“At the age of 91, Nora Chapa Mendoza remains a stalwart creator and a powerful voice for the Latino community. Her life story is a testament to unwavering dedication and a passion that has endured through the decades. Nora's art, guided by her heart, speaks poetically and boldly, reminding us of the inherent beauty found within chaos. Her creations unveil quiet moments of reflection that possess the transformative power to rejuvenate our spirits. As both an artist and activist, she has seamlessly integrated her art with various causes, advocating for migrant workers, fair labor practices, indigenous identity, and civil rights.”
Through a keyhole lies a poem titled Happy Marriage where a husband wields malignant control over his wife. The visible portion of the concluding sentence reads, ‘moonlit night I would commit suicide in a fit of ecstasy.’ The surrounding imagery depicts a woman who has freed herself from such bondage. Butterflies flutter from the forehead of the painter at the bottom of the picture while the saint who watches over the emancipated woman is both Guadalupe and the artist herself.
Despite its diminutive size, this print’s strong imagery attracts the eye. The swipe of cerulean blue at the right edge adds a bit of expressive depth to the foreboding cross and blazing sun.
Adjacent to the print is an earlier work illustrating scenes of daily life. It reveals the artist’s roots before she gained her matured, confident voice tackling issues like war, equal rights and the plight of migrant workers.
Dabbling in several mediums, Mendoza’s environmental concerns describe a clean, abundant ocean through found objects, tiny mermaids on canvas with painted coral and sand dollars affixed to a dismantled cello, its shape echoing an idealized curvaceous figure.
Defying convention by forging an independent, creative life that discards trends for authenticity, Mendoza was a modern woman long before that moniker existed. This exhibition chronicles this artist’s journey to the passionate advocate she became and remains. She recently received the Scarab Club’s highest honor in signing the building’s second floor ceiling beams, adding her name to a storied group of Detroit powerhouses who profoundly impacted the city’s art community.
On view through November 11th at Scarab Club 217 Farnsworth Detroit
*images are mine
direct quote from gallery materials
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SHOWS OPEN THIS WEEKEND