Changarrito Residency: Bella

About the Artist

I grew up in Austin, Texas, surrounded by many different expressions of art. I took my first printmaking class during my freshman year of high school and it has grown into full passion. I want to continue to pursue printmaking and art in college. I applied to a couple art schools and so far got accepted into Savannah College of Art and Design. I felt a disconnect from my Mexican roots growing up but I became more united with my heritage and culture during my journey through high school. Especially this year, during my senior year of high school, I wanted to express the beauty and comfort I found in my roots by dedicating my AP 2D Design portfolio to Mexican roots and culture in Texas. With in the past couple of years I have become more active in activism and some of my newer pieces express that. I want to continue to complete more pieces like those. My first time in an exhibit will be at MAS Cultura Fest 2022, it will feature my pieces “La Dama” and “The Chicano Movement in Texas”. Those pieces also will be included in issue four of Bluekeys magazine, a small Austin publication.

Artist Statement

Recently, my art work has become dedicated to help me express and explore my identity as a Tejana and Chicana. My work centers around unique cultural aspects like Lotería cards and Mal De Ojo while also discussing social issues that have impacted the Latino community such as gentrification. My pieces: “La Dama”, “The Chicano Movement in Texas”, and “The Shadow of Gentrification” takes the viewer on a journey through the creativity, courage, and perseverance of the Latino community. All three pieces have a maximalist quality to them; they each make their own statement without saying too much. As soon as one element or statement is realized you discover another piece to the puzzle. Additionally, all the pieces include an aspect of Texas. “La Dama” incorporates a photo of my friend Grace Sorensen, a Mexican- American RnB singer from Austin, Texas. “The Chicano Movement in Texas” takes historical photos from events that happened in Texas to tell a story of a social movement for equal rights. “The Shadow of Gentrification” uses a reference from a Latino owned business in Austin, Texas to illustrate the ongoing struggle of displacement due to gentrification. Each piece involves Texas but the larger theme can be relatable to a wide variety of people. After creating these pieces, I feel more connected to my identity as a whole, I feel complete. I wish to create more pieces with political relevance because I am more comfortable in my ability to express my thoughts through art rather than words. For future works, I would like to interview different Latinos and create works based off their experiences. I would also like to continue works like “La Dama” and create a series to include different artists. Overall, I want the viewers of my work to reflect more deeply on the experiences of others in order to become more mindful.

Changarrito Cart – June 17-18 & 24-25

Artists have the opportunity to sell their art on the Changarrito cart in front of the Museum (or an offsite location, as representative for the Museum during various Austin festivals). Changarreando expands the reach of the artist by presenting their gallery online, while allowing the option to sell merch over Instagram and receive 100% of the sale.

Bella Álvarez featured their artwork on the Changarrito cart outside the Museum’s entrance on June 17-18 and June 24-25, 2023.

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