In The Community
The dynamic new play is produced by the Black Latina Movement, an award-winning grassroots theater company and cultural group dedicated to advancing African and Latino cultures through storytelling and visual representation. The company provides a platform for diverse talent to showcase their artistry through a variety of creative projects, promote diversity in local communities, and create inclusive spaces.
The Black Latina Movement was founded by Jamaican-Puerto Rican Crystal Shaniece Roman in 2008. Roman is also the writer and director of the critically acclaimed “Of Mothers and Men.” Derived from the American classic written by John Steinbeck, “Of Mice and Men,” the play offers a unique perspective on women, their mothers, and their relationships with men.
“After creating The Black Latina Movement in 2008, I knew it was time for the world to see us for who we are and not the box they put us in. With all the social and economic issues we are facing in the world, I know that time is here. I want to help broaden the spectrum of hues the industry has and provide the further depth it so desperately needs,” Roman says in her Creator Statement.
“Through the medium of the arts, now more than ever we need to showcase the diversity of women and our multiplicities, especially those for women of color. As a Black Latina, my perspective may be unique but shares so many commonalities with many women of multicultural backgrounds,” Roman concluded.
Promotional image by “Of Mothers and Men” on Instagram
“Of Mothers and Men” is a monologue-driven play where each of the 9 vignettes offers a profound look into the significance of two of the most influential people in one’s life. Each monologue is delivered by a different character and their age and background color their perception, making each of their perspectives unique and nuanced. The play is not only female-created, it’s also female-funded and it boasts an all-female cast of Latina and African American women, including Roman herself.
“The lives of Black and Latino people are more than the pain and trauma that has been woven into the tapestry of our strength. We deserve to have more conversations about the dynamics of our healthy relationships, as well as more expressions of the complexities that exist within the arts,” said Roman in a recent press release. This is the core of “Of Mothers and Men” and it accomplishes those conversations beautifully.
What makes the play resonate with women across the board, but especially Latina, Afro-Latina, and African American women, is that each monologue is honest and raw, unraveling the joy and pain that stems from each character’s relationship with their mothers and the men in their lives.
Because each vignette offers a unique perspective, together they explore a wide spectrum of experiences, providing visibility and much-needed contrast while revealing cultural insights. Audiences may easily find at least one story they can directly relate to, and the ones they can’t relate to still provide eye-opening points of view, prompting them to think more deeply about their own dynamics and peel back the layers.
Promotional image by “Of Mothers and Men” on Instagram
First created in 2010, the play had its first off-Broadway run in 2012 and toured the Northeast. Over a decade later, “Of Mothers and Men” is coming back to the stage in New York City from May 7 to May 11 at the wild project in the East Village and it’s one of the Mother’s Day Week events you shouldn’t miss if you’re in the city.
You can get your tickets here and mark your calendar for a transformative experience.
Frida Kahlo
Photo by Guillermo Kahlo - Sotheby's on Wikimedia Commons
It’s impossible to discuss Latina artists and not start with Frida Kahlo. This Mexican painter has been recognized all over the world for her surreal and symbolic paintings. Rooted in her own life and complex inner world, Frida’s art tackles important themes like race, identity, gender, and postcolonialism. Latinos and people from all over the world, especially women, can find something to relate to within Frida’s paintings because they’re vulnerable, honest, and raw. “The Two Fridas” is only one example of that, and it resonates with Latinos living in the United States who experience duality in their identity.
Amelia Peláez
Courtesy of the National Museum of Fine Arts of Cuba
Amelia Peláez was born in Cuba, where she graduated from the “Academia Nacional de Bellas Artes de San Alejandro” in 1924. She went on to study art in New York and Paris as well, and she’s known as one of the most outstanding painters to come out of Cuba. Her tropical and colonial aesthetics stand out in her work, and she had a wonderful way of working with geometric shapes. Her paintings are defined by bold outlines and stained-glass aesthetics. “Fishes” is one of the best examples of that and the bright colors really jump out of the frame.
