hociconas opening Saturday, January 17, 6-8pm, as part of a series of programs focusing on activism and feminism. This exhibition brings together the multimedia work of 18 women artists whose work continues to challenge the inequities of male-centered sexist hierarchies. In photography, painting, drawing, performance art, installation, sculpture, untraditional craft forms, graffi ti / stencilling, and paper and fabric fashion designs, the work of these artists talks back to unjust power in visionary and necessary acts of courage aimed at greater
social justice. Drawing its subtitle Las Hociconas from the Spanish word for large or loud-mouthed (from the word hocico, animal snout), this exhibition proudly situates itself within the long struggle of Chicana and Latina feminist struggles against sexism. It features the work of three generations of artists from New Mexico, Texas and California. Co-Curators Delilah Montoya and Laura E. Pérez say, “We hope this project will strengthen and cross-fertilize Chicana Latina feminist art across state lines.” One of the inspirations for the exhibition is Pérez’s recent book Chicana Art: The Politics of Spiritual and Aesthetic Altarities (Duke University Press 2007). The exhibition is presented in conjunction with the Women &
Creativity series organized by the National Hispanic Cultural Center (March 2009).
EXHIBITION PROGRAMS:
Opening reception: Saturday, January 17, 6-8pm
Corridos music with Las Flores del Valle
Fashion & art/couture with Elisa Jiménez & Diane Gamboa, Performance at 7pm
Screening & Talk - Chimayó (Güero): Saturday, February, 21, 8pm
A screening of the new short narrative fi lm about the dual nature of Chimayó, New Mexico as a place of
both healing and destruction, followed by a talk with screenwriter Art Corriveau.
For Women & Creativity:
516 WORDS Poetry Reading: Saturday, March 7, 8pm
516 ARTS and the UNM M.F.A. in Creative Writing program present a reading celebrating Hispanic poets
in conjunction with the exhibition Chicana Badgirls: Las Hociconas. The program features Jessica Helen
López, Michelle Otero, Socorro “Cora” Romo, Levi Romero and Richard Vargas.
516 ARTS and the UNM M.F.A. in Creative Writing program present a reading celebrating Hispanic poets
in conjunction with the exhibition Chicana Badgirls: Las Hociconas. The program features Jessica Helen
López, Michelle Otero, Socorro “Cora” Romo, Levi Romero and Richard Vargas.
Chicana Badgirls Panel Discussion: Saturday, March 14, 2pm
Co-curators, artist and professor Delilah Montoya and Dr. Laura E. Pérez (Ethnic Studies, University
of California, Berkeley) will be joined by University of New Mexico art history professor Holly Barnet-
Sanchez and Los Angeles-based artist Alma López for a discussion focusing on Chicana feminist art
today, its achievements and development and the cultural politics and economics surrounding the
reception of its most innovative and challenging works.
Co-curators, artist and professor Delilah Montoya and Dr. Laura E. Pérez (Ethnic Studies, University
of California, Berkeley) will be joined by University of New Mexico art history professor Holly Barnet-
Sanchez and Los Angeles-based artist Alma López for a discussion focusing on Chicana feminist art
today, its achievements and development and the cultural politics and economics surrounding the
reception of its most innovative and challenging works.
This project is made possible in part by New Mexico Arts, a Division of the Offi ce of Cultural Affairs,
and the National Endowment for the Arts.