The Natural Flow of Migration is a collaboration between Monica Villarreal and master printer Armando Rodriguez. This iteration of Migration Is?features large-scale prints and small relief prints made with Mexican printmaking techniques. This collaboration will personify the natural flow of plants and animals across national borders as a characterization of migrant stories.
Migration is?
Migrant workers have played a key role in the development of what we now call the United States. As the number of migrant workers from Latin America continues to rise, discourse surrounding these migrations focuses on their value as human beings by treating their bodies as exploitable commodities. The intention of Migration is? is to address and reframe this discussion by examining migration from the underrepresented perspective of the migrant. I will present a series of works exploring the experiences of Latin America migrant works through the use of printmaking, installations, large-scale paintings, and live performances. I want to analyze the treatment of migrant works and shift discourse from their worth as commoditized bodies to their intrinsic value as human beings.
Bios:
Monica Villarreal is an interdisciplinary Xicana artist and activist, native to Houston, Texas. Her art focuses on social change, gender equality, and environmental issues. She has multiple awards in photography and film making. Monica’s a traditional Aztec dancer with Danza Azteca Taxcayolotl. She’s also a founding member of Creative Women Unite, local feminist arts collaborative, and has over nine years of experience organizing with non-profit and grassroots organizations. Monica is currently completing her graduate in Digital Media Studies at University of Houston-CL where she is focusing her studies in graphic design and printmaking.
Armando Rodriguez was born in Mexico and moved to the U.S. as a child. He received his degree in Fine Arts from the University of Houston in 1982. Armando worked for several years as a commercial photographer and later as a graphic designer for the Houston Chronicle for 16 years. In the past ten years, he returned to fine arts and pursued his passions in teaching and community. He currently serves in the education department at the Museum of Fine Arts, teaches at the Art League of Houston, and consultant and master printer at Black Swan Screenprinting. Armando works in many media including photography, graphic design, printmaking (etching, lithography, and monotype), painting, drawing and bookmaking.
