Mujeres de Maiz (women of corn), began as a collective of women artists of color from throughout Lost Angeles. Like the many colors of corn, we are a diverse network of women who work to effectively communicate the spirit of our creativity through visual and performing arts in our local communities and cultural educational events/conferences.
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Beginning in 1997, Mujeres de Maiz united inter-generational Chicana/Latina artists for a one-night exhibit and performance event. The response was overwhelmingly positive and as a result a total of four events were organized in that same year. A grassroots poetry & arts magazine or ‘zine’ began it's first of many and a one-year anniversary documentary on Mujeres de Maiz was produced.
Since its birth, Mujeres de Maiz continues as a growing network/organization due to the empowering feeling of women's voices and images....
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HERSTORY
It was 1997 in northeast Los Angeles, Highland Park at the PRC (Popular Resource Center/Centro Regeneracion) where Mujeres de Maiz first took root. As a host to countless grassroot meetings, fundraisers, exhibits, and underground “gigs,” the PRC became an organizing space for community activists and artists. Inspired by the 1994 Zapatista uprising in Chiapas, Xican@s began to organize themselves around the philosophy of Zapatismo. Consequently, Radio Clandestino and the National Committee for Democracy in Mexico were housed within the PRC’s walls. In addition, artists such as In Lak Ech, Quetzal, Aztlan Underground, Blues Experiment, Ollin, Quinto Sol, and Mujeres de Maiz began to collaborate, cultivate, and plant their seeds within the youth of the community.
Over thirty years had passed since the height of the Feminist and Chicano Movement, yet women’s voices were continually absent from the established platforms. In order to unite women of color artists from the Eastside, Felicia Montes and Claudia Mercado founded Mujeres de Maiz (MDM). They took destiny into their own hands and created their own sacred space within the larger movement. MDM began by self-publishing a grassroots ‘zine’ and producing a one night performance and multi-media exhibit at non-traditional art venues. If they didn’t tell their stories, who would?
The intention of the zine was to give voice to women of color regardless of their ‘formal’ training. Mujeres de Maiz was and continues to be an open call to beginners and experienced artists of all ages and sexualities. The zines and performance/art events have brought women from many nations together. The work of MDM has engaged women from Africa, South America, North America, Philippines, Asia, Srilanka, Mexico, and U.S. Xicanas to network and organize around global social political issues. What began as an open call for submissions to the zine’ evolved into the collective of women of color artists committed to social justice and the empowerment of our communities.
Following the time of the seasons, MDM zines and events took place every four months. The first MDM zine and event titled “Mujeres de Maiz: El Nacimiento del Dios de Maiz and Birth of La Diosa de Maiz” took place June 29, 1997 at the PRC. In the spirit of Dia de Los Muertos, the second event and zine “Seeds of Resistance” took place November 9, 1997. In March of 1998 the third live art show and zine “Of Mixed Waters” was organized for International Women’s Day at the Community Service Organization (CSO) in Boyle Heights. To celebrate the year long collective’s work, a 15 min. video docu-womb-mentary titled “Mujeres de Maiz: The Roots of Herstory,” which chronicled the creative projects through a tapestry of women’s voices, images and interviews, was made and screened at the fourth MDM event in June 1998.
MDM has and continues to play an active role within Xicana Indigena politics. In March of 1999, a second anniversary show took place at Self-Help Graphics for International Women’s Day. The proceeds of the event went to support the Cihuatlatokan, a historic encuentro of Xicana Indigenas that took place in the Angeles National Forest. Two years later in March of 2002 another performance and art event was organized in honor of International Women’s Day at Casa del Mexicano in Boyle Heights. The proceeds from the event went to support the second Xicana Indigena encuentro being organized by La Red Xicana Indigena. MDM has served as a bridge in bringing together not only individual artists but other collaboratives as well. The most recent event, “Danzando con el Fuego,” took place on March 6, 2004 at Self Help Graphics and was a joint effort with Tongues Magazine, Womyn Image Makers and Mujeres de Maiz in celebration of International Women’s Day. The proceeds of the event went to support a documentary work in progress chronicling the local and intercontinental work by Xicana Indigena identified women.
The 2006 ZINE, “Toltecayotl Cihuatl” is the fourth weaving of the heart. Since its’ founding in 1997, Mujeres de Maiz has produced a total of 4 zines, 7 multi-media events and 1 documentary. All the work to produce the zines, art shows, and performances has and continues to be in-kind. Its’ life continues because of the collective’s vision of resistance, self-determination, and the empowerment of women. This work is a prayer for the healing of our selves, communities and our Mother Earth.
The women of Mujeres de Maiz have been uniting, organizing and creating rather organically since its inception. Bound by their creative spirit of using art as an educational tool for resistance, healing and change, MDM formed to make visible the invisible. Under the leadership of Xicanas, Mujeres de Maiz has become a creative outlet, cross-cultural inter-generational women’s circle. Mujeres de Maiz events have transformed abandoned halls and warehouses throughout East Los Angeles into magical timeless nights that inspire dreams of a better world. The zines have inspired the minds and spirits of a younger generation to keep the dream alive. They are our modern day codices. They are a chronicling of ourselves for ourselves.
