Kathy Sosa

Derived from the words miscere and genus in Latin, mestizaje refers to a mixing of the races. In the book bilingual book Mestizaje, internationally acclaimed artist Kathy Sosa presents a cross-sectional view of Mexican American culture as it is practiced in the centuries-old blended culture of the Texas-Mexico borderlands. She documents and projects the effects across generations of peoples and cultures meeting, overlapping, and organically blending into something new. The richness and beauty of mestizaje come from a place where people speak Spanglish, eat Tex-Mex food, and dance to Willie Nelson and Flaco Jimenez—sometimes all at once. Sosa foretells what much of the United States has become or will be like before long. The imagery and symbolism of puro mestizaje (total mix) figure prominently in Sosa’s work, and it is a mix unique to the borderlands’ historical traditions and myriad cultures. Sosa derives inspiration from and reflects a bold palette of strong female figures. Celebrating what the women of these borderlands think, feel, and revere culturally, she explores the roles of indigenous traditions, colors, and textiles. Family, friends, neighbors, and acquaintances—real and imagined—participate in the spirit of mexicanidad, though most were not born in Mexico and some have never visited. Supplemented with dual-language essays in English and Spanish by art critics, collectors, and historians, Mestizaje rejoices in feminist notions of blended cultures and opens readers’ eyes to the lessons they offer and what they tell us about America today.

The first coloring book celebrating more than five hundred years of Latina trailblazers from Texas and Mexico. Inspired by the book by the same title and by popular demand from its readers, this playful yet historically on point collection features twenty-four portraits of some of history’s most inspirational women. Pictures are accompanied by brief biographies. Portraits by Kathy and Lionel Sosa to color include Alice Dickerson Montemayor, Chavela Vargas, Emma Tenayuca, Frida Kahlo, Genoveva Morales, Gloria Anzaldúa, Jane McManus Storm Cazneau, Juana Belén Gutiérrez de Mendoza, Las Soladeras, Las Valientas, María Concepción Acevedo de la Llata, La Malinche, Nahui Olin, Adina De Zavala, Rena Maverick Green, Emily Edwards, Sor Juana Inés de la Cruz, Teresa Urrea, the Virgin of Guadalupe, the women of Guerrero, Dolores Huerta, Laura Esquivel, Astrid Hadad, Sandra Cisneros, Ellen Riojas Clark, and the Zapatistas. Coloring fun for all ages!