In this blog, I will be using references from the North America, ie Mexico, the Caribbean and United States to introduce a new series of paintings about the Quinceañera.
Since the 10 year development of my contemporary mythology, "Legends from the Realm of Nepantla", I have had a haunting desire way back in the depths of my consciousness to kill off this masked woman archetype. Her only crime? That she has been protesting shame for too long. At what point do I continue to carry the burden of past childhood, generational and ancestral trauma? At what point do I evolve? I have maybe 3 or 4 more paintings to go to finish her contemporary myth. After that, she will undergo a death of herself that no longer serves her and she will re-incarnate as a Quinceañera.
THE QUINCEAÑERA IN THE REALM OF NEPANTLA
For the past 15 years or so, I have said that I paint from the realm of nepantla. Five hundred years ago, the Nahuas coined the word, "nepantla" which meant "in the middle of it." It refers to a transitional state between two worlds, stages of life and or living safely, in an unstable and hostile world. Nepantla can be useful in describing the Quinceañera, a period between childhood and adulthood, another "in-betweenness" marked by awkwardness, desire, and restless rebellion. Very few paintings have been done about this event. I see a great mythology in which this teen girl will become my new archetype.
La Ultima Muñeca Performance at a Quinceañera
WHAT IS A QUINCEAÑERA?
For those of you who do not know what a Quinceañera is, it is the name of an event that celebrates a 15 y.o. girl undergoing the metamorphosis from adolescent to woman. The girl is also called a Quinceañera. It is popular in the Americas including the Caribbean. It is an event that is held at a church, a ranch, an event center, a zocalo, or even a home, that involves theatre, dance, blessings, gift giving, and most of all to reflect on her past while acknowledging her dreams and upcoming responsibilities. It gives the parents a chance to accept this inevitable and miraculous change thru rituals that are carefully choreographed and designed to be so heartfelt. There is a lot of tears and letting go.
THE EMANCIPATION. For example, "La Ultima Muñeca," is a choreographed symbolic dance in which the Quinceañera dances with a doll, the flower girl and a prop that resembles a mirror. She looks somber as the doll is brought out to her by a little girl dressed like her and gives the Quinceañera the doll. The Quinceañera then dances with the doll for a while and then the doll is passed to her mother who walks away with the doll. This represents her letting go of her childhood. Sometimes music like, "No Crezcas Mas" by Tercer Cielo, is often played to add to the emotional moment of her emancipation. Bring a box of kleenex. You'll need it.
One of many beautiful videos about the Quinceañera with a social commentary.
In the modern Americas, Quinceañeras are classless, because there is always a way to have a Quinceañera if you can't afford one. The Quinceañera is financed by families and friends of the young woman. And if not, then by organizations and cultural centers who believe such rituals are important to women and their families. These cultural centers and organizations will write grants and receive monies to finance disadvantaged young women, lacking in resources and a group Quinceañera is planned. An example is Sueños de Quinceañera, a Quinceañera funded by Alasdamor.org that took place inside Penal de Santa Martha de Acatitla, in 2020. It is prison that emphasizes rehabilitation over punishment for women. Daughters were reunited with their imprisoned mothers and fathers for this moment. For parents incarcerated and their daughters, this event has the power to heal past wounds and enjoy a rare moment that lives forever.
"Sueños de Quinceañeras" Centro Femenil de Reinserción Social Santa Martha Acatitla, July 9 2022
THE QUINCEAÑERA IS A CHOICE PAST AND PRESENT
100 Years or so ago, women had few choices. Get married or join a convent. When a Quinceanera was given, many suitors were invited as potential husbands for the girl and her family to choose from. This insured that the young woman had a stable future in becoming a mother. In many cultures, 15 was the age of availablilty.
Families of today give the teen girl choice. She gets to choose whether she wants a Quinceañera or not. If she decides to have one, she picks the theme. Modern Quinceañeras are inspired by American, Mexican and European trends, like Harry Potter, Barbie, Carnival, Masquerade, Victorian, and or Charreada.
The Quinceañera with the help of her parents and family members, select her damas and chamberlains, which will make up her court. These are her friends and family members close to her age. If she doesn't have many male friends, she can rent a male dance group. She picks the songs for the dances. An MC and DJ will be hired to provide the entertainment. In other words, her event is highly personalized reflecting her aesthetics and tastes.
This portrait is the first of my series for Majestic. My paintings are full of clues to make it easy for you to read the painting. For example, the mallet with the bricks and dilapitated church walls is symbolic of breaking thru barriers, perhaps what is considered by feminists, patriarchal barriers. The rainbow colored dress represent an openess to all cultures and genders. Her shoes are high heeled boots meaning that she desires work and stability. And the crystals in her crown expresses the fascination that young women have toward the occult instead of organized religion. This work is available for sale for $5,000.00 usd and can
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