Jose Ortiz

Medusa Series
Year: 2007
Medium: Mixed media print on paper (Acrylic paint, silkscreen)
Dimensions: 22 " x 30"

Artist Statement:

This new body of work explores Matriarchs and their roles in my life
and the lives of a greater community. In particular I am looking at
the women in my life. Mothers, daughters, artists, social activists,
community leaders and connecting their beauty to those of past divine
women who have played the same role but been denied their proper
respect due to an opposing and male dominated modern society. I do not lay claim to knowing the source of their power but I am aware of their impact on me in particular, humanity in general. From my craft, I
humbly bring these elements to the surface paying homage to their
energy, complement of mine. 

This series looks back in time to present stories of matriarchs and mythological Goddesses in an effort to invite viewers to question"what is truth" and "what is manufactured" in the definition of
beauty; specially beauty and women. In modern interpretations of myths there is evident the work of males re-writing and re-casting strong women into "evil" figures which have served to restrict women from dreaming and creating in the world with their fully-realized selves.
My intention is to demystify the myths of these "bad" or "grotesque" women by focusing my series on six women, some more well-known than others, all significant figures: Medusa, Medea, Mary mother of Jesus, Meenakshi, Maat, and Mary Magdalene.