People often ask me about my business name and wonder what it means. So here is my explanation:
Technically a Mestiza is a woman of mixed racial ancestry, especially of mixed European and Native American ancestry.
Mestizo is a term traditionally used in Latin America for people of mixed European and Amerindian heritage or descent. The term originated as a racial category in the Casta system that was in use during the Spanish empire's control of their American colonies, it was used to describe those who had one European-born parent and one who was member of an indigenous American population. In the Casta system mestizos had fewer rights than European born persons called "Peninsular", and "Criollos" who were persons born in the new world of two European born parents, but more rights than "Indios" and "Negros". During the colonial period, mestizos quickly became the majority group in most of Latin America and when the colonies started achieving independence from Spain, the mestizo group often became dominant. In some Latin American countries, such as Mexico, the concept of the "mestizo" became central to the formation of a new independent identity that was neither wholly Spanish nor wholly indigenous and the word mestizo acquired its current meaning of mixed cultural heritage rather than racial descent. (Wikipedia)
Yes- I am Mestiza. I come from European and indigenous blood lines. So that is part of it. When I think of being Mestiza I think of being mixed and I think that is part of what makes life beautiful and interesting. Coming from those two different backgrounds strongly influences my work in color, theme, and design. In addition my work is comprised of mixed media in the form of silver, glass, and stones. I get the pleasure of celebrating who I am creating collages of self adornment. So in short, for me it means the best of all worlds mixed into one:)
