Print of Performance 18” x 24”

Artist Biography : Visual and Performance Artist Daughter of Roma mother and Mexican father, raised in Ciudad Juarez, border-crosser, traveler, visual and performance artist, Laila Lupita Espinoza is a graduate of California College of the Arts, BFA in Community Arts and UC Berkeley, MA in Performance Studies. Her work is rooted in Indigenous world-views and practices spanning in the areas of painting, drawing, writing, sculpture, costume, dancing, performance, community work and teaching.

Artist Inspiration : When the lock-down began as a result of COVID-19 I remember that my most immediate concern was about the women who would now be trapped inside their houses with abusive partners. Soon enough after shelter in place the news started reporting a rising of at least 20% in cases of domestic violence. Hearing this news did not surprise me, sadly, I expected it, and not only that, I know that the percentage is much higher because there are many women (and children) who never speak on the violence they suffer inside their own homes for fear of even worse repercussions. In my research on the subject of gender based violence I came across an article in video format in the BBC News online titled “Stopping lockdown domestic abuse on my street”( June 12, 2020). I was very impacted by the support groups that women all over the world have been organizing in order to help those women and children who are trapped inside homes with their aggressor. I think a lot about the women and girls of Ciudad Juarez (and elsewhere) who are not safe in the streets because of the continued atrocious feminicide and who are at the same time trapped inside their homes being victimized during this pandemic. I recently completed my Master’s in Performance Studies from UC Berkeley remotely while being here in El Paso and decided to write my thesis on the subject of the feminicide in Juarez and the artistic-activitist movements that have been protesting for the past 27 years. I have also made paintings about the subject.

"Be An Active Witness" is a print of a performance in which I wear a Huipil in protest of the feminicide in Ciudad Juarez and through which I call for all of us to pay attention and be active witnesses to issues of gender based violence (outside and inside the home).

Contact the artist at laila_espinoza@berkeley.edu