SHOOTING FROM THE WILD ZONE A Study of the Chicana Art Photographers Laura Aguilar, Celia Álvarez Muñoz, Delilah Montoya, and Kathy Vargas _____________________________________________________ Asta M. Kuusinen DOCTORAL DISSERTATION To be presented, with the permission of the Faculty of Arts of the University of Helsinki, for public criticism in Auditorium XII of the University Main Building on May 15th, 2006 @ 2006 by Asta Kuusinen All rights reserved ISBN 952-92-0196-6 (paperback) ISBN 952-10-3089-5 (PDF) Helsinki University Press, Helsinki, 2006 Cover photo by Delilah Montoya, La Loca & Sweetie from the series El Sagrado Corazón / The Sacred Heart, 1993. Courtesy of the artist. Layout by Asta Kuusinen ii CONTENTS LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS iii ACKNOWLEDGMENTS vii PREFACE 1 PART I : CONTEXTS 8 1. INTRODUCTION 9 Critical Theory, Chicano Studies 9 Race or no Race 26 2. MYTHOLOGIES AND HISTORIES 37 El Norte, the Southwest, Aztlán 37 Regional Histories, Borderline Identities 52 3. IMAGES AND MEANINGS 77 Reading the Imagery of Chicanidad 77 Discourses on (Art) Photography 90 PART II : ESSAYS 99 4. HISTORY AS THE SITE OF IDENTIFICATION 104 The Machine in the Desert: El Límite by Celia Álvarez Muñoz 107 Behold the Unblinking Eye: My Alamo by Kathy Vargas 127 5. COMMUNITY AS THE SITE OF IDENTIFICATION 146 Comadres Corporation in Labor: Stillness and Motion by Laura Aguilar 149 Para mijitas y todos los carnales: El Sagrado Corazón / The Sacred Heart by Delilah Montoya 168 6. THE BODY POLITIC OF CHICANA REPRESENTATION 192 Queering Walden Pond: Nature Self-Portraits and Center by Laura Aguilar 197 The Pinto’s Flayed Hide: La Guadalupana by Delilah Montoya 218 Presence in Absence: Fibra y Furia: Exploitation is in Vogue and If Walls Could Speak / Si Las Paredes Hablaran by Celia Álvarez Muñoz 236 7. DISCUSSION 254 Predicaments of Identity: ¿No está la familia? 254 Conclusion 267 ILLUSTRATIONS 273 BIBLIOGRAPHY 312 iii LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS 1. Celia Álvarez Muñoz, El Límite, two photo scanner murals 243.8 x 457.2 cm each, installed on adjoining walls painted yellow, Mexic-Arte Museum, Austin, Texas, 2003. Photograph Asta Kuusinen. 2. Celia Álvarez Muñoz, El Límite, photo scanner mural, left panel, 243.8 x 457.2 cm, Mexic- Arte Museum, Austin, Texas, 2003. Photograph Asta Kuusinen. 3. Celia Álvarez Muñoz, El Límite, photo scanner mural, right panel, 243.8 x 457.2 cm, Mexic- Arte Museum, Austin, Texas, 2003. Photograph Asta Kuusinen. 4. Kathy Vargas, My Alamo, gelatin silver print with hand coloring, 50.8 x 40.6 cm, 1995. From the West: Chicano Narrative Photography. Chon A. Noriega, ed. San Francisco: Mexican Museum, 1995. 5. Kathy Vargas, My Alamo, gelatin silver print, hand coloring, silver powder, 50.8 x 40.6 cm, 1995. From the West: Chicano Narrative Photography. Chon A. Noriega, ed. San Francisco: Mexican Museum, 1995. 6. Kathy Vargas, My Alamo, gelatin silver print with hand coloring, 50.8 x 40.6 cm, 1995. From the West: Chicano Narrative Photography. Chon A. Noriega, ed. San Francisco: Mexican Museum, 1995. 