The El Paso Museum of Art (EPMA) filled with chatter and friendly faces as the debut of their new exhibits “Tom Lea and Contemporaries” and “Judithe Hernández: Beyond Myself, Somewhere, I Wait for My Arrival” brought in a crowd of art enthusiasts.
Tom Lea was a native El Pasoan and his landscape pieces capture the beauty of the El Paso region in pieces such as Rio Grande, 1954 which depicts the cloudy desert sky, cacti and other desert vegetation and sandy hills.
Mia Malones, a passing viewer and a former employee of the Tom Lea Institute was one of the many attendees at the event.
“[Tom Lea] is for the region, by the region,” Malones said. “He put El Paso on the map and his art speaks for all of us.”
Lea’s work casts a sense of familiarity to people like Malones. Lea sheds light on El Paso landscapes in a way that speaks to natives and lovers of the region that may not be as green or colorful as other parts of the world.
“This speaks to El Pasoans,” Malones said. “This speaks to northern Mexicans, this speaks to people of the southwest, and that’s important.”
As one strolls down through the “Tom Lea and Contemporaries” exhibit, they will soon find themselves transported into the world of Judithe Hernández’s vision.
Hernández is a native to the Chicano art movement, with her portraits and paintings in this exhibit depicting a change in narratives. Her art rewrites history as women become the main characters. She touches on topics such as femicide, coming of age and general critiques of patriarchy.
Deborah Padilla, an art collector, has been connected to Judithe Hernandez personally through the Los Angeles Chicano art community and has a deep appreciation for her work.
“[El Paso] deserves to see more work like [Judithe Hernández’s]. Chicano art is not just about lifting your fist up. [Chicano] art is that, but it’s also this,” Padilla said as she scans the room. “There’s room for all of it.”
Hernández’s exhibit is a bold representation of Mexican women. Padilla said Hernandez’s work is almost dream-like and something one doesn’t see in most Chicana artists.
Hernandez’s messages struck hearts in series like “Reimagining Eve” which surreally depicts, biblical figure, Eve as a luchadora and is meant to add a complexity of Eve and challenge society’s views on female desire.
“It’s very dreamlike, it’s very surreal, it’s very magical. I think [her art] is hauntingly beautiful,” Padilla said.
The El Paso Museum of Art Director Edward Hayes expresses the connection between both exhibits–despite having different styles and telling different narratives.
“We see how artists represent the landscape, represent their cultural narratives, represent their people and essentially the spirit of where they come from,” Hayes said. “I think [both artists] are interested in representing a sense of place within their work.”
“Tom Lea and Contemporaries” and “Judithe Hernández: Beyond Myself, Somewhere, I Wait for My Arrival” are ongoing exhibits on the second floor of the El Paso Museum of Art giving El Pasoans until April 20 to view Judithe Hernández’s work.
Jesie Garcia is a staff reporter and may be reached at [email protected] or on Instagram @empanaditawrites.
