The LatinX Artists known as L.U.N.A.

Radio Milwaukee

5 Jun 201902:12

Summary

TLDRThe transcript discusses the experiences of Latina artists in Milwaukee, highlighting the lack of representation in the local art scene. Despite feeling overlooked, a collective of Latina creatives, including designers, photographers, and painters, is emerging with a strong presence. They are determined to make their art accessible, especially in a city known for its segregation. The upcoming 'hoops' show symbolizes cultural pride, with hoop earrings representing identity and strength for many Latinas. This collective aims to show their power in numbers, ensuring that Latina artists in the city cannot be ignored.

Takeaways

🎨 There is a sense that Latina artists may feel unvalidated or lost in the art scene.
👥 The speaker encourages Latina artists to join them, highlighting their collective strength.
🏙️ Despite not being from Milwaukee, the speaker learned from Gabbi that there are Latina artists in the city.
🌎 The talent pool lacked diversity, particularly in terms of Latina artists.
🖼️ Latina artists in the group come from different disciplines: designers, photographers, illustrators, abstract artists, and painters.
🚀 The Latina artists are characterized as hustlers, constantly working non-stop.
🏛️ The goal is to make their art accessible, especially in a segregated city like Milwaukee.
📢 The city is eager for art that represents underrepresented communities, particularly Latina artists.
✨ The 'hoops' show is a significant cultural event, symbolizing Latina pride and identity through hoop earrings.
👑 Collective power prevents Latina artists from being ignored, with at least 30 identified in the city.

Q & A

What challenges are Latina artists in Milwaukee facing according to the speaker?
-Latina artists in Milwaukee often feel unvalidated or lost in the art scene, with limited representation and opportunities in a segregated city.
What does the speaker mean by 'we are a big force in the city'?
-The speaker emphasizes that the Latina artist community in Milwaukee is talented and capable of making a significant impact, despite being underrepresented.
How did Gabbi contribute to the discussion about Latina artists in Milwaukee?
-Gabbi confirmed that there are Latina artists in Milwaukee, despite the lack of a diverse pool to choose from in some contexts.
What observation did the speaker make about the diversity of artists in Milwaukee?
-The speaker noticed that Latina artists were missing from the artist pool in Milwaukee, especially when trying to select participants for a show.
What types of artists are mentioned in the Latina artist community?
-The Latina artist community in Milwaukee includes designers, photographers, illustrators, abstract artists, and painters, all of whom are hardworking and constantly creating.
What is the significance of making art accessible in Milwaukee according to the speaker?
-Making art accessible is important because it's not always easy for marginalized communities, like Latina artists, to reach wider audiences, especially in a segregated city like Milwaukee.
Why is there excitement about the upcoming 'hoops show'?
-The Latina artist community is excited about the hoops show because it represents their culture and identity, and showcases a community that is often overlooked.
What do hoop earrings symbolize for Latinas, according to the speaker?
-Hoop earrings are a marker of pride and identity for Latinas, often given to them as babies, and serve as a form of 'armor' or personal expression.
How does the collective power of Latina artists benefit the community?
-The collective power of Latina artists makes it harder to ignore them as a group, giving them visibility and recognition that may not be achieved individually.
What is the main message the speaker wants to convey about Latina artists in Milwaukee?
-The speaker wants to highlight that Latina artists are present, talented, and capable of organizing powerful, representative shows that fill a gap in Milwaukee's art scene.

Outlines

00:00

🎨 Empowering Latina Artists

The speaker acknowledges that there are Latina artists who may feel unrecognized or lost in the art scene, and extends an invitation for them to join a larger artistic community. The focus is on the strength and talent of Latina artists, especially in a city like Milwaukee, where diversity in the art community is lacking. The speaker emphasizes the importance of providing space for these artists to thrive and make their work accessible, especially in a segregated city hungry for diverse artistic representation.

🌟 The Lack of Latina Representation in Art

Reflecting on the lack of Latina artists in Milwaukee, the speaker shares that, upon discussing the issue with Gabbi, it was clear that Latina artists were missing from the city's art scene. Despite this, they express that there are many Latina creators working across different mediums—designers, photographers, illustrators, abstract artists, and painters—who are all hardworking and passionate about their craft.

