By Luz Garcia–

A little girl made out of pieces of glass is sitting on a bench, just waiting. This sculpture was a piece of art created by Ana Teresa Fernandez displayed at the National Museum of Mexican Art for the Rastros y Cronicas: Mujeres de Juarez exhibit.

The little girl was made by using a mold of an orphan of Juarez. She is made up of broken pieces of glass because in Mexico people usually put pieces of sharp glass on top of the fences to prevent people from trespassing, the same way this little girl is protecting herself from anyone who is trying to invade her

Since 1993 there have been more than 500 women murdered in Juarez and that is not counting the hundreds that are still missing today. Many of these women are workers at the maquiladoras and they usually disappear on their way to work since they usually have to take dark and unpopulated routes.

People still question authorities.  Why is this still happening?  Who is committing these crimes?  Why are they doing this?  Those questions to this day remain unanswered.

The exhibit is meant to inform and make people aware of the “femicide” in Juarez.  The exhibit curators Dolores Mercado and Linda Tortolero explained the museum had been planning to showcase something that would enlighten people about this unfortunate situation.

The women had the idea to create this exhibit eight years ago.

“After 15 years it has not stopped it is worse than ever,” says Mercado.

Through their artwork, the artists are showing their confusion on why this is still happening.  They channel their anger and sadness while they show sympathy to the victims’ families who search for justice and truth.  They said the thought provoking images in the gallery reflect what the victims endured and what their loved ones continue to face.

“I think that the artists were going through a lot of pain while they were painting or creating the sculptures.  They were probably feeling what the women felt when they became victims. When I see these pieces I feel so many emotions, sad, lonely, afraid,” says Elizabeth Barrera, a first time visitor who says she never knew about the murders in Juarez until she visited the museum.

Tortolero said she wanted to bring awareness to the murders in Juarez.

“The power of art is great. It’s the vehicle of knowledge. People need to know more about this issue and if they take the time to read the descriptions next to the artwork they will understand why this is so important,” Tortolero said.

Rastros Y Cronicas: Mujeres de Juarez displays the artwork of 26 women, and some of them have lived in Ciudad Juarez or are currently residing there. These women have been actively working on various women’s issues and did not hesitate to be participants of the exhibit.

“By showing the work of 26 female artists we are showing their voices…it’s something powerful when a woman is talking and telling you about something she is passionate about visually.  The fact that 500 women have been killed, it is so sad. I also think that for the women’s families and loved ones who are still looking for them it is extremely important to them as well,” Mercado added.

Mercado, Tortolero and the artists who created the exhibit all share a common purpose.  They hope to spread knowledge and to bring this issue to light.  The exhibit was supposed to end on February 14, but Mercado says that people have been responding to it so well that they have decided to extend it to the fourth of July which is when they will begin working on their Performing Arts Festival.

Luz Garcia is a journalism student at Columbia College Chicago.