The following artists have exhibited and performed
in previous Mujeres de Maiz events:
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Visual Artists:..
Yreina Cervantes, Alma Lopez,
Yolanda Gonzalez, Sandra de la Loza,
Diane Gamboa, Margaret Alarcon, Marisol Torres, Lilia Ramirez, Nayeli Guzman, Dalila Paola Mendez, Carmen Kalo, Timoi, Gina Aparicio, Sugey Salazar, Margaret Sosa, and many many more amazing women!
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Performers: ..
Ariel Robello, Butchlalis de Panochtitlan, Sunrise Child, WADDA G, Cihuatl Ce, Guerrilla Queenz, Paulina Sahagun, Marisela Norte,
Martha Gonzalez from Quetzal, Cava, Candela, Son Mujeres, Las Ramonas (Teatro M3),
Raquel Salinas, In Lak Ech, D'Lo, Adelina Anthony, Cihuatl Tonali, and many many more!
..
Here's one of our past flyers for the amazing wombyn's events:
Music
Music Performers of MDM include:
In Lak Ech
Guerrilla Queenz
Cihuatl Ce
Mystery Hangup
Martha Gonzalez of Quetzal
Claudia Gonzalez of Cava
Sarah Rosencrantz
Son Mujeres
Lady Binx
and many more...
Movies
WOMYN IMAGE MAKERS short films by Women of Color filmmakers
of Mujeres de Maiz!
Mujeres de Maiz.net honoring Indigenous People's around the world and especially the wombyn, the life-givers and carries of culture.... Posted at 7:29 PM Oct 12 view more
CALL FOR SUBMISSIONS for MdM PUBLICATIONMujeres de Maiz
ZINE 2009
Calling all creative women of color! In honor of Women, let us publish your expressions in our annual community arts and poetry maga-ZINE!
Submissions should be centered around the following theme:
La Sagrada
(That Which is Sacred)
*** spaces are limited **
DEADLINE is NOW CLOSED!
For questions, concerns or any who wish to help sponsor this project, please contact:
Margaret Alarcon
Publication coordinator
mujeresdemaiz@prodigy.netFor more information about MdM's commitment to 12 years of creative volunteer community service and past projects:
www. mujeresdemaiz. net
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ZINE 2006
WOMEN'S VOICES
of POETRY & VISUAL ARTS
in ONE 60 PAGE FULL-COLOR BOOKLET! NOT MANY LEFT!
CHECK OUT OUR HOME SITE WWW.MUJERESDEMAIZ.NET TO FIND OUT MORE AND ORDER YOUR COPY NOW at WWW.URBANXIC.COM !
You can also email us at mujeresdemaiz@prodigy.net
Our family recently suffered a devastating loss. However we understand the cycles life and for now all we can do is honor and REPLICATE the example of life that our Brother left behind as his legacy. The loss of our Brother Lalo and his beautiful daughter was felt all through out the hemisphere without a doubt. He stood for unity and Strictly Movement; and by his actions uplifted the warrior spirit of his family, comrades and Nation on a daily basis... The following painting is being auctioned throughout the months of September and October and all proceeds will be donated to the Angulo family. Let's show our brother's family solidarity and make an effort to lend them a helping hand in these hard times. Let's come together and follow his example. -UNTIL WE MEET AGAIN IN MICTLAN, WE'LL MISS YOU BOTH- ----STRICTLY MOVEMENT!!----- Common.Unity.Aztlan
would you be interested in a review copy of mezcla, the new anthology of writing and art from the tumblewords project. people like nancy green, who has published with you folks, is in the book.
if so, please send me your physical address so we can get one in the mail.
A 12 años de la masacre en la que le quitaron la vida a 45 tzotziles, entre ellos niños y mujeres embarazadas, sigue sin haber justicia para las víctimas y sus familiares ni castigo para los responsables.
En este país la impunidad se disfraza bajo el discurso oficial de una "justicia" en la que lo único que hace el estado es deslindarse y tratar de ocultar un crímen.
The MOON Spoke to me on the beach last night and said, "My child this New World that is now, is lead by the LOVE. You have to drop the barriers and the egos and show eachother how to love freely with out conditions.Show your heart and reach your cosmic self. Your purpose as Earths children is to evolve the human race to a higher vibration. In other words LOVELOVELOVE!!!LOVE and bring out the best in others and they will bring out the best in you. LOVE the food you grow and the water you drink, for it will multiply and love you ,too. And know this, you do not have to take energy away from eachother,that creates conflict and the last thing you want to do is drain your brothers and sisters of their energy, because you need to keep your energy levels at a high viberations to achieve heaven on earth. Instead Take energy from the trees you have givin love, the mountains you have charged with love, the ocean that has been feed love, the wind that breaths love, all the celestral beings that beams with love. Remember that ALL IS ONE!!!! and all is LOVE!!!!!"
7/09/09: qallective's going to be having a faux New Year's eve celebration where we stage a new year's eve kiss and encourage more PDA among queer couples. YAY~!
