2008 Woodie Awards
Campus monument honors all women
Cortez celebrates value of females in modern day society
Elizabeth Aveni
Issue date: 2/14/08 Section: Features
Many students have passed by this monument and have gazed upon it. Few though, actually understand what it is all about.
Esperanza Cortez's "Grave of the Unknown Woman," is a piece of artwork on campus that honors the nameless female.
"We make monuments to honor all types of people, like soldiers. Cortez made a monument to honor unknown women, all women," said Gevas.
Cortez created the sculpture in 1997 to symbolize the struggle of the unrecognized modern woman. After traveling around the world and seeing cultures with monuments to honor the Unknown Soldier, Cortez received her inspiration.
"I thought that there must have been many women involved in the struggles around the world, yet not once did I ever encounter a monument to the courage of heroines," said Cortez.
The work, which can be found in the patio outside of Hawley Lounge, portrays a wooden torso standing atop a pedestal adorned by metal shells and flowers. She is clearly female, yet she has no head.
"The headless figure is used to represent the form of a woman. She can be any woman; there is no culture. This work is multicultural," said Director of the Gallery of Contemporary Art, Sophia Gevas.
"Grave of the Unknown Woman" illustrates what Cortez stands for, much of her work centers around the struggle of the common female. Cortez also concentrates on race, religion and domestic violence issues in her works.
"This is a reflection on the unknown woman who does all of the tasks people take for granted," said Gevas.
"Cortez is a woman herself and she was thinking of women in most cultures who manage day to day to raise families and maintain homes and go unrecognized."
The entire sculpture has been crafted of wood but affixed to the pedestal are small metal flowers.
Although the wood will deteriorate eventually, the metal flowers and shells that represent the femininity of the statue will never decay. That which is female will always be a part of this world.
"My works are metaphors of experience. I use the female figure as a symbol of nature and power," said Cortez.
Sacred Heart obtained "Grave of the Unknown Woman" in 2001; it now stands where students and faculty cannot miss it.
"It is one of the pieces on long-term loan and Esperanza came and installed it herself," said Gevas.
"It is nice to know the meaning of it. I like how she is trying to reach out and create something for all women," said senior Carla Asencio.
"It especially means something being here because there are so many women that go to Sacred Heart."
Cortez brings the nameless woman to the forefront in both young and old minds with. The "Grave of the Unknown Woman" is to be enjoyed by every person, but also represents the value of women in society.
Esperanza Cortez's "Grave of the Unknown Woman," is a piece of artwork on campus that honors the nameless female.
"We make monuments to honor all types of people, like soldiers. Cortez made a monument to honor unknown women, all women," said Gevas.
Cortez created the sculpture in 1997 to symbolize the struggle of the unrecognized modern woman. After traveling around the world and seeing cultures with monuments to honor the Unknown Soldier, Cortez received her inspiration.
"I thought that there must have been many women involved in the struggles around the world, yet not once did I ever encounter a monument to the courage of heroines," said Cortez.
The work, which can be found in the patio outside of Hawley Lounge, portrays a wooden torso standing atop a pedestal adorned by metal shells and flowers. She is clearly female, yet she has no head.
"The headless figure is used to represent the form of a woman. She can be any woman; there is no culture. This work is multicultural," said Director of the Gallery of Contemporary Art, Sophia Gevas.
"Grave of the Unknown Woman" illustrates what Cortez stands for, much of her work centers around the struggle of the common female. Cortez also concentrates on race, religion and domestic violence issues in her works.
"This is a reflection on the unknown woman who does all of the tasks people take for granted," said Gevas.
"Cortez is a woman herself and she was thinking of women in most cultures who manage day to day to raise families and maintain homes and go unrecognized."
The entire sculpture has been crafted of wood but affixed to the pedestal are small metal flowers.
Although the wood will deteriorate eventually, the metal flowers and shells that represent the femininity of the statue will never decay. That which is female will always be a part of this world.
"My works are metaphors of experience. I use the female figure as a symbol of nature and power," said Cortez.
Sacred Heart obtained "Grave of the Unknown Woman" in 2001; it now stands where students and faculty cannot miss it.
"It is one of the pieces on long-term loan and Esperanza came and installed it herself," said Gevas.
"It is nice to know the meaning of it. I like how she is trying to reach out and create something for all women," said senior Carla Asencio.
"It especially means something being here because there are so many women that go to Sacred Heart."
Cortez brings the nameless woman to the forefront in both young and old minds with. The "Grave of the Unknown Woman" is to be enjoyed by every person, but also represents the value of women in society.
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