"Revolution and Resistance: A Conference on Chicana/o Art and Activism"
By Ferda Mehmet, student intern of CHASS College Computing

A three-day Conference on Chicana/o Art and Activism was held this February 6 to 8 at UCR. The goal of this conference was to bring together noted scholars, artists, and activists working at the intersections of art and activism. They aimed to explore the ways art and activism has historically functioned as necessary components in Chicana/o culture building.

The conference began with a workshop on Latino/a Literature and Culture, which was led by a team of Americanists from the Universidad Complutense de Madrid and joined by a team of discussants comprised of distinguished U.S. scholars. Editor of the critical volume Tropicalizations and winner of this year’s El Andar Premio Susana Chavez-Silverman presented a reading, and later a screening of a contemporary Lationa/o independent film with a discussion by the filmmaker was presented. Events for the second day included a group of noted Chicana/o writers reading from their latest works and a live performance by Chicano Secret Service. The final day of the conference was comprised of three panels that featured some of the most important voices in Chicana/o arts and letters. The discussions focused on visions of community building in Chicana/o theatre and performance, foundational organizations using art as a tool for social action, and youth culture. Along with the panels included a performance by UCR students as well as a closing reception featuring live music.

This conference was a unique opportunity for students because they were able to engage in discussions and conversations with artists, scholars, and activists. Associate Professor of English and Conference Organizer Tiffany Ana Lopez commented, “This is a rare opportunity for students to meet and speak with artists.”