7. Kathy Vargas, My Alamo, gelatin silver print, hand coloring, silver powder, 50.8 x 40.6 cm, 1995. From the West: Chicano Narrative Photography. Chon A. Noriega, ed. San Francisco: Mexican Museum, 1995. 8. Kathy Vargas, My Alamo, gelatin silver print with hand coloring, 50.8 x 40.6 cm, 1995. From the West: Chicano Narrative Photography. Chon A. Noriega, ed. San Francisco: Mexican Museum, 1995. 9. Kathy Vargas, My Alamo, gelatin silver print, hand coloring, silver powder, 50.8 x 40.6 cm, 1995. From the West: Chicano Narrative Photography. Chon A. Noriega, ed. San Francisco: Mexican Museum, 1995. 10. Kathy Vargas, My Alamo, gelatin silver print with hand coloring, 50.8 x 40.6 cm, 1995. From the West: Chicano Narrative Photography. Chon A. Noriega, ed. San Francisco: Mexican Museum, 1995. 11. Kathy Vargas, My Alamo, gelatin silver print, hand coloring, silver powder, 50.8 x 40.6 cm, 1995. From the West: Chicano Narrative Photography. Chon A. Noriega, ed. San Francisco: Mexican Museum, 1995. 12. Kathy Vargas, My Alamo, gelatin silver print with hand coloring, 50.8 x 40.6 cm, 1995. From the West: Chicano Narrative Photography. Chon A. Noriega, ed. San Francisco: Mexican Museum, 1995. 13. Kathy Vargas, My Alamo, gelatin silver print, hand coloring, silver powder, 50.8 x 40.6 cm, 1995. From the West: Chicano Narrative Photography. Chon A. Noriega, ed. San Francisco: Mexican Museum, 1995. 14. Kathy Vargas, My Alamo, gelatin silver print with hand coloring, 50.8 x 40.6 cm, 1995. From the West: Chicano Narrative Photography. Chon A. Noriega, ed. San Francisco: Mexican Museum, 1995. iv 15. Kathy Vargas, My Alamo, gelatin silver print, hand coloring, silver powder, 50.8 x 40.6 cm, 1995. From the West: Chicano Narrative Photography. Chon A. Noriega, ed. San Francisco: Mexican Museum, 1995. 16. Laura Aguilar, Motion #59, gelatin silver print, 22.9 x 30.5 cm, 1999. Courtesy of the artist. 17. Laura Aguilar, Stillness #41, gelatin silver print, 30.5 x 22.9 cm, 1999. Courtesy of the artist. 18. Laura Aguilar, Stillness #35, gelatin silver print, 33 x 45.7 cm, 1999. Courtesy of the artist. 19. Laura Aguilar, Stillness #27, digital print, detail, 1999. Exhibition brochure. International Artist-in-Residence exhibition at ArtPace gallery. San Antonio, Texas, 1999. 20. Laura Aguilar, Stillness #28, digital print, detail, 1999. Exhibition brochure. International Artist-in-Residence exhibition at ArtPace gallery. San Antonio, Texas, 1999. 21. Laura Aguilar, Motion #54, gelatin silver print, 22.9 x 30.5 cm, 1999. Courtesy of the artist. 22. Laura Aguilar, Motion #55, gelatin silver print, 22.9 x 30.5 cm, 1999. Courtesy of the artist. 23. Laura Aguilar, Motion #56, gelatin silver print, 22.9 x 30.5 cm, 1999. Courtesy of the artist. 24. Delilah Montoya, El Sagrado Corazón / The Sacred Heart; Without Innocence, How Can There Be Wisdom?, collotype print, 25.4 x 20.3 cm, 1993. Courtesy of the artist. 25. Delilah Montoya, El Sagrado Corazón / The Sacred Heart; La Malinche, collotype print, 25.4 x 20.3 cm, 1993. Courtesy of the artist. 26. Delilah Montoya, El Sagrado Corazón / The Sacred Heart; La Genizara, collotype print, 25.4 x 20.3 cm, 1993. Courtesy of the artist. 