Paul, Annabelle, and Paula Medina, Chimayo, ’68 Chevy Impala
Artist
Meridel Rubenstein
(American, born 1948)
Date1980
MediumChromogenic print
DimensionsImage: 6 3/4 × 9 1/2 in. (17.1 × 24.1 cm)
Support: 14 1/8 × 17 1/8 in. (35.9 × 43.5 cm)
Support: 14 1/8 × 17 1/8 in. (35.9 × 43.5 cm)
ClassificationsPhotograph
Credit LineGift of Harvey Mudd
Object number2020.13.2
DescriptionFrom the portfolio “The Lowriders: Portraits from New Mexico.” Horizontal picture of family with car in northern New Mexico landscape with crucifix on tree at center of composition, surrounded by wooden benches. In front of tree is a green, ’68 Chevy Impala seen from the side and decorated with gold or yellow paint. The name of the car “Bad Company” is painted on the wedge where the hoods meets the body of the car. Inside the car in the driver’s seat is a young girl. Standing outside the front of the car in a sleeveless blue jumpsuit decorated with rainbow stripes is her mother and outside the back of the car in a dark blue shirt decorated with rainbow and clouds and dark pants is her father.eMuseum Notes
Rubenstein was fairly new to New Mexico when a patron challenged her to include portraits of lowriders in her series celebrating the craftspeople of the state. At the time this picture was taken, many people saw lowriders and their clubs in a negative light and some cities banned the cars. Though initially hesitant to make contact with lowriders, Rubenstein quickly found common ground with them as fellow artists. Her resulting series of portraits and a 1980 exhibition of them, held on the Santa Fe Plaza, brought lowriders and their passion for customizing cars to a broader public and contributed to a slow shift in attitude toward appreciation and civic pride.
On View
Not on view
Meridel Rubenstein
1980 (printed 1983)