🎯 Breaking Segregation Through Art

The speaker highlights how Latina artists, through their collective energy and nonstop work ethic, are striving to make their art more accessible to people who are often underrepresented in Milwaukee’s segregated community. There is a strong desire to bridge this gap and create a show that showcases the rich diversity of the Latina artist community, fulfilling the city's hunger for inclusion and representation.

👑 The Significance of Hoops for Latinas

The speaker reflects on the cultural significance of hoop earrings for Latina women, starting from infancy when they receive them as babies. They describe the hoops as a symbol of pride and identity, even likening them to 'armor.' The speaker expresses the power of their collective presence as Latina artists, stating that as a group, they can no longer be ignored. They proudly assert that there are now at least 30 Latina artists in the city, with many more undiscovered, thus eliminating the question of their absence from the local art scene.

Mindmap

Keywords

💡Latina artist

Refers to women of Latin American heritage involved in various forms of artistic expression, such as painting, photography, and design. In the video, Latina artists are discussed as an underrepresented group in the Milwaukee art scene, with the speaker highlighting their need for validation and visibility.

💡Validation

Validation in this context refers to the feeling of being recognized and appreciated for one's contributions to the art scene. The speaker mentions that many Latina artists may feel lost or underappreciated, underscoring the lack of acknowledgment they receive.

💡Milwaukee

Milwaukee is the city where the speaker and the collective of Latina artists are based. The city is described as segregated, which is part of the reason why Latina artists have been underrepresented in its art scene, but also a place where the community is 'hungry' for more diverse representation.

💡Segregated city

Milwaukee is described as segregated, meaning that different ethnic and cultural communities are often isolated from each other. This segregation has contributed to Latina artists being overlooked or underrepresented in the local art scene, which the speaker and others are working to change.

💡Community representation

This concept refers to showcasing the artistic and cultural contributions of specific communities, in this case, the Latina community. The video highlights the importance of representation through collective exhibitions that allow Latina artists to showcase their work and culture together.

💡Hoops show

A specific art show organized by Latina artists that is symbolic of their culture. The 'hoops' refer to hoop earrings, a traditional accessory for Latinas that represents identity, pride, and cultural armor. The show emphasizes Latina identity and brings visibility to the artists.

💡Hoop earrings

A cultural symbol for many Latinas, often given to girls as babies. In the video, hoop earrings are described as a source of pride and identity, with the upcoming 'Hoops show' celebrating this cultural marker and using it to bring visibility to Latina artists in Milwaukee.

💡Collective power

This refers to the strength and influence that comes from a group of people working together toward a common goal. The video discusses how the collective of Latina artists uses their group presence to ensure they are noticed, asserting that it is harder to ignore a group than an individual.

💡Accessibility

In this context, accessibility refers to making art available and relatable to the Latina community in Milwaukee. The speaker notes that art by Latina artists is not always easily accessible in the segregated city, and the collective seeks to change that by organizing shows and exhibitions for their community.

💡Underrepresentation

The absence or insufficient presence of Latina artists in Milwaukee's art scene. The speaker points out how Latina artists were missing from art showcases and how their collective aims to remedy this by making their presence known and providing a platform for more artists to be seen.

Highlights

A Latina artist might feel unvalidated or lost in the art scene.

Invitation to join a collective force of artists in the city.

Growing up in Milwaukee, Gabbi notes the presence of Latina artists in the community.

Observation that Latina artists were missing from the pool of selected artists.

Diverse talents include designers, photographers, illustrators, abstract artists, and painters.

Collective identity as 'hustlers' who are 'non-stop' in their work.

Making art accessible for their community, which is not always the case in segregated Milwaukee.

The city is eager for a show that represents underrepresented communities.

Excitement surrounding their upcoming show focused on 'hoops' and its cultural significance.

Hoop earrings are a cultural marker of pride and identity for many Latinas.

Hoops are seen as a form of armor for many Latina women.

The collective power of Latina artists ensures that they can't be ignored as a group.

Previously, people might have questioned the presence of Latina artists in the city.

Now the community is aware of at least 30 Latina artists, and there are more.

Their collective show will provide a space for representation and visibility in the art scene.