Celebrating la Mujer
Camarillo, Calif., March 6, 2017 — A noted Los Angeles artist poet and a host of prominent Chicana women will speak, teach and perform at a day-long event at CSU Channel Islands (CSUCI) on Wednesday, March 8.
Sponsored by the Chicana/o Studies, Spanish and Art program, “Celebrating la Mujer with Chicana Artist /Poet Vibiana Aparicio-Chamberlin” is meant to honor the power of expression for all women, especially Chicanas.
“We want to bring voice to women of color and be able to set an example for young women of color on this campus,” said co-organizer Veronica Valadez, a Lecturer in Chicano/a Studies. “We want to teach them to develop their voice and express themselves through art.”
The celebration, which will last from 9 a.m. to 3:30 p.m., will begin with a workshop led by Aparicio-Chamberlin in the John Spoor Broome Library Exhibition Hall, Room 1320.
From 9 to 11:30 a.m., Aparicio-Chamberlin will lead student, male and female. into a writing process designed to help them access memories from their mothers and grandmothers.
“I will do a reading, then I will involve the students in the writing process,” she said. “I will bring all of my Mexican herbs to inspire everyone to think about your grandmother or mother’s cooking.”
Vibiana Aparicio-Chamberlin has her own memories, which have inspired her to become an artist and writer herself.
She remembers nights growing up in East Los Angeles, crowding onto her mother’s bed with her four siblings, moonlight streaming through the window as her mother told stories passed down to her by her female ancestors.
Stories carrying a moral, said Aparicio-Chamberlin, like the tale of El Diablo Bailarín, “to teach the girls to be wary of any smooth stranger who approaches her on the dance floor, handsome and charming — beware! Because he could be the dancing devil.”
“The woman is pivotal in the family,” Aparicio-Chamberlin said. “The woman tells the family story. The woman carries the heritage by singing the songs and telling the stories. She would often say ‘Mija, we didn’t have TV, we didn’t have radio, so we told stories.’”
Aparicio-Chamberlin’s paintings will also be on display in the Exhibition Hall. One of the organizers, Assistant Professor of Spanish Margarita López López, said that "the exhibition will include an interactive wall or muro where students will post their creative expression in writing or drawings."
Another organizer, Art Lecturer Denise Lugo, said Aparicio-Chamberlin’s work was perfect for this event, as it exemplifies the life of a Chicana artist/activist. Aparicio-Chamberlin is a strong supporter of civil rights in general, especially when it comes to women of color.
The afternoon portion of the celebration will take place in the Central Mall around the Peace Pole, with a panel including: Valadez; López López; Lugo; Karina Belén Blas Rodriguez, Mexican Consul; Diane Velarde Hernandez of Con Safos Magazine; and Art Lecturer Anette Kubitza.
Valadez will lead the CSUCI Aztec dancers in a ceremonial performance, and Aparicio-Chamberlin will then encourage guests to participate in a “butterfly dance,” a performance meant to inspire Chicana souls and voices and to embrace the power of women.
Limited parking is available on campus with the purchase of a $6 daily permit; follow signs to the parking permit dispensers. Free parking is available at the Camarillo Metrolink Station/Lewis Road with bus service to and from the campus. Riders should board the CSUCI Vista Bus to the campus; the cash-only fare is $1.25 each way. Buses arrive and depart from the Camarillo Metrolink Station every 30 minutes from 7 a.m. to 10 p.m. Monday through Friday. For exact times, check the schedule at www.goventura.org.
# # #
About California State University Channel Islands
CSU Channel Islands(CI) is the only four-year, public university in Ventura County and is known for its interdisciplinary, multicultural and international perspectives, and its emphasis on experiential and service learning. CI’s strong academic programs focus on business, sciences, liberal studies, teaching credentials, and innovative master’s degrees. Students benefit from individual attention, up-to-date technology, and classroom instruction augmented by outstanding faculty research. CI has been designated by the U.S. Department of Education as a Hispanic-Serving Institution and is committed to serving students of all backgrounds from the region and beyond. Connect with and learn more by visiting CI's Social Media.