Here at ETHS, there are many opportunities for young artists. With media ranging from theater to visual art to music, many students find a home for themselves in the arts at this school. In honor of the LatinX Summit being this April, here are four latina artists at ETHS with cultural ties to the art they create.
Libby Moreno, a senior at ETHS, is a multi-skilled artist whose heritage is very prevalent in her art. Her experience in multiple art mediums has granted her visual art awards and lead theatrical roles for her extraordinary talents. With a whimsical voice and a home on the stage, Moreno debuted her ETHS theater career her sophomore year in “A Midsummer Night’s Dream” and has continued to act throughout her high school experience. Despite having multiple artistic talents and accolades, Moreno’s favorite type of art is comedy performance, explaining her heavy commitment with “YAMO” and “Writers Showcase” over the years. Along with acting and singing, Moreno has been a pianist for over a decade.
“I started piano lessons when I was seven,” Moreno explained. Moreno has been heavily influenced by many different types of Hispanic folk music, including Mazurkas. Alongside this, she composes her own music which she finds much comfort in playing. Inspired by both her parents’ artistic childhood, Moreno found comfort in different art forms.
“My passion for performing, drawing, creating and playing music is because of the values that my dad raised me with, that [my dad] had to find for himself, kind of being excluded growing up in a primarily white world and community,” explained Moreno. The influence of her family created a safe space for Moreno to embrace her Mexican heritage. With the inspiration of family and friends, Moreno has found a sanctuary in the arts here at ETHS.
Hailing from Oakland, California, junior Nasirah Mckinney de Royston’s experience around a mostly Latinx environment showed her the community and passion that dancing brings to her Puerto Rican and Black culture.
“People are always dancing. No matter what, funerals, birthday parties, whether it’s a good occasion or a bad occasion, people will be dancing,” McKinney de Royston said. Along with her recent admiration for figure skating, her mixed heritage has been a heavy influence on her dancing. As well as drawing from her Puerto Rican community, McKinney de Royston likes to combine the dance styles of her African culture.
“I moved on to working with African dance, specifically from Yoruba. In middle school, I started researching Taino practices. What I do now is choreograph a lot of cultural, Black and Afro-fusionism with Puerto Rican dances,” stated McKinney de Royston.
Mckinney de Royston continues to shine on both the ice and the stage, making her debut theatrical performance in this year’s musical, “Hadestown,” and highlighting her ethnicity while skating and dancing.
Eliana Napolez-Savig’s musical journey started when she was just six years old. Now a sophomore at ETHS, her musical path has continued. Starting with classical guitar and only recently moving to electric, Napolez-Savig used her almost decade old guitar expertise to make her way into three bands at the very popular music company, School of Rock.
Her art isn’t something she takes lightly, as for her, it is more than just a hobby. Napolez-Savig’s experience as an Afro-Mexican American artist has allowed her artistry to soar. Although not everyone is encouraged to welcome the art in their culture, Napolez-Savig has been raised to appreciate her heritage.
“Embracing my musical cultural sides has been really great,” Napolez-Savig said. She has recently created an Etsy account, in which she hopes to sell her stickers and accessories. Although as of now her main artistry comes from her passion for music, Napolez-Savig has created many amazing pieces of art, which will soon be available under the name Deadbeatdoodles2 on Etsy.
As a multi-instrumentalist whose music is heavily inspired by her Mexican culture, sophomore Jia-Li Ramirez’s high school musical career has prompted her to join multiple music groups here at ETHS. Ramirez is very active in a jazz combo, the jazz band and the orchestra, all of which she plays the bass for.
Along with being a part of the orchestra and jazz groups at ETHS, Ramirez is also a part of ETHS’ very own and very small Mariachi band. The diversity and tight-knit community she finds in the group makes for a great experience in which she expresses her musical talents.
“It’s not all Latinos, there are many different ethnicities in there, which I think is great,” Ramirez commented. For all three musical groups, Ramirez plays the bass. But she says that for the Mariachi band, she will be switching to the guitarrón very soon. The instrument originates from Mexico and is very prominent in Ramirez’s culture.
“It’s like a guitar, but instead of a flat back, it dips out, kind of like a hill in the back, so it has a more pronounced and deeper sound,” explained Ramirez. Ramirez’s past has impacted her artistic journey very much, as her musical childhood made Ramirez “fall in love with music,” as she put it. Ramirez hopes to continue performing with all four musical groups, expanding her artistic presence here at ETHS.
Along with many famous ones like Frida Kahlo and Selena, Latina artists have shaped this world through and through. Consider experiencing Latina art whether or not it’s at ETHS to appreciate a culture that has done so much for the artistic world we all know and love.
