In a neon green room with pastel pink cabinets, the work of students and artists whoever crossed paths with Santa Barraza could be found. As she dusted off her office she reminisced on the work of her students and a smile would creep onto her face. While Barraza made a name for herself churning out art work, her biggest masterpiece might be the impact she had on her students.
A collector and advocate of the arts, Santa Barraza announcedher retirement after 35 years of service in higher education.
“The best part [of my career], was working with the students. I can relate to the students, being from South Texas, and having similar backgrounds. I understand them, and they are all truly great at what they do…but I’m ready to focus in producing spiritual art and in my studio,” Barraza said.
Barraza began her journey in higher education in a small private college in Pittsburgh, Penn., teaching graphic design and drawing courses. A couple of years later Barraza taught in the School of Visual Arts in Pennsylvania for five years and then transferred to the School of the Art Institute of Chicago where she taught for three years before moving back to her hometown, Kingsville.
Barraza fell in love with the arts after taking an art history class at Texas A&I University. At the time, Texas A&I University did not offer a degree in fine arts, and she transferred to the University of Texas at Austin where she earned her undergraduate degree.
In the early ’70s Barraza’s identity as a Mexican American became a focal point in her art. Soon after graduating, Barraza began exhibiting her art locally and was invited to join Los Quemados, an association of Chicano artists stemming out of San Antonio and Austin. Barraza left the organization and founded MAS (Mujeres Artistas del Suroeste) where her goal was to advocate for Chicano and Latinx women in the visual arts. In August 1985, Barraza found her place in higher education.
Her drive and determination to educate others about Mexican American art through her work led her to become a world-renowned artist and a pioneer of the Chicano art movement. Her art work has gained global recognition and in 2014 Barraza was awarded the Lifetime Achievement Award in Visual Arts from the Mexic-Arte Museum.
Some of her students have exceled in the world of art by providing opportunities for young artists, developing programsor through their own careers as national and international artists.
“Santa helped provide the support and guidance I needed to become the artist and educator that I am today… Her efforts have included great sacrifice, determination and generosity. Whether as an artist or a socially conscious cultural worker, Santa’s diligence and hard work throughout the years has focused on what she can bring to the world in order to make it better. The combination of these three elements is the underlining structure of an unshakable belief in the education and success of her students,” Dorotha Lameh, former student of Barraza and international artist, said.
Students credit Barraza with challenging them to move beyond boundaries and comfort zones and inspired them to pursue their own vision as artists and educators.
While at TAMUK, Barraza served as Chair of the Art Department, she advocated for the arts and emphasized the importance of networking in the world of art. She designed programs to collaborate with different universities and encouraged students to study abroad.
“I developed a study abroad program, and that was very exciting. We got to travel to Mexico, Europe and Germany. Traveling, giving opportunities to my students, and making a difference in their artistic world is one of the most rewarding things,” Barraza said.
Barraza will continue to impact the world of education throughthe work of her students. She now looks forward to her retirement by focusing in her art studio and creating spiritual art work.
“She’ll be solemnly missed by the university and her colleagues in higher education. I think she is going to do very well with her new gallery and being able work more fluidly in the art world as she’s wanted to for years,” Todd Lucas, Chair of Art, Communication and Theatre at TAMUK, said.
Her art studio is located in downtown Kingsville. She plans to feature spiritual art work and provide an avenue for artists to exhibit their vision.
The neon green office at the university now looks empty, but the persistence of storytelling still remains within her work as she continues to produce art for the community to enjoy.