Spaces of spirituality : feminist cultural productions via the Virgin of Guadalupe

La Virgen de Guadalupe, or The Virgin of Guadalupe is a well-known figure all over the world, but she primarily resonates within Hispanic communities, especially in Mexican-American communities. Her image can be found in most households whether it be on a candle, or in a picture frame, or even in a concrete statue in the yard. Despite her prominence as a religious figure, her image is more complex than religion, as for many women her influence reaches deeper than religion. Specifically, Chicana feminists often refer to her as a symbol of an empowered woman; which differs from her original religious reading as someone who is passive and quiet. Chicana feminists over the years have utilized her image in their organizing and transformed her image, especially Chicana feminist artists such as Ester Hernandez, alter her original image into feminist pieces of artwork. Ester Hernández’s three artwork pieces entitled: “La Ofrenda,” “La Virgen de las Calles,” and “WANTED” all explores various topics such as intimacy, gender, sexuality, indigeneity, and agency among other issues impacting Mexican communities. Ester Hernández’s works of La Virgen de Guadalupe are often considered to be Chicana Feminist art, yet, the re-production of these images in real and digital spaces produces Latinx spirituality; a space of solidarity and collective memory.Women's and Gender Studie