How Critical Witnessing Can Heal Latinx Parent-Child Relationships Through Painting

• Janice Castro, Fine Arts, University of Delaware

• Gregory Shelnutt, Art & Design, University of Delaware

Utilizing the framework of critical witnessing, I served as the visual interpreter for the lives of three first-generation Latinas. This involved conducting interviews and creating paintings that illuminate their stories. My previous research was built upon Lisette Lasater’s dissertation “The Daughter’s Voice in Chicana/Latina Literature,” which introduced me to the importance of critical witnessing. This concept involves being deeply moved after listening to and acknowledging an experience, which then inspires the individual to take specific actions aimed at making personal and social change. Lasater’s research showcases the Latina daughters’ efforts to reconcile their mother-daughter relationships by creating short stories, poems, or plays retelling their mothers’ lives from their perspectives. These Latinas expose the painful emotions and past traumas between mother and daughter as a way to heal and strengthen their bond with their mothers. While Lasater focused on written storytelling, I addressed this concept through visual storytelling, bridging the gap through painting as a new method for critical witnessing. After extensive time refining my creative process, the key elements of my paintings include the symbolism of color, the incorporation of written notes by each Latina, and the illustration of hands to represent familial relationships. Given the limited representation of artists who empower the narratives of first-generation Latinxs and delve into the intricate immigrant parent-child relationships, my research is particularly significant. Not only does it provide a safe space for the three Latinas to engage in difficult conversations with their families without dialogue, but it also opens a public conversation for other Latinxs to see their experiences represented in a nuanced manner. Ultimately, my work paves the way for future artists to explore and amplify marginalized voices through critical witnessing, as art is a powerful medium that enables the unspoken to be expressed.