The Virgen de Guadalupe has been part of my upbringing.  Don't get me wrong, I'm not very religious, but I do have a lot of faith.  The Virgen shows up in my work quite a bit, she's so ingrained into my subconscious that she appears unwittingly. 
I also participate in the Dia de los Muertos Festival in Mesilla, NM every year, along with my girlfriends. 
My mom on the right, along with two of my aunts. 
These are the women that I relate to.  When we read "Where the Girls Are" I recognized the many shows that Douglas wrote about, but I did not relate to them.  They were completely different to me.  Having said that, I'm sure some of their messages were not lost on me, but I took my visual cues from Mexican imagery and Mexican traditions.  I come from a huge mixture of cultures:  Spanish, Indigenous, Aztec and probably, but not confirmed, African American. 
Doing a feminist class made me reflect on my own role as a woman in society and within my family. 

As I thought about what feminist subject to write about I asked myself what I thought feminism was and how does it play into my life?
I was not brought up "traditionally".  I lived in two very different countries and I took on two very different personas in each of them.  I grew up surrounded by many women, especially in MX. My first two important female role models were my mother and grandmother. 
I never really considered them feminist, but after the readings and discussions we had in class, I began to realize that they were more feminist than I had realized.
My grandmother was born in 1912, in St. Barbara, Chih., MX. At the age of three, her mother passed away three days after child birth.  My grandmother was sent away to live with relatives in El Paso and remained in the El Paso and Juarez, MX. area until she was sent back to her father at the age of 16. 
I imagine this must have been a difficult transition for her, she went from being a young student to the "ama de la casa"  the woman of the household.  She cared for her brothers and father, she tended the house and the animals in the ranch.  I asked her once, when I was a young girl myself if she ever resented leaving El Paso and she replied that she had always known she would be returning to her father one day and she knew she was needed to care for the men. 
My grandmother was a very strong woman.  She married and remained in St. Barbara. When times were difficult, she would travel the nine hours away from home to Juarez, with her twelve children to search for work.  She did this numerous times.  At a time when women from her hometown were expected to remain at home and cook and clean, she didn't think twice about leaving home to search for employment.  I believe she adapted this attitude from having lived in El Paso. A very feminist move!  She instilled this work ethic on all of her children, including her daughters. 
My grandmother took pride in caring for her house, children and husband.  She loved to sit on the porch in the evenings to knit or crochet.  I spent many hours next to her at the end of the day.  She advised me on many things, the main thing was that family always came first. She also suggested I educate myself as much as possible.  She instilled in me that same work ethic she instilled in her children.  Her death was a huge blow for me.
My grandmother the feminist!   

Intro

I figured I'd begin this blog with an introduction. 

 My shovel for the recent ground breaking ceremony.  This piece is now property of the city of El Paso.

I enjoy making batiks, I get great colors and textures.
                                                                              

 

One of my favorite Mexican restaurants here in town.  Whenever I go out of town, I make it a point not to eat Tex-Mex food.  I get extremely ill eating that food.  Tex-Mex restaurants make their food with so much spices trying to replicate the authentic food.  Mexican food uses fresh vegetables and chilies.  If you're ever in town, this is where I'll take you for some very good food.

 

 The city covered in fog.

Our mountains split the city in half.  When you ask an El Pasoan what part do you live in, we answer with, "On the east side", or "Lower Valley", so on and so on.  El Paso is very hilly and we have the craziest weather.  We can have sun, wind, rain, snow and fog all in one day.

We have the best sunsets and I love it when it rains when the sun is out.  The rain glistens like diamonds.

Juarez, MX. is right there!  One of the questions I always get when I travel and I say I live in El Paso is how close is MX.  I always answer, "Really, really close".

No, the violence did not trickle over, we are the safest city in the country.  My dad was born on the other side of that fence and I spent much of my youth right over there.  The night life was crazy when I was growing up.  The drinking age was 16.  We all went to Juarez on the weekends!

More of my work.

We make tamales every Christmas, which we share with everyone we know.

My family, traditions and this area are what make me who I am.