Notes on Ana Mendieta by Nicolas Candelaria

Overview

Date of Birth: November 18, 1948.
Family Background: Wealthy family involved in Cuban politics.
Operation Peter Pan: Program allowing children to flee Cuba; Ana and her sister Raquelin among 14,000 children sent to the U.S.
- Sent to live in Dubuque, Iowa.
- Parents signed power of attorney to keep sisters together.
- Initial weeks spent in refugee camps, then in various foster homes.
Reunion with Family:
- 1966: Reunited with mother and younger brother.
- 1979: Father joined family after 18 years in political prison.

Initial Major: French, with art minor.
University of Iowa: Influenced by avant-garde community and Iowa's landscape.
Degrees: Bachelor's and master's in painting; MFA in Intermedia under Hans Bretter.
Artistic Focus: Blood, violence towards women, spiritualism, religion, primitive rituals.

Locations: Created works in Cuba, Mexico, Italy, and the U.S.
Themes: Autobiographical elements, feminism, violence, identity, life, death, belonging.
Art Forms: Formal outdoor performances, photographs, sculptures, drawings.
Influence: Techniques influenced by Afro-Cuban traditions.
Connection to Earth: Focus on spiritual and physical connection; used earth as a medium in over 200 works.

Date of Death: September 8, 1985, in New York City.
Circumstances: Fell from 31st floor apartment after a violent argument with husband, Carl Andre.
- Neighbors heard arguments; Andre had scratches on his face.
- Controversial death: questions of accident vs. suicide.
Legal Proceedings:
- Andre acquitted of second-degree murder in February 1988.

Struggles: Faced separation from family, oppression, and discrimination throughout life.
Message: Art shows resilience; encourages fighting for one's beliefs to succeed.