Title
Codex of Emma Tenayucca
Creator
Description
From the Codex Series, the painting honors labor activist Emma Tenayuca (1916-1999), who organized pecan shellers, mostly Mexican American women of San Antonio, Texas. Their strike for better labor conditions and higher wages in 1938 was the first successful large-scale action of the community's struggle for justice. The artist used a black and white photograph to create the portrait, and she added a Toltec warrior's pectoral. The labor organizer emerges from the maguey which is rooted to the earth. Coyolxauhqui, the Aztec moon goddess, sits on a half-moon and holds a rabbit. Much of the imagery is appropriated from the codices, including hieroglyphs and iconography. The cut tree in the top right corner is the artist's icon for Aztlan. Acrylic on canvas. Dimensions: 54” x 55”
Subject
Date
Contributor
Image
https://artist-encuentro.elevator.umn.edu/fileManager/bestDerivativeByFileId/6882958c8fa6bbe06906e093
Identifier
SB_Codex_Emma_1993
Access Rights
© 1993, Santa C. Barraza. This image may not be reproduced for commercial purposes without the written consent of the artist. The image may be used for educational personal individual uses and with credit to the artist. Please contact the artist for commercial purposes, reproduction and/or publication: santa.b@santabarraza.com