Changarrito with Suzy González

About the Artist

Suzy González is an artist, curator, writer, self-publisher, and organizer based in Yanaguana, aka San Antonio, TX. She has had solo exhibits at Spellerberg Projects, Presa House Gallery, Hello Studio, Palo Alto College, and two-person exhibits at Texas A&M University Corpus Christi and the University of Connecticut. She recently completed murals with Texas A&M-San Antonio, the City of Logan, UT, the City of Pasadena, TX, San Antonio Museum of Art, and Centro San Antonio. She has attended residencies at Vermont Studio Center (VT), the Trelex Residency (Peru), The Wassaic Residency (NY), Starry Night Residency (NM), the Studios at MASS MoCA (MA), and Hello Studio (TX). Suzy publishes Xicana Vegan zine, co-organizes the San Anto Zine Fest, and is a part of Dos Xicanx and Breathe Collective. She is currently the Writing Team Lead and Editorial Content Manager for the environmental and food justice collective, Veggie Mijas. She’s an alum of the NALAC Leadership Institute, the Intercultural Leadership Institute and the NYFA Immigrant Artist Mentoring Program. Suzy holds an MFA from the Rhode Island School of Design and a BFA from Texas State University.

Artist Statement

Through Xicanx veganism, I find interest in the decolonization of diet, or a desire to reclaim the pre-colonial plant-based nourishment of my ancestors through food and herbalism. I analyze what it means to decolonize art and to embrace the lessons that the earth has to teach us. Materials relate to parts of my identity, and I recognize when they mix or resist one another. The corn husks represent the skin of the figures, recalling Mesoamerican beliefs that our very beings are created from maíz. This material use works to dismantle folk and fine art hierarchies. I call these “mestiza media” works, reclaiming the “mestizo” colonial caste label. I define mestiza media as when materials originate from the region(s) of the artist’s ancestors. Accepting mixedness is also about embracing queerness and the fluid nature of identities that reject constructed binaries. My public artwork has included themes of celebrating contemporary artists and activists, histories of the land, native plants and animals, and concepts of love and solidarity. My work serves to work through my own intersections and to strive for intercultural conversations with folks outside of my identities. This, I hope, will open doors to compassion and healing in this world of destruction.

Changarrito Cart August 12, 25 & September 15, 22

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.

Suzy González featured her artwork on the Changarrito cart right outside the Museum’s entrance on August 12, 25 & September 15, 22, 2012.