Cabeza Maya

"This painting from the Art Museum's collection, "Cabeza Maya", by artist Raul Anguiano, immediately makes me want to know what's her story. "Cabeza" is the Spanish word meaning "head". Coincidentally, when I look at this painting, I want to know what is she thinking? What's behind the downward gaze of her eyes and the solemn downturn of her mouth and firmness of her jawline? I really love that I can see the artist's brush strokes creating soft lines in her face that give her skin texture. I think those brush strokes demonstrate how every experience we have from youth to adulthood leaves a subtle mark that makes us who we are. The color highlights in her hair seem to be the sun's reflection of either a sunrise or sunset. Maybe through that gaze she is reflecting on the end of a long day or anticipating the unknown events of the new day ahead. As March is Women's History Month, this painting reminds me that every woman's story, whether captured and highlighted in books or written in her facial expression, is an important part of history/(her)story."

–Anita Huggins, Administrative Associate I, Art Museum