Emma Hurring Reflection, Ofrendas For The Future

Emma Hurring's Reflection: Womxn Who Rock's 10th Anniversary virtual UnConference, Ofrendas For The Future, 1:00-3:00 pm.

We will celebrate together in a two-hour virtual gathering with National Endowment for the Arts Heritage Fellow, Ofelia Esparza  (Links to an external site.) (Links to an external site.)and other guests to reflect on the communal, on-line altar and honor resilience practices of people and groups from the past who help us envision and create a more free and just future. Please post your reflection in https://rockthearchive2020.blogspot.com/ (Links to an external site.)

You will write a 250 word blog post reflecting on your experience of the virtual “Ofrendas for the Future” event. Due Sunday, May 31, 2020 @ 11:59 pm via Canvas.

I really enjoyed the Womxn Who Rock's 10th Anniversary virtual UnConference. I was really inspired by Francisca Garcia, who stated that ofrendas were, "not only about remembering and passing down tradition, but a call to action". I was really moved by the overwhelming sense of importance attached to these ofrendas, and looking at different ways to call people to action and to help one another. Given the current political climate, Francisca's comment on using art and ofrendas to explore "injustices" really moved me. I thought about all of the ways that people were currently responding to the on-going injustices that were happening in the USA - it is interesting to me that some people choose ofrendas as their medium, whilst some take to protesting and others to fundraising; all are alternative choices and it interests me looking at which ones people choose. Furthermore, I loved the way that Rosanna Ahren spoke about the importance to her of being an activist in her work, which she described as a method to talk about and portray current social issues.

Additionally, another theme that ran throughout the event was the respect that the womxn had for on another. There was a continuous stream of praise, interest and encouragement of other womxn's work; Francisca Garcia spoke about how it had been an "honor" to view other womxn's work; I couldn't agree more. Often women are encouraged to tear each other down, and it was therefore really refreshing to hear womxn supporting other womxn.