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SOLDADERAS TO AMAZONAS: Escaramuzas Charras
On View: Permanent
Soldaderas to Amazonas: Escaramuzas Charras is the first exhibition hosted by the Cowgirl Museum exclusively focusing on any aspect of charrería. Highlighting the escaramuza is important for this community and for The Cowgirl as we remain committed to honoring and safeguarding the history of those women who shaped the West and changed the world.
The cultural and symbolic roots of charrería run deep; like the ties between the modern day escaramuza charra to the soldaderas of the Mexican Revolution, those women who assisted in the revolt against oppressive Mexican government forces. The sport of escaramuza consists of an eight-member team of equestrians executing intricate patterns at a gallop. Escaramuza is a way of life for these competitors; there is no large payout at competitions or million-dollar sponsorships.
The exhibition includes adelita-inspired dresses, trajes de charra, sombreros, rebozos, boots and matching tack, with changeouts supporting different themes within escaramuza.
This exhibition’s impact has grown into multiple new initiatives intended to support the advancement of escaramuzas: the first-ever grant specifically for escaramuza teams, the first archive serving as a repository for escaramuzas, and an annual ceremony honoring historic women in charrería. The Cowgirl also sponsors awards for the winners of state and national charreadas.
A second temporary gallery, complementing the permanent textile portion, while no longer on display, is now available to other venues for rental. Escaramuza, The Poetics of Home, by award-winning photographer Constance Jaeggi comprises a series of portraits accompanied by original works from 2023 Texas Poet Laureate Ire’ne Lara Silva, and Angelina Sáenz, award-winning educator, poet and writing project fellow at UCLA. Their collaboration considers themes of identity, family and gender within the escaramuza community.
The principal investigator, researcher and interpreter was Associate Executive Director Diana Vela, Ph.D. Her tie to the subject is organic with ancestors being recipients of a Spanish land grant, Laguna Seca in the Rio Grande Valley.
