MI Voz
MICHIGAN • Mayela Rodriguez
From the 2021-2022 We, Women nationwide exhibit.
About the project
MI Voz was intended to be a yearlong series of in-person cartonera workshops with Michigan’s Latinx community exploring the question, “What is my political power?” Participants would answer this question by compiling books of original and sampled materials, creatively engaging their own and others’ ideas of political power, social justice, and institutional reform.
Participants’ books would then be bound with cardboard covers, alluding to the tradition of Latin American cartoneras, a book form that makes publishing and distribution more accessible. But 2020, and the pandemic, had another plan. Despite the unexpected pivots and trajectory changes, MI Voz illustrates the power of reflection in times of adversity.
As you navigate your way through MI Voz, and the overall We, Women exhibition, take time to consider the adjustments you’ve made in your own life in response to this moment. How have you made sense of the pandemic? What’s the world you want to see on the other side of this?
More Resources:
EDUCATIONAL RESOURCES
Access the We, Women Education Resource Guide here, where you can dive more deeply into the 19 We, Women projects and think more deeply about collaboration and community!
About the Artist
Mayela Rodriguez is a social practice artist reimagining institutional critique as a collective, inclusive, and healing process for Latinx communities. By facilitating the production of community-made collections, Mayela seeks to remind participants of the inherent power of their creative voices in making change. Originally from California, Mayela is currently based in Michigan. Most recently, Mayela has worked on collaborative projects with Latinx communities in Ann Arbor, Michigan and New Cuyama, California.