Patricia (Tichacoco) Chevez
+ Enlarge
AMNLAE 1983
2020
AMNLAE 1983, video
2020
Transcripted and translated video
Solidarity speech by representative of AMNLAE the day of
the assasination of Melida Anaya Montes
May 17, 1929 - April 6, 1983.
Al heroico pueblo Salvadoreño
To the heroic Salvadoran public
Y su vanguardia
And its vanguard
El FMLN
Al pueblo de Nicaragua y el mundo
To the Nicaraguan public and the world
Desde la asociación de mujeres Nicaragüense Luisa Amanda Espinoza
From the association of Nicaraguan women Luisa Amanda Espinosa
Hermanos.
Brothers.
Llenas de dolor, indignación, y coraje
Full of pain, outrage, and anger
Las mujeres Nicaragüenses acusamos al imperialismo
Norte Americano del atroco asesinato cometido por la CIA
Nicaraguan women accuse North American imperialism
of the atrocious murder committed by the CIA
En la persona en, nostra hermana la compañera Melida Anaya Montes:
comandante y guerrillera Ana Maria.
Of the person, our sister, our companion Melida Anaya Montes:
Commander and guerilla Ana Maria.
Denunciamos ante el mundo
We denounce before the world
Que este hecho es una prueba más del plan terrorista de Reagan
That this act is yet more proof of Reagan's terrorist plan
Para racionalizar la guerra en Centro America
To rationalize the war on Central America
Y ratificamos ante nuestro pueblo y el hermano pueblo Salvadoreño
And we ratify before our people and our brothers the Salvadoran people
Nuestro compromiso de lucha inclaudicable
Our commitment to unwavering struggle
Por conquistar la paz en Centro America- a cualquier costo
To conquer peace in Central America- at whatever cost.
Ayer, fue Maria Elena defensora de los derechos humanos
Yesterday it was Maria Elena, defender of human rights
Cuyo único crimen fue sentir en lo mas profundo
Her only crime being feeling profoundly
el sufrimiento de su pueblo
the suffering of her people
y levantar valientemente las banderas de la paz y la libertad
and bravely raising the flags of peace and liberty
Hoy, es la comandante Ana Maria
Today, it is commander Ana Maria
Maestra. Tuya habla de clases se transformó a un pueblo entero
Teacher. She spoke of class and transformed an entire community
Mujer. Que rompiendo con sus estaturas históricas
Woman. Who broke away from her historical statures
supo vencer su problemática como mujer
knew how to defeat her problems as a woman
y ponerse al frente de la reivindicación de su pueblo
and put herself at the forefront of the vindication of her people
Combatiente.
Fighter.
Que por su capacidad y entrega alcanzó
That for her capacity and delivery reached
el honroso cargo de miembro de la comandancia general
the honorable position of member of the general command
del Frente Farabundo Marti para la Liberación Nacional
of the Farabundo Marti front for national liberacion
Que pretende la CIA con su muerte?
What did the CIA intend with her death?
Meternos en miedo los Nicaragüenses?
Instill fear in Nicaraguans?
Cortar el avance del movimiento revolucionario Salvadoreño?
Cut short the advances of the Salvadoran revolutionary movement?
Que inevitablemente alcanzará la victoria.
That will inevitably reach victory.
Que pretende los imperialistas?
What do imperialists intend with?
enseyandose cobardamente con las mujeres diligentes
rehearsing cowardly with diligent women
Si creen que la muerte nos acobarda - se equivocan.
If they think that death frightens us- they are mistaken.
Hemos aprendido a salir más fortalecidos de cada golpe.
We have learned to leave strengthened after each hit.
