AS HISTORY IN THE USA pointedly picks favorites and leaves some of us out of the books and movies and stories and truths (unless we are positioned as lessors, or alternately kick up hella ruckus), it is very important for raza to continue to tell our own stories through art, poetry, song, and performance. This is one of the reasons that arte is so integral to nuestra cultura. My own familia has been a part of this, and I do my best to carry it on today.

The art exhibit Chicana Art and Experience: Mujeres con Garbo that opens today in DC is a good example of what I mean. As a side note, I can personally speak for one of las mujeres whose art is being featured in this show, and she definitely is una mujer con garbo!

So if you’re in DC, stop in and check out the show, give up some support for la comunidad and the artists, and if you see Molina, tell her Nez said hola.

If you’re in Washington, D.C., in the next four months, make sure to stop by the AFL-CIO to view a dynamic and rich art exhibit by Chicana artists. The exhibition includes more than 30 prints, paintings, posters and photographs by women who reflect on the experiences and struggles of Mexican Americans.

In the late 1960s, inspired by the civil rights and labor movements, Mexican Americans coined the name Chicano/Chicana to describe an individual’s self-identification with a rich, complex fusion ancestry and culture. The name expresses pride in the culture of the indigenous, Spanish, Mexican and Anglo people of Mexico and denotes support for struggles against discrimination, brutality and poverty.

The Chicano/Chicana movement spawned a dynamic and creative arts community that includes many of the most prominent artists in the nation. Some of their work will be on display at the AFL-CIO in Chicana Art and Experience: Mujeres con Garbo (Women with Attitude).

This exhibit focuses on the struggles of working Chicanas—organizing, immigration, women’s rights, health care, workplace safety, housing, community and cultural identity. The title of the show comes from Juana Alicia’s poster, “Mujeres con Garbo/Women with Attitude,” shown above. Click here to see more of the exhibit.

The artists represented include Barbara Carrasco, Ester Hernández, Cecilia Concepción Alvarez, Laura Álvarez, Favianna Rodriguez, Yreina Cervántez, Juana Alicia, Irene Simmons, Delilah Montoya, Laura Molina, Tina Hernández, Yolanda López, Carmen Lomas Garza and Kathy Vargas.

The exhibit will run from Nov. 19, 2008, to May 31, 2009. The exhibit was organized by artist, independent curator, writer and educator Rex Weil.

—Chicana Art Exhibit Opens Today at AFL-CIO