myCSUSM
Monica Zavala
Artist Bio
Project/Program Specialist I
California Indian Culture and Sovereignty Center (CICSC)
Auxiliary
Instagram - @Life_n_art_of_Monica
Monica is an enrolled member of the Gabrielino/Tongva Nation, Acjachemen, and Mexican which has a huge influence in her artwork. She specializes in illustration, painting, sculpture, creative writing, and digital art.
She has associate degrees in arts, Visual Communications, Liberal Studies, and Studio Arts from Mount San Jacinto College (MSJC). After MSJC, she continued her education at California State University San Marcos (CSUSM), receiving a bachelor’s in arts, Media and Design.
Following graduation, Monica has continued working closely within the local Native communities in her current role as project coordinator in the California Indian Culture and Sovereignty Center.
Her role has given her the unique opportunity to work with different native communities documenting and focusing on the issues, traditions, and ceremony practices of the local native communities.
Monica’s current works of art include a series of paintings where she incorporates hands actively engaged with Native culture from the different diverse tribes across turtle island.
Apart from painting, Monica is an illustrator who creates fictitious characters, environments, short comics, and realism.
Artwork by Monica Zavala
"Woven Through Generations"
Art Medium: Acrylic on canvas
When we braid someone’s hair, we must put good intentions as we braid, especially when we braid a loved one’s hair. We weave 3 sections of hair to represent the mind, body, and spirit.
As a young girl, my mother would braid my hair from time to time. As we get older, we can help braid our mothers’ hair and we continue to braid hair as the generations continue.
The hands referenced are my own braiding my mother’s hair.
"Come and Get Your Love"
Art Medium: Acrylic on Canvas
At gatherings, such as Pow Wows, one of the many dances that might be featured is the 2-step. This is a dance that is done with your partner where you cross arms and hands and dance in unison while following the leader creating a huge chain of dance.
These hands are referenced by the beautiful couple Kiara Love Flores (Kuupangaxwichem and Northern Ute) and Mi’de Xxavier McKay Woon-A-Tai (Oji-Cree).
"Woven Through Traditions"
Art Medium: Acrylic on Canvas
While on a work trip, I was introduced to a community of local tribes in Northern California. I really enjoyed seeing how similar, yet different, the traditional regalia is made for southern California. Our weaving materials are similar but different. What really caught my eye, and made me want to capture this moment, is the way they put on their basket cap. A woman does not put on their own basket cap, it is placed for them.
This painting shows a mother, Maggie Peters (Hoopa), and her Daughter, Nae-rew Martin(Hoopa), carry this traditional way of honoring the placement of a basket cap.
"Tule Boat Launch"
Art Medium: Acrylic on Canvas
Dr. Stan Rodriguez (Kumeyaay), an amazing mentor, has been generous to share his wide variety of knowledge. An event that I’ve had the pleasure to enjoy, is the tule boat launch Stan leads every year. Before the Launch, a team of participants always have the opportunity to create a few boats prior to the launch.
I captured the creation of a tule boat by sharing Dr. Stan's hands.