Ventanas Huicholas by Natalie Gonzalez. Photo credit: Jon Viscott.                                                                            

Ventanas Huicholas is a one-day public artwork and participatory event by San Diego-based artist Natalie Gonzalez made of Tsikuris (“God’s Eyes” in Wirarika indigenous language of Mexico) which are traditional votive objects made by weaving a design out of yarn on two wooden sticks. They are commonly found in some native communities of northwest Mexico and throughout the southwest of the United States. The God's Eye is a ritual tool that was believed to protect those while they pray, a magical object, and an ancient cultural symbol evoking the weaving motif and its spiritual associations.

The Huicholes call their God's Eyes Tsikuri, which means "the power to see and understand things unknown." During Spanish colonial times, God’s Eyes were placed where people worked, or where they walked along a trail. The artwork celebrates the rich heritage of the Huichol culture while speaking to the multinational character of Southern California. The public is invited to participate in a simple crafting exercise making their own God’s Eyes alongside the artist on July 6, from 4 to 6:30pm at Plummer Park, concurrent with Summer Sounds.  

Natalie Gonzalez was born in Los Angeles but spent much of her upbringing in Mexico. She earned her degree in Cultural Management from the Universidad de Guadalajara. Natalie is a versatile visual artist, art curator, and outreach coordinator. Her artistic endeavors are centered around acrylic, mixed media, and art installations, characterized by the use of simple shapes, lines, and organic imagery.

Natalie has extensive experience working with public art projects, both in administrative roles and as a creator. Notably, she contributed to ENVZN2023: Urban Art Take Over by Vanguard Culture in San Diego, CA. She is also the Exhibitions Coordinator at the Oceanside Museum of Art West Gallery. Determined to make art more accessible to the public, she explores alternative aesthetics and curatorial models. Her art is a vivid response to her life, filled with elements that celebrate and question what it means to live between two cultures.

Please click here to visit the City's Flickr page for more photos of the artwork and event. 

Follow us on social media @wehoarts and/or use the hashtag #wehoarts

For questions, contact Marcus Mitchell, Public Art Administrator at (323) 848-3122 or mmitchell@weho.org. For people who are deaf or hard of hearing, please call, TTY: (323) 848-6496. To learn more information about the City of West Hollywood and its arts programs visit www.weho.org/arts.