Y por cada combatiente que caye
And for each fighter that falls
son miles de brazos de hombres y mujeres concientes
there are thousands of arms of men and women conscious
los que se alcan a levantar la bandera de los hermanos caídos
those who raise themselves to lift the flag of our fallen brothers
dispuestos a seguir su ejemplo.
determined to follow their example
Ana Maria.
como digna representante de la mujer Salvadoreña
like a dignified representation of the Salvadoran women
es también ejemplo pa la mujer Nicaragüense
She is too is a worthy model for the Nicaraguan women
como la han sido Lucida y Teresa Villatoro
like Lucida and Teresa Villatoro have been
Nosotras desde nostras trincheras juramos que no pasarán
We from our trenches swear they will not pass
con la convicción que daba confianza
with the conviction that gave confidence
en la fuerza indestructible de un pueblo
in the indestructible strength of a community
dispuesto a cualquier sacrificio para alcanzar la victoria.
determined to make whatever sacrifice to achieve victory.
Que es la decisión de nuestro pueblo
It is the decision of our people
En la lucha contra el invasor yankee somocista
In the struggle against the invader Yankee somocist(a)
que es la decisión del pueblo Salvadoreño
It is the decision of the Salvadoran people
de liberarse de la dictadura -----
to liberate themselves from dictatorship
Por lo tanto, las mujeres Nicaragüense reiteramos
Thus, we Nicaraguan women reiterate
nuestro apoyo solidario al pueblo Salvadoreño
Our support in solidarity to the Salvadoran people
que luchan por su liberación nacional.
who fight for their national freedom.
¡Revolución o muerte! ¡El Salvador vencerá!
Revolution or death! El Salvador will overcome!
Te encontraras en el cuerpo de alguien mas.
Esta mujer te ha prestado sus ojos
Para que veas.
Estas rodeada de family y desconocidos.
Recuerda que fisicamente no estas presente.
Pasa tu tia
Una mujer mucho mas mayor que la ultima vez que la viste.
Se te asoma tu padre
Un hombre ya Viejo y seco
Chaparro y ciego.
Te toca el hombro.
Confundido y triste.
y comienca a a llorar.
Mamita. Mami. Mami.mami.
Pega su cara a tu hombre.
Sientes sus lagrimas.
Mami. Mami. Mamita. Mami.
“esa no es tu madre, vos. Ella ya se fue.”
Dice tu tia.
Se lleva a tu padre.
Triste y confundido.
Ciego.
Nunca asiento que estabas alli.
You will find yourself in someone else’s body
This woman has let you borrow her eyes
So that you can see.
You are surrounded by family and strangers.
Remember that you are not physically present.
Your aunt passes by
A woman now much older from the last time you saw her.
Your father gets near you
A man now old and skinny
Short and blind.
He touches your shoulder.
Confused and sad.
He begins to cry.
Mother, mother, mother, mother.
He lays his face on your shoulder.
You feel his tears.
Mother, mother, mother, mother.
“That is not your mother. She has already left.”
Said your aunt.
She takes your father.
Sad and confused.
Blind.
He never felt that you were there.
Beloved; Manifestation of Love
2020
Video Performance; gifted wedding dress, pine, feathers, plastic, beads, organza, glass
Cariñito amado,
ángel adorado
tu perdón.
jamás,
abra quien separe
mi amor de tu amor.
¿Por qué?
adorarte ansió
mi amor pide tu perdón.
tu sabes que te quiero
con todo el corazón.
mi única ilusión, mi única ilusión.
mis angustias.
mi pobre corazón .
Beloved darling,
adored angel,
your forgiveness.
never.
will there be someone to separate
your love from mine.
Why?
to adore you I long for
my love asks for your forgiveness.
you know that I love you
with all of my heart.
my only illusion, my only illusion.
my anguish.
my poor heart.
Difunto, Abuelito sound piece
+ Enlarge
Difunto, Abuelito 01
2020
Difunto, Abuelito Poem, cabinet frame, dyed woven textile, fabric stiffener, paper, feathers, paint, wood.
+ Enlarge
Difunto, Abuelito 02
2020
Difunto, Abuelito Poem, cabinet frame, dyed woven textile, fabric stiffener, paper, feathers, paint, wood.
Warm.
almost burning but not quite yet
Sun
that kisses my skin.
Swarming hummingbirds
dashes of vibrant color, peculiar gentle eyes
one is irrelevant to them.
Ornate ceramic and dirt floors.
