Pathways
From Nicaragua to Bucknell typography

by Michael Blanding

In a 2018 performance, artist Elyla Sinverguenza walked slowly through downtown Managua, Nicaragua, wearing a long black dress and hood, clutching a naked doll. Protesting repressive gender and sexuality policies, the artist painted half the doll red and black to represent the socialist Sandinista government and the other half blue and white, the colors of the opposition National Unity party.

Elyla (whose name is pronounced El-EE-la, and who uses gender-neutral pronouns) has long staged provocative public performances, often involving symbolic costumes and rituals. “The so-called socialist left in my country has systematically undermined LGBTQ rights and erased our histories,” says Elyla, who fled Nicaragua after receiving death threats. “Any activist or artist who is a dissident voice under such a dictatorial regime is at risk of repression, persecution and death.”

Now, with a grant from the Artist Protection Fund and support from the Bucknell Ekard Artist Residency fund, Elyla has refuge at Bucknell this academic year. As an artist- in-residence, Elyla worked with students in dedicated studio space developing resistance artwork for a show March 4.

photograph by Eva Bendaña
Pathways
Photograph of Maren Burling '19
From Nicaragua to Bucknell typography
by Michael Blanding
In a 2018 performance, artist Elyla Sinverguenza walked slowly through downtown Managua, Nicaragua, wearing a long black dress and hood, clutching a naked doll. Protesting repressive gender and sexuality policies, the artist painted half the doll red and black to represent the socialist Sandinista government and the other half blue and white, the colors of the opposition National Unity party.

Elyla (whose name is pronounced El-EE-la, and who uses gender-neutral pronouns) has long staged provocative public performances, often involving symbolic costumes and rituals. “The so-called socialist left in my country has systematically undermined LGBTQ rights and erased our histories,” says Elyla, who fled Nicaragua after receiving death threats. “Any activist or artist who is a dissident voice under such a dictatorial regime is at risk of repression, persecution and death.”

Now, with a grant from the Artist Protection Fund and support from the Bucknell Ekard Artist Residency fund, Elyla has refuge at Bucknell this academic year. As an artist- in-residence, Elyla worked with students in dedicated studio space developing resistance artwork for a show March 4.

photograph by Eva Bendaña
Back to Issue