Letter from the Editor

LETTER FROM THE EDITOR BY ADRIANNE RAMSEY

In March 2020, a couple of days before COVID-19 lockdowns began in the U.S., I saw the first career survey of the extraordinary artist Luchita Hurtado (1920-2020) at LACMA. “I Live I Die I Will Be Reborn” featured eighty years worth of her paintings and works on paper, and was one of the best exhibitions that I've ever seen. Sadly, before her participation in the 2016 Made in L.A. Biennial at The Hammer Museum, Luchita’s career was virtually unknown and her works were in storage. The fact that this groundbreaking Latin American female artist received her first career survey at 99 years old – and she sadly passed away in August 2020 – is a perfect example of the exclusion of Latin American and Latinx artists in art institutions.

The rise of Donald Trump sparked heightened conversations about the experiences of Latin American people, particularly relating to mass migration, family separation, and citizenship. Immigration from Latin American countries has been a recurring and polarizing issue in the United States, but during the Trump administration we witnessed sweeping changes to our immigration and enforcement systems. While some of those changes were sharp disconnects from the previous Obama administration, others have roots and continuities with earlier administrations. But despite immigration having been a central part of public debate in contemporary politics and policy making, it is still debated as if it were ahistorical and decontextualized. And more importantly, why did it take the election of a malignant xenophobe to demand better representation and the inclusion of Latinx people in institutions?

Many Latinx artists have been investigating critical themes in their work that relate to deconstructing historical narratives and established definitions in regards to personal identity. Questions such as "How do federal, state, and local immigration policies and their linkages impact the livelihood of migrants, and what does that mean for the shaping of societal inequality?" and "How do we get rid of harmful stereotypes against Latin American and Latinx people when conservative media consistently contributes to the spread of hateful misinformation?" are being explored. In addition, art institutions desperately need to diversify their curatorial staffs and actually hire Latin American and Latinx people. Representation is vital and contributes to a more diversified programming and workspace.

GIRLS 11 features female-identifying Latin American curators and artists who center on Latinx thematics in their practices. Thank you to Ana, Lizania, Marcela, Leah, and Arleene for participating in this issue and reflecting upon what we can do to create a more equitable society, especially in the arts sector!