27. Delilah Montoya, El Sagrado Corazón / The Sacred Heart; El Aborto: In Homage to Frida, collotype print, 25.4 x 20.3 cm, 1993. Courtesy of the artist. 28. Delilah Montoya, El Sagrado Corazón / The Sacred Heart; Rudolfo, collotype print, 25.4 x 20.3 cm, 1993. Courtesy of the artist. 29. Delilah Montoya, El Sagrado Corazón / The Sacred Heart; La Loca & Sweetie, collotype print, 25.4 x 20.3 cm, 1993. Courtesy of the artist. 30. Delilah Montoya, El Sagrado Corazón / The Sacred Heart; El Grito de la Gitana, collotype print, 25.4 x 20.3 cm, 1993. Courtesy of the artist. 31. Delilah Montoya, El Sagrado Corazón / The Sacred Heart; Mom’s Angels, collotype print, 25.4 x 20.3 cm, 1993. Courtesy of the artist. 32. Delilah Montoya, El Sagrado Corazón / The Sacred Heart; Madonna and Child, collotype print, 25.4 x 20.3 cm, 1993. Courtesy of the artist. 33. Delilah Montoya, El Sagrado Corazón / The Sacred Heart; El Corazón de Maria, collotype print, 25.4 x 20.3 cm, 1993. Courtesy of the artist. 34. Delilah Montoya, El Sagrado Corazón / The Sacred Heart; Curanderisma, collotype print, 25.4 x 20.3 cm, 1993. Courtesy of the artist. 35. Delilah Montoya, El Sagrado Corazón / The Sacred Heart; El Misterio Triste, collotype print, 25.4 x 20.3 cm, 1993. Courtesy of the artist. 36. Delilah Montoya, El Sagrado Corazón / The Sacred Heart; El Misterio Triste Suéltame, collotype print, 25.4 x 20.3 cm, 1993. Courtesy of the artist. 37. Delilah Montoya, El Sagrado Corazón / The Sacred Heart; cover, collotype print, 25.4 x 20.3 cm, 1993. Courtesy of the artist. 38. Delilah Montoya, El Sagrado Corazón / The Sacred Heart; La Familia, collotype print, 25.4 x 20.3 cm, 1993. Courtesy of the artist. 39. Delilah Montoya, El Sagrado Corazón / The Sacred Heart; Jesús, collotype print, 25.4 x 20.3 cm, 1993. Courtesy of the artist. 40. Delilah Montoya, El Sagrado Corazón / The Sacred Heart; God’s Gift, collotype print, 25.4 x 20.3 cm, 1993. Courtesy of the artist. v 41. Delilah Montoya, El Sagrado Corazón / The Sacred Heart; Los Jóvenes, collotype print, 25.4 x 20.3 cm, 1993. Courtesy of the artist. 42. Delilah Montoya, El Sagrado Corazón / The Sacred Heart; El Matachín/Moro, collotype print, 25.4 x 20.3 cm, 1993. Courtesy of the artist. 43. Delilah Montoya, El Sagrado Corazón / The Sacred Heart; La Muerte y Infinity, collotype print, 25.4 x 20.3 cm, 1993. Courtesy of the artist. 44. Celia Álvarez Muñoz, If Walls Could Speak / Si Las Paredes Hablaran; page 1, Embassy Hotel & Auditorium, circa 1915. The Power of Place Project. Arligton, Texas: Enlightenment Press, 1991. From the original. Courtesy of the artist. 45. Laura Aguilar, Nature Self-Portrait #4, gelatin silver print, 40.6 x 50.8 cm, 1996. Exhibition catalogue El jo divers. Barcelona, Spain: Fundació “la Caixa,” 1998. 46. Laura Aguilar, Nature Self-Portrait #11, gelatin silver print, 40.6 x 50.8 cm, 1996. Exhibition catalogue El jo divers. Barcelona, Spain: Fundació “la Caixa,” 1998. 47. Laura Aguilar, In Sandy’s Room, gelatin silver print, 35.6 x 45.7 cm, 1989. Courtesy of the artist. 48. Laura Aguilar, Center #79, gelatin silver print, 22.9 x 30.5 cm, 2000. Courtesy of the artist. 49. Laura Aguilar, Center #80, gelatin silver print, 22.9 x 30.5 cm, 2000.