Live Posts- Elena Orlando

Post 1.
As mentioned in the opening of Ofrendas for the Future, this theme feels extremely urgent in the context of the state and interpersonal violence against BIPOC. Coming together in solidarity, even online, is essential to collective well-being, resilience and honoring the lives of those lost in the constant cycles that perpetuate the violence of white supremacy and colonization. Opening this gathering with Giavonna White, a performer who uses dance to connect to her ancestral roots, connects to the resilience inherent to art-making processes that we have discussed throughout the quarter. Watching White’s dance and the shirt she wore while performing which stated “Black Healing Matters,” felt so urgent and moving.

Post 2.
Hearing Ofelia and Rosanna Esparza speak through the altars they have built together was such an honor. I was blown away by the “walking altars” and the way in which the Esparzas honored their ancestors in a way that directly connected the lives of their family members to their present-day well-being and the well-being of their descendants in the future. The walking altar that Rosanna Esparza designed honored nopales and the way in which her grandmother transplanted and brought dirt to LA. I loved this message and respect the fact that Ofelia dedicates the majority of her altars to women. Ofrendas as a “bridge from one generation to another” and a “portal to our loved ones” speaks to how we can build futures in which love and healing are centered.