November 18 - Happy Birthday, Ana Mendieta

nPosted on November 18, 2019

Key Points

nAna Mendieta, born on this date in 1948, lived a safe, middle-class life in Cuba. Her parents were pretty important people in Cuban society. But then Fidel Castro led a group to overthrow the government –

n– and that threw Mendieta’s life into chaos as well.

nAt age 12, Ana and her 15-year-old sister were sent to Iowa, in the United States, as political refugees (her father was in jail in Cuba for political reasons). They were sent from place to place, including reform school – but the sisters were able to stay together thanks to their parents sending them with power of attorney forms mandating that they not be separated.

When Mendieta was 18 years old, her mother and younger brother were finally able to join them in the U.S., and 13 years later her father was FINALLY released from jail and was able to join the family! Yikes!

nIn the meantime, Mendieta had learned English, discovered a love of art, earned a BA and MA in painting AND an MFA (Masters of Fine Arts) in intermedia (multiple art genres and media). She had moved to New York City.

nAna Mendieta was an artist: a painter, a sculptor, a video artist, and a performance artist. She made her art in the U.S., Mexico, Cuba, and Italy. Tragically, she died very young – at age 36 – we don’t know whether by accident, suicide, or murder.

In one of Mendieta’s art shows, a series of
photos of her putting on false facial hair
were hung at eye-level for six year olds.
The show was called “Ana Mendieta:
Thinking About Children’s Thinking.”