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Title
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My Alamo
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Alternative Title
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My Alamo, 5a
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Description
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In the past, raspa vendors sold their food in front of the Alamo. Unfortunately, the Daughters of the Republic of Texas claimed that the raspa vendors obscured the view of their shrine and degraded it with cheap goods. The photograph begs the question: if the raspa vendors brought in bigger bucks, would the Daughters then welcome them? In the end, the Daughters only allowed four raspa vendors to remain. In this image, money represents capitalism. The raspa vendor shown is deliberately obscuring the much smaller Alamo.The model for the image is Diana Rodriguez-Gil. The artist’s text states, “Then we had the raspa threat. ‘Dignity’–it was about the dignity of the place, and small change. The raspa vendors selling their ices in front of the Alamo obscured the view of the monument, commercialized it for pennies. The Daughters tried in vain to have them expelled. Those vendors would have been more welcome if only they’d brought in bigger bucks…” Gelatin silver print with hand coloring. Dimensions: 20” x 16”
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Access Rights
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© 1995, Kathy Vargas. This image may not be reproduced for commercial purposes without the written consent of the artist. The image may be used for educational personal individual uses and with credit to the artist.