Aluminum roof tops
the house becomes an instrument when it rains.
The floors become a stage.
Chimbolos and soap in the river.
Orange and teal walls.
Deep green air.
I imagine the walking trees.
Street vendors and jocotes.
Soda in a bag.
Voseo and chambre.
Prayer and sins.
Guns and corn.
Loud and quiet.
Beautiful and terrifying.
That lonely brown mountain, she has a presence…
Somber and loving.
I want to live in a world where you are still alive
and do not have to fear for your life.
I miss you very much.
I know you watch over me.
You whisper secrets to me.
You’ve been teaching me to look closer
And longer.
I try to bring you back to life
filling your words with my voice
A disconnected and displaced breath.
I don't remember your songs.
But I remember their sound
Their touch.
Not much has changed
but the pueblo has grown.
And so has the enemy.
I am teaching myself to dream again.
So I think of my homes.
Though distanced
they are sister states.
Both must fall.
They must fall because they keep me away from you.
I find your words to fill with my voice
Because I need them to last a little longer.
Until they find more voices.
To create an echo.
A sound bath.
Destroying our ills.
Watering our needs.
Setting us free.
Each day bringing a small part of you back to me.
+ Enlarge
Mi Nombre Aquel by LIL MILAGRO RAMÍREZ poem
tran
poem
Mi Nombre Aquel by LIL MILAGRO RAMÍREZ portrait
2020
Lil Milagro Ramírez–poet and founder member of the Resistencia Nacional–was born in San Salvador in April 1946. An avid reader and writer, she was recognised–at age nineteen–as El Salvador’s “youngest female poet.” She completed a law degree at the University of El Salvador but, appalled by the hypocrisy of the legal system in her country, decided not to practice, instead joining a nascent revolutionary group in 1970.
Although the civil war didn’t officially begin until 1980, the decades before were marked by increasing violence. Prior attempts to oust a string of military dictators and introduce social reforms had only fostered corruption and electoral fraud. Protest, as throughout the history of El Salvador, was met by political repression. By 1971, Ramírez was living a completely underground existence.
For a time, Ramírez struggled with the idea of continuing to write:
“Many consider it impossible to balance being a revolutionary fighter with being a writer and poet. I went through that phase too, feeling considerable guilt when I was only writing. At such times, yes, I think you should give up the pen and take up the gun in defence of freedom. But once you’re on the right track, sure of your role and fulfilling what you believe to be your duty, then it is possible and valid to spend your free time writing poetry.”
The poems in this selection were written around 1972. Ramírez was aiming to produce a collection and had completed about forty poems. Of those forty, less than half survive, the ones she had managed to copy out and send to her mother ‘in some disarray’. The poems were published posthumously by Cuadernos Universitarios, Universidad de El Salvador, in 2002.
Ramírez was captured in 1976. She spent three years in brutal conditions in a clandestine jail, before her death at the hands of the Salvadoran National Guard in October 1979. According to those who were held alongside her, and survived, she continued to be a source of inspiration even in the harshest of circumstances, developing a form of Morse code so she could communicate with other detainees and reciting poems from memory to instill courage and hope.
Statement
Somber but Loving
is a time bending space where dreams, history, memory, and wishes coexist. Where dream orators, ancestors, and other worldly creatures share their love, pain, and concerns about our loved ones and our future. My personal narrative functions as the site where all things meet. The diaspora has inherited trauma and responsibility having to do with recent violence and ongoing genocide happening both within and outside the colonial borders of our home. My hope is to instigate a questioning of Salvadoran identity, reality, and the unknown.
Somber but loving [italicize title] consist of sculptures, images, poetry, and sound. Sound is the seductive hand of the work being made up of personal prose, experimental sound, orated works of radical Salvadoran women, communal wisdom, and recorded speeches. My sculptures I think of as otherworldly beings made up of ordinary material.
They are from beyond summoning you to be still and listen.
Interdisciplinary Sculpture (BFA) Students
David Correa - not exhibiting
Gabriel Jacobs - not exhibiting