Coyolxauhqui, Madre Cósmica, by the late artist Gloria Osuna-Perez, is semi-permanent installation at the Bridge. This important work celebrates the contributions of 10 Chicanas and Mexicanas--independent women who pioneered their sense of women's rights without losing their connectedness with their indigenous roots and their culture. The installation includes Gloria's paintings of the women she celebrates surrounding the Aztec goddess, Coyolxauhqui, whom Gloria cast in clay.

Gloria said of her vision in creating the work¾ "The project Madre Cosmica is based on Coyolxauhqui. The monolithic stone that bears her image was unearthed in Mexico City in 1978 at the site of Templo Mayor of the Aztecs. The image is of a woman lying on the ground who has been dismembered into five sections with serpent's knots on various parts of her body. The life-blood is flowing from her and mixing with earth to give life to mankind. The expression on her beautiful face is unforgettable. Coyolxauhqui was the Moon who struggled against her brother Huitzilopochtli (the Sun) continuously. When she fell to earth, she created a harmony between the earth and the sky. She created life on Earth. Like many stone monuments created by the pre-Columbian civilizations, the stone that depicts Coyolxauhqui is an astrological map. But I became interested in personifying her image as a woman."

Coyolxauhqui, Madre Cósmica is a powerful cultural, political and aesthetic statement. It recalls Gloria's own history growing up in a rural environment in Madera, California where her parents were farm-workers. This is where Gloria learned that she was an artist and where she realized that her work would carry political as well as aesthetic content. This installation provides historical and cultural perspective, as well as role models, for the children of our area, especially young women.

The June 24th opening of the installation coincided with the first anniversary of Gloria's death. Gloria, who was a long-time resident of El Paso, became a nationally recognized artist in the last years of her life, but she did not shirk her duties as a citizen or as a mother. She was actively involved in the Bridge Center, serving on our Artists Committee.

By making the installation semi-permanent, The Bridge Center wishes to make this exhibit a destination for students. Create a program, with the support of local school districts that will allow teachers in the schools, local artists and docents to promote Gloria's message of culture and pride. Through workshops and interactive sessions with students, the Bridge Center hopes to create a new awareness and appreciation for cultural expression. Our plans include two-hour workshops during which students will have an in-depth presentation and discussion of the installation. The discussion will be followed by a hands-on workshop conducted by an El Paso artist.