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Medici Mondays: Vanessa Saavedra

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Sunday, November 24, 2024
College of Fine Arts, School of Art

Vanessa Saavedra completed her border-themed painting, Cruzando Al Otro Lado, thanks to support from the College of Fine Arts Medici Circle.

Born in Jalisco, Mexico and growing up in Nogales, Saavedra, a third-year MFA candidate, experienced firsthand the border and how it shaped her identity. Cruzando Al Otro Lado is an exploration of the symbolism behind waiting lines at the Mexico-U.S. border.

“Through acrylic paintings based on photographic documentation, I depict the emotional and cultural dimensions of waiting in these lines,” she said. “I aim to highlight the deep complexities of migration and cultural intersection, transforming something as mundane as a line into a reflection of border life.” 

Vanessa Saavedra (left). The artist working on the painting, Cruzando Al Otro Lado.

Students: Become a Medici Scholar. | Supporters: Join the Medici Circle.

Throughout history, painting has been used to depict tradition, the significant, and the sacred. 

“With Cruzando Al Otro Lado, I want to bring the mundane and contemporary aspects of the border experience to the forefront. By portraying the waiting lines at border crossings, I aim to map the everyday moments that often go unnoticed but carry profound meaning in the lives of those who live along the border.” 

The support from the Medici Circle provided Vanessa the time for documentation. 

“This project allowed me to dedicate time for in-depth exploration of the culture surrounding the borderland.” 

Students: Become a Medici Scholar. | Supporters: Join the Medici Circle.

A gallery image from her October solo exhibition, “Realidades Fronterizas,” featuring the work of Vanessa Saavedra that examines and reflects on the complex realities of life at the U.S.-Mexico border.

Medici Circle Appreciation

“I would like to sincerely thank Robyn Kessler and Jeff Timan for their incredible generosity in supporting my work. Their trust in my project has made it possible for me to develop Cruzando Al Otro Lado and explore the complexity of border life through art.”

Medici Circle support allows talented artists and scholars like Vanessa to pursue an educational summer project beyond the classroom. 

Previously on “Medici Mondays”