[Congressional Record Volume 167, Number 79 (Friday, May 7, 2021)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E489]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                          HONORING ANNIE LOPEZ

                                 ______
                                 

                           HON. GREG STANTON

                               of arizona

                    in the house of representatives

                          Friday, May 7, 2021

  Mr. STANTON. Madam Speaker, I rise to honor the lifetime achievement 
of Annie Lopez, a nationally recognized artist and community leader in 
Arizona. A pioneer of the Phoenix art scene, Ms. Lopez shattered 
barriers to elevate the work of local and Latino artists across our 
state, and her living legacy deserves to be etched in our historical 
record for all to remember.
  At a young age, she discovered her passion and vision for the arts. 
In 1982, Ms. Lopez became a member of the Movimiento Artistico del Rio 
Salado (MARS), a nationally acclaimed Chicano Arts organization. Ms. 
Lopez made it her mission to re-define how Chicano art is perceived in 
the broader art community. She became an immediate sensation, 
captivating audiences through her storytelling focused on her own 
experiences in Arizona and shared family heritage. Ms. Lopez proudly 
wears her heritage on her sleeve--and she translated that passion 
literally with her most recent work, hand-crafted dresses made from 
stitched-together prints on tamale paper that dawns excerpts of 
Arizona's SB 1070 and her grandparents' immigration cards. Through her 
art, she starts a dialogue about racism, stereotypes, and the local art 
world--making poignant statements about Latino culture with her 
unmatched sense of humor.
  A fourth-generation Arizonan, Ms. Lopez has always been a relentless 
advocate for our community. She has served as a board member for MARS, 
and as a panelist for the City of Phoenix and the Arizona Commission on 
the Arts. Ms. Lopez has exhibited her work in venues across the nation, 
including the Smithsonian Institution, the National Museum of Mexican 
Art in Chicago, the Phoenix Art Museum, Tucson Museum of Art, and the 
Arizona State University Art Museum. In the beginning of 2020, in 
recognition of her artistic excellence, Ms. Lopez was the first Latina 
artist to have her work displayed in the National Museum of Women in 
the Arts in Washington, D.C.--cementing her legacy as one of the 
greatest artists Phoenix has ever known.
  Ms. Lopez has given all her time, heart and soul to the betterment of 
Phoenix and Arizona. She has inspired so many young artists to achieve 
their highest aspirations, and those who learn from her enter the world 
with a greater appreciation for Chicano art history.
  I humbly rise to extend my heartfelt gratitude and appreciation to 
Ms. Lopez for immense contributions to our state. A dedicated artist, 
advocate, and community servant, her life's work remains a local 
favorite in Phoenix, and I wish her the best as she continues to create 
a legacy that will be felt by Arizonans for generations to come.

                          ____________________