Red Butterfly: The evolution of art and an activist
- Oct 19, 2017
- 2 min read
La Mariposa Roja: A conversation with Xiomara Giordano
Puerto Rican. New Yorker. Womanist. Artist. Creative. Activist.
There's a theme we are beginning to see with those in our community/ those that have courageously volunteered to embark on this podcast experiment with us. And that my friends, is humility. Like Sophia, Xiomara describes her work, her life and her activism with a grounded and humble "I am not the end all, be all" outlook. She credits the generations before her for creating the platform on which she grounds her activism, artistry and politics. Xio is a storyteller of many forms. She weaves narratives with her exhibits like the ones below.
[The piece above is titled: "Lo que corre por mis venas..." (What runs through my veins)
She describes her process as one where the medium speaks to her. She listens to what it wants and they become together. A transformation of material into vision into form. Like the transformation of the mariposa, the evolution of the butterfly.
One of the things that stuck out most in our conversation with Xiomara was how she discussed her activism. It's so easy to assume that all activists are the leaders out front. But Xio reminded us that there is a place for all of us in the movement. Those that sustain the leaders by listening and providing a place for emotional processing. Those that provide the space for community building, reflection, planning. The movement requires all of us to contribute in ways that are not flashy and always out front. That reminder was a necessary grounding.
Her art is beautiful, visceral and speaks to who Xiomara is in the world. All inspiring.
If you are interested in commissioning a one of a kind piece (political or just fun), contact Xiomara at xiomarajgiordano@gmail.com. We hope to be able to sell her work on our site in the future, so be on the look out.
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