Sandra Mayo and Two to Flower

By Neela Furgeson

Sandra Mayo and her recent art instillation

Recently many Spanish classes had the opportunity to visit Lexington Farms to hear from Sandra Mayo, an Argentinean artist specializing in mixed media and printmaking. The students got to see her most recent installation as well as learn more about her life and Argentina’s history. She spoke about her childhood and what it was like growing up in Argentina during La Guerra Sucia, the Dirty War. La Guerra Sucia is the term used to refer to the civic dictatorship in Argentina hunting down political dissidents where thousands died or disappeared. She spoke of the fear in her community and how she was not even allowed to walk to the nearby school, but had to take a school bus for her safety. She also spoke about her education in Israel and her eventual move to the United States. Chabota Kapaale, a student, claimed that “It was a really interesting and important opportunity. I loved to grow my knowledge on these topics that I haven’t heard too much of in the past”.

The art installation that students viewed was titled Two to Flower or Floreciendo de a Dos and was heavily inspired by an old Paraguayan legend from the indigenous Guaraní, The Ñandutí, meaning “spider web”. It followed the story of two young soldiers who became enamored with Samimbí and struggled to give her a lace spider web for her heart. Ñandutí, meaning “spider web” in Guaraní, the traditional indigenous language of Paraguay, is a traditional Paraguayan lace woven with a needle and threads of cotton or silk. It’s known for its intricate geometric designs made up of multicolored rectangles, circles, and squares.

Using curiosity to guide her, Mayo made Two to Flower to represent the spider webs that the legend spoke of. All viewers, including students, had the chance to place their own treasures found in Lexington Farms on the spider webs placed on the sides of the art as a way for them to contribute and participate. Students picked up flowers, weeds, and leaves in the surrounding area and placed them on the sides of the art, leaving their mark on the installation. Students also were able to learn about and try mate, a traditional South American drink. Mate is a herbal tea infused with caffeine, typically drunk with a metal straw. It was originated by several indigenous groups and is currently the national drink of Mayo’s home country, Argentina, and can be a rich source of caffeine. Gael Willems Cleetus observed that “it’s normally supposed to be bitter, but it was sweetened with a bit of honey so I think a lot of people in my class liked it”. Mayo’s art is meant to provoke connections between the mind of the viewer and the current sociopolitical events in their nation and their world, being displayed in numerous countries and universities. Mayo’s background in education and her admiration of modern art is shown through her work. Two to Flower is no exception, and was just one of her numerous works exemplifying her exceptional talent. The exhibition is up until the end of October and is open for anyone wishing to see it.

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