Aztlan: Separating Myth From History

I have found one overriding theme in exhibition of the Road to Aztlan: Art from a Mythic Homeland. Did Aztlan, the mythological homeland of the Mexica, the indigenous people of Mexico and the American Southwest, exist? I believe Aztlan did exist, but to what terminus? How much of the myth is derived from diachronic events, and how much is exaggeration introduced through the oral traditions of the Mexica.

There is a theory among Ethnohistorians (Christensen 1997) that, in essence, states that ancient cultures did not make a straightforwardion between historical fact and myth. Since the cultures history is engraft within the myths of their oral traditions, one cannot discount the cultures myths outright, without discounting the historical facts as strong. Having said that, the question is not whether the existence of Aztlan is plausible, but the extent of the history that is embedded in the oral traditions of the Mexica.

The exhibit itself was well organized and thought out. The prowess was broken into three distinct time periods: Pre-Columbian art, Colonial art, and Modern art. The variety of artifacts on display was astonishing. There were many gorgeous pieces of pottery, stone statues, crude oil paintings, jewelry, and photography.



The layout of the exhibit was very linear and the building is designed so one would not get lost nor experience the artwork out of order.

My favorite artwork in the exhibit was rim Crossing with Haloes by Luis Jiménez. The painting is a grandiose prototype; an image that requires one take a few move away from it in order to luxurianty absorb its magnificence. The strong suit that Jiménez employed was the oilstick on stretched canvas. Jiménezs technique is what drew me in to this cross piece. The first layer of color was done in a renaissance style, wherein the oils are blended...

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