Hello! Please follow the 4 steps below for credit.
- Please post in the comment box below your 250 word blog about the event EL SUEÑO: FLOWERS THAT BLOOM WORKSHOP WITH ALICIA MULLIKIN
- Please post in comment box below your photo at event EL SUEÑO: FLOWERS THAT BLOOM WORKSHOP WITH ALICIA MULLIKIN.
- Remember to hit the "Publish" button so that your post in the comment box can become visible. Otherwise your comment will be lost forever and you won't be able to get credit!
- Then copy the unique URL for your specific post and insert it into this Canvas assignment box: https://canvas.uw.edu/courses/1479483/discussion_topics/6775794
Looking forward to reading them. Thank you!
This comment has been removed by the author.
ReplyDeleteVoicing the sacrifices
ReplyDeleteBeing in attendance was about dedicating time, thought, effort, and honor to those who have made sacrifices for us to be where we are. It was also honoring the tradition of ofrenda making.
The central ofrenda idea was “El Sueño” meaning the blossoming of those who have received the fruits of the sacrifices of their parents, along with the collective unique thoughts of those who added their ideas of what they would hope would be the better future for those after them. My personal ofrenda is about honoring the important and meaningful aspects of my life, which include mostly my family and how they have affected me, and my parents and how they have raised me. It’s about honoring their efforts for me, as well as what the elements of water, air, fire and earth has come to mean for me. In the El Sueño ofrenda making, we were able to reflect what it means to us for honor our families and what our Sueño would look like, and how important it is for our family’s sacrifices to not go unheard.
This comment has been removed by the author.
ReplyDeleteMy ofrenda topic focuses on the children who grow up in communities experiencing social death and risk losing their parents to deportation. Additionally, they are at greater risk of infection of the coronavirus. A part of the plan for the altar was to have painted rocks laying throughout the layers of the altar. These rocks would be painted by community members and neighborhood children. The altar was not only for children who have passed, but also for the children who are still with us. The altar is a place to send love, healing, and energy to these children and their families. As we made the tissue paper flowers, I related it to that feeling of being a child again. Getting to do arts and crafts in school. There is joy in being creative without perfection. Making a mess with the scraps scattered across the table and falling to the floor. During Alicia's workshop, she spoke of the importance of remembering and honoring her mother and her grandmother. The first bloom of what began the American dream. The first generations and the hardships the faced and the determination to nourish their kin for generations to come. Alicia's discussion of generations connects to my topic's points to consider the children of these families and what their futures hold. Alicia speaks with genuine gratefulness for the generations before her that have allowed her to live the life she does today.
ReplyDeleteToday was my first time visiting the Henry Art Gallery to attend a very special workshop and exhibit. I got to help create some of the flowers that were placed on Alicia Mullikan's and her team's El Sueño project. At first glance, you can see that the exhibit depicts a unique image of La Virgen de Guadalupe, wearing a Chola-inspired outfit. Alicia explained to the audience that it was important for her to include an image of the Virgen as it represents caring and nurturing mothers and grandmothers. However, the Chola elements represent the more rebellious assertive side of Chicana women. I really like her idea of representing the duality and nuance of a Latina woman, accepting this is a part of expressing one's Mestiza consciousness, or accepting of our whole identity. This concept is exactly what icons like Selna and Jenni Rivera did through their work, which I honored in my mini ofrenda for them. The act of acknowledging our traditions and culture while still striving to maintain the authenticity of our American experience, is a constant struggle for Chicanos. However, learning to embrace this mix is a form of resilience, which was a big lesson I learned from writing my midterm ofrenda plan. I have provided a picture of part of the exhibit which I got to contribute to. Alice says “First generation Americans are the flower that bloom after generations of harvest” with this quote she adds an ofrenda feel to the image as she honors the sacrifice of every immigrant parents for their children.
ReplyDeleteIn my mid-quarter assignment I wrote about how in the ofrendas we create we are honoring those not just who have passed but also those who have done a lot for us and I definitely felt that in the event we attended. It was special seeing how Alicia got inspired by honoring all the sacrifices her parents made in order for her to follow her passion of dance and how through honoring we keep that feeling alive. Even through her love of dance in her film that was an ofrenda to her parents by honoring them. One of my favorite parts was writing our hopes in the paper flowers because it gave us a way to not just express our goals or dreams for the future generation but also it was nice to see what other things people also wrote about. By even just making the flowers we were able to be part of an amazing piece of art honoring people. The message of how the “First generation americans are the flowers that bloom after generations of harvest” by Alicia Mullikin really connects and relates to many people and really shows how the flowers we made really represent that in the piece. The dream is very important to many people and it was amazing to see so many people come together and learn about how a parent’s sacrifice really is important and how they are being honored in a very special way by the artist Alicia Mullikin.
ReplyDeleteThis comment has been removed by the author.
ReplyDeleteThe ofrenda that I planned was meant to honor the important and transformational work that a few artists have accomplished through their various art forms. The El Sueño installation and ofrenda was getting at something similar with dance as a big component of the reasoning for the creation of the ofrenda. However, the El Sueño ofrenda was more honoring the sacrifices of previous generations and celebrating the growth and bloom of the current and future generations. I really enjoyed participating in the flower making and being a part of the installation because it allowed me to reflect on the sacrifices that my family has made for me. Alicia honoring her parents and sharing that with the class is a clear form of resilience building. The film and the mural on the wall were obviously very important to Alicia and hearing her story about how she came into dance, how dance lead her to creating El Sueño, and how El Sueño became the ofrenda at the gallery that included community members inspired me. To see Alicia creating the installation having never done something like that before makes me believe that I could jump into a project like that if I wanted to.
ReplyDeleteI included a photo of community members attaching the paper flowers to the wall. This symbolizes how community coming together can be transformative as the meaningful image of the chola virgen would not be complete with out each of our contributions.
In writing my mid-quarter essay, I decided to create an Ofrenda dedicated to both my grandmothers. One who passed recently, and the other passed before I was born. I wanted my Ofrenda to not only be dedicated to them, but also to celebrate the ending of intergenerational trauma. On November 18th, our class GWSS 451 had the privilege to take part in the setup of EL SUEÑO’s Dia De Muertos Flower Making Workshop at the Henry Art Gallery. This was especially healing to our class since classes are currently separated because of the COVID pandemic. While I was partaking in the workshop, I couldn’t help but feel a sense of closeness and togetherness with my classmates as we learned from our “teacher”, a current high school student, how to properly make paper mache flowers. The experience brought a lot of laughs to our groups, and conversations among us such as what we’re currently studying, and how our paper mache flowers were looking.
ReplyDeleteOn the wall, there is a quote from Alicia that states, “First generation Americans are the flowers that bloom after generations of harvest”. This quote I felt I could relate to immensely as my mother immigrated to the United States from Mexico, and I feel compelled to bring her a sense of accomplishment through pursuing higher education. After the workshop, we come to understand Alicia’s upbringing, what brought her to dance, and how she uses dance to elevate her community and uplift her ancestors. While hearing Alicia’s story, I took the time to appreciate everything that was coming together. I noticed our flowers stapled against the wall surrounding the image that brings together iconic female figures such as the Chola and the Virgin Mary. I then looked to see the pink flowers with our writing which we pinned ourselves representing what we wish for, for the next generation. As I looked around and reflected on my time with my classmates, I couldn’t help but feel a sense of community, for the first time in my four years at the University of Washington.