Carmen Herrera
Photo by Victor Laredo on WikiArt
Here we have another amazing Cuban painter born in Havana! Carmen Herrera is a minimalist artist who's been painting for over seven decades, but she only gained significant recognition when she was in her 90s. With her striking geometric paintings, she proved that simplicity can carry profound meanings. Her work, like the celebrated "Blanco y Verde" series, beautifully mirrors the balanced integration of her Cuban roots with her life in New York.
Beatriz González
Photo by Galeria Nouvelle on Wikimedia Commons
Beatriz González is a versatile artist from Colombia and she’s very well-known for her pop art style. She’s a painter, sculptor, illustrator, curator, historian, and art critic, and her work is exhibited in museums around the world, including Mexico, New York, Houston, and more. Her art is known for its bright colors, roughness, and awkward forms, and for exploring middle-class notions of ethnicity, gender, class, and taste. One of her most well-known pieces is “The Sisga Suicides” I, II, and III, inspired by a heartbreaking story the artist read about in the press.
Clara Ledesma
Courtesy of www.claraledesma.net
Clara Ledesma became a part of history as one of the first women to attend the National School of Fine Arts in Santo Domingo. She went on to become one of the most well-known Dominican painters and throughout her career, she played with a variety of styles. Including surrealism, abstraction, and expressionism. One thing about her paintings is that they’re brightly colored and fantastical, bursting with mysticism and magic. That’s why they can transport people into other realms. A great example of that is her popular painting, “Modernist figures with a peacock and other birds.”
Ana Mendieta
Photo by Ana Mendieta
Ana Mendieta, a Cuban-American performance artist, sculptor, and painter, used her body as a canvas to express themes of feminism, life, death, and spiritualism. Her "Silueta Series," where she molded her silhouette into outdoor landscapes, created a deeply visceral and moving connection between the body and the earth. This groundbreaking approach to art has left an indelible mark on the art world.
Leonora Carrington
Photo by © Lee Miller Archives
Photo by © Lee Miller Archives
Leonora Carrington was born in the United Kingdom, but she’s of Mexican descent and spent most of her adult years in Mexico City. She was a painter and novelist, known for her surrealist style. Her work is featured in museums all over the world and it stands out due to her grotesque imagery and dark humor. She’s also known for challenging repression within the surrealist movement and embracing nonhuman elements to blur the lines between human, animal, and machine in her paintings. One of her many well-known works is “The Giantess (The Guardian of the Egg),” which perfectly represents her style.
Doris Salcedo
Photo by David Heald - Solomon R. Guggenheim Foundation on Wikimedia Commons
Born and raised in Colombia, Doris Salcedo is known for her large-scale installations and sculptures that communicate powerful messages about the socio-political landscape. Salcedo’s work, such as her installation "Shibboleth," a large crack in the floor of the Tate Modern in London, addresses the themes of racism and colonialism. Her art, both provocative and impactful, continues to echo loudly in modern society.
Margarita Azurdia
Courtesy of awarewomenartists.com
Margarita Azurdia was a Guatemalan artist known for her abstract paintings and sculptures. She was also a poet and performance artist. Margarita was a master at blending geometric abstraction with native Guatemalan indigenous textile designs, which is how she paid homage to her country and cultural roots. She used bright, vibrant colors, and one of her most famous abstract paintings is “Pintura 1 (Painting 1).”
Tarsila do Amaral
Hailing from Brazil, Tarsila do Amaral is a significant figure in the Latin American modernist movement. Her work, like the iconic painting "Abaporu," combines elements of Cubism and Surrealism with a distinct Brazilian sensibility. She drew inspiration from indigenous art, creating pieces that were filled with local color, presenting Brazil's vibrant culture to the world.
Each of these phenomenal Latina artists revolutionized the art world in her own unique way. They serve as role models for us, demonstrating that our cultural heritage and personal experiences can be a source of strength and inspiration.
