Los Angeles: Honoring the Stories of LA's Undocumented Indigenous Women

Los Angeles is home to several Indigenous communities, including people from Mexico and Guatemala, an

Apr 21, 2021 • View in browser

Los Angeles is home to several Indigenous communities, including people from Mexico and Guatemala, and yet most of them remain unknown. Matt Stromberg dives into a gorgeous new book that introduces 21 undocumented women who are indigenous to these regions, as we read about their favorite recipes and the symbolic colors of their brilliant clothing. Published by Cielo (Comunidades Indígenas en Liderazgo) — a nonprofit supporting Indigenous communities in LA — the book is titled Diža’ No’ole, which translated from Zapotec means “Word Woman.” June Canedo de Souza has sensitively photographed the women, who don’t reveal their faces to protect their identities. A plus: all proceeds from sales of the book will go directly toward these women. In news, Deborah Vankin over at the Los Angeles Times reports that two senior MOCA staff members quit. For years, the museum has been faced with criticisms of a hostile work environment. MOCA claims it will be restructuring, but many are understandably skeptical. Also, Allison Conner reviews Brenna Youngblood’s latest abstractions, which Conner writes would “make Piet Mondrian yelp,” and a Lygia Pape show opens this weekend at Hauser & Wirth. For an introduction to Pape’s work, here’s a piece I wrote about her Met Breuer survey in 2017. The Hauser & Wirth exhibition will be spotlighting her interest in Brazilian Indigenous traditions.– Elisa Wouk Almino, Senior Editor

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Honoring the Stories of Undocumented Indigenous Women in Los Angeles Diža’ No’ole walks a line between revealing and concealing, respecting the women’s decision to keep some things hidden. Matt Stromberg

SPONSORED Celebrate Earth Day at the National Museum of the American Indian’s Living Earth Festival The online festival explores sustainability and innovation in Indigenous agriculture with Native American films, business representatives, and youth leaders.

Brenna Youngblood Revises the Language of Abstraction Youngblood’s paintings would probably make Piet Mondrian yelp. Allison Conner

Closing Soon

Ben Sakoguchi, "Chinatown" (2014) (panel detail) (photo by Jan Sakoguchi, image courtesy the artist and Bel Ami, Los Angeles)

Ben Sakoguchi: Chinatown through April 24 at Bel Ami Leon Kossoff: Drawn From Revelry through April 30 online at LA Louver The Billboard Creative through April 30 at public sites across Los Angeles John Waters: Hollywood’s Greatest Hits through May 1 at Sprüth Magers Khari Johnson-Ricks: Feel Me? through May 1 at Night Gallery Sula Bermúdez-Silverman: Neither Fish, Flesh, nor Fowl through May 2 at California African American Museum Ameh Egwuh: Life After Life through May 8 at Rele Gallery New Iconography: Artists Raising Children through May 8 at the Landing Stanley Whitney: How Black is That Blue through May 8 at Matthew Marks Gallery

On View in LA Museums

Sula Bermúdez-Silverman: Neither Fish, Flesh, nor Fowl through May 2 at California African American Museum Yoshitomo Nara through July 5 at LACMA Made in LA through August 1 at the Hammer Museum Paul Pescador: PSA currently open at Institute of Contemporary Art, Los Angeles afroLAtinidad: mi casa, my city on view indefinitely at LA Plaza de Cultura y Artes

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