by Marcella Ortega
Daily Lobo
Artist Negwes White doesn't just draw a picture, he creates a message.
"A big thing of mine is the trail of tears," White said. "Not much has changed. The same roots that were broken are still broken to this day. They are still not acknowledged. Even though it is written in paper and it is signed, that doesn't mean anything. We could just rip the Declaration of Independence in half."
White's drawing, "Broken Treaties," displays his view of society with a depiction of his American Indian ancestors engulfed in flames, a man with steel hair, a burning American flag with an arrow as its post, a ripped treaty and people in tears.
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"It has to do with a lot of Indian oppression," he said.
Artwork by White and other Hispanic students will be displayed at El Centro de la Raza as part of the 2006 Hispanic Culture Festival hosted by UNM and De Colores. The exhibit will feature work by UNM students as well as middle and high school students involved with the art program Working Classroom.
White, who is part Mexican, said he tries to incorporate his heritage in his art. White's other drawing featured in the exhibition is untitled. It depicts the face of a woman next to the body of a woman beneath a bouquet of feathers.
"I just wanted to draw a woman of color with high cheekbones, big almond eyes and big lips," he said. "It represents softness. I wanted to show that women have curves, and their curves are beautiful. It shows she's beautiful. No matter how big she is, she is beautiful."
Sonia Archuleta is a senior student program adviser at the college enrichment program and a committee member for De Colores. Archuleta helped organize the exhibition for the event.
"I want them (students) to feel that they have a space to show all their talents and contributions to society, because it is an important part of our culture," Archuleta said.
Graduate student Madalena Salazar is an art and art history intern at El Centro de la Raza. Salazar helped curate the event as part of her internship.
"They thought it would be important if I help them put this together," she said. "A lot of time the exhibition space is thrown together, and it isn't put up in a thoughtful way."
Maria Griego is a student adviser at El Centro de la Raza. Griego helped collect the artwork and prepare the space for the exhibit.
"I was really happy to see the diversity of artwork that is here and also young persons' interpretation of cultural traditions and the way they view the world," she said.
Salazar said she was struck by a retablo painting titled "Last Temptation" by Renee Archuleta.
"Last Temptation" depicts a woman in flames reaching upward. Above the image, is a pack of Marlboro cigarettes.
Salazar said it resembled a retablo of a sinner in purgatory.
"Part of my research in art history is working on Spanish colonial art," she said. "It's kind of a break from the traditional way of doing retablos. They've got some of the same stylistic qualities, but they are also humorous."
Griego said El Centro de la Raza tries to feature student artwork on a regular basis to encourage youth expression.
"We know that sometimes, for a lot of artists, they won't be famous until after they are dead," she said. "Well, our young people have a lot to say. They have a lot to say now, and I think it is really important that we get it out there. We really work to showcase their talents."
