La Morena

Primary Connie Arismendi (Corpus Christi, Texas, 1955–Austin, Texas, present)

NationalityAmerican, North America

Date1999

MediumGraphite on fabric attached to canvas

DimensionsCanvas: 60 x 48 x 2 in. (152.4 x 121.9 x 5.1 cm)

Credit LineBlanton Museum of Art, The University of Texas at Austin, Gilberto Cárdenas Collection, Museum Acquisition Fund, 2022.83

Keywords

Rights Statement

IN COPYRIGHT - EDUCATIONAL USE PERMITTED

Collection AreaLatino Art

Object number2022.83

On View

Not on view

Collection Highlight

Latino Art

Label Text

Web Comments

Connie Arismendi’s complex portrait combines several religious traditions and personal elements. She explains, “La Morena is part of a series of drawings on fabric. I chose this material because it references the ephemeral and transitory nature of life.” With a face depicted on a draping veil, the work suggests the Biblical scene of Veronica capturing Christ’s visage on cloth, here overlaid on a bed of roses, a flower that in Mexico symbolizes the Virgin of Guadalupe. Arismendi acquired her love of fabrics and stylish patterns from her mother, who was a seamstress. “It’s totally my mother’s influence; she made our home beautiful. Here is her beauty–that was her gift to me.” The artist created this portrait by stretching the sheer fabric over a black and white line drawing taken from a postcard of a Mexican movie star. As the drawing on fabric developed, the work evolved into a portrait of her niece Grace Leos. The pensive look is indicative of her life and emotions at that time.” Arismendi’s ethereal piece, lends memories of family life a resonant cultural meaning.

Exhibitions

Cara a Cara/Face to Face: Chicano Portraits from the Gilberto Cárdenas and Dolores Garcia Collection