Fearless Women, Champions Of Change: Stitching Hope, Thread By Thread

By Carolina de la Cajiga

When Lena Bartula arrived in San Miguel de Allende in 2004, she helped a group of embroiderers from el campo. They called themselves Mariposas San Miguel—in honor of the Mirabal sisters in the Dominican Republic, whose martyrdom in the 1960s contributed to the overthrow of brutal dictator Trujillo, and led to the creation of International Women’s Day. Selecting this name reflects the strength and resilience of these Mexican women. Bartula was absorbed in this project for three years.

“I first came to Mexico in 1994 when New Mexico was chosen guest of honor at the 8^th Feria International del Libro in Guadalajara,” Lena recalls. “I won a mural competition themed around the cultural, economic, and historical ties between the two regions—El Camino Real. It took four intense months, with a crew of five painters, to complete three large murals on canvases and six smaller ones. I was pleased with the result, because it represented the beauty and richness, along with the cruelty and violence inherent in colonialism. The sponsors disagreed with the reality my work depicted, insisting I change it. Channeling Rivera, Siqueiros, and Orozco, I had no intention of watering it down. Eventually I prevailed, and our murals were exhibited intact,” recounts Lena.

“I returned to my studio, intent on reviewing my future.” The experience in Guadalajara had transformed her. “For several years, I took weeks at a time scouting cities looking for my future home across the border.” When Lena sold her gallery on Santa Fe’s art street, Canyon Road, she was free to leave and in 2004, made the leap. “My first stop was Mineral de Pozos, where I lived for four years, making art and teaching English, before trading tranquility for San Miguel’s vibrancy.” As the saying goes, when one door closes, another one opens—soon Lena opened a gallery in Colonia Guadalupe.

Her current space came to her serendipitously. “An acquaintance offered it to me—without knowing I had already envisioned it. The same happened with my galleries in Oklahoma City and Santa Fe. I’ve always trusted the universe to guide me.”

Lena began wearing huipiles and calling herself la huipilista. México has reshaped her art, and her life. Her work often features or incorporates alternative versions of the huipil, so when she opened her art space in San Miguel in 2017, she named it La Huipilista—a tribute to those who love, make, and wear these indigenous garments.

"My life is never dull. I teach workshops, write museum proposals, host group tours, create my own art, and also collaborate with others. Opening the gallery only three afternoons a week allows me the time I need for my own creative juices.” Lena says her day begins with quiet time, scanning her dreams for insight and messages, basically in contemplation. “When I’m finished, I make my coffee, check my emails and social media.  I may go for a walk, do stretches, or start stitching on my own or with whoever shows up.’

In 2019, Lena wrote and published Whispers in the Thread, Susurros en el hilo. “It was fascinating to document 15 years of my contemporary huipil art and social commentary, including poetry, stories, mythology, and process. Even today, I still write about each artwork as it progresses—sometimes unforeseen insights are revealed.” She launched YoTeVeo SMA, a global solidarity project for Palestine in 2023. “Nearly 300 collaborators from around the world stitch open eye motifs on cloth squares. We assemble them into Witness Quilts here in San Miguel. Mainly, we support Médicos sin Fronteras, Palestinian Children’s Relief Fund, and Middle East Children’s Alliance. Buyers donate directly, send a receipt, and we ship the art. It’s a win-win.” Now, Lena is expanding the effort by supporting Madres Buscadoras (Mexican women who search for their missing children or their remains) and Las Desplazadas (women displaced by violence or territorial disputes). Both groups are affiliated with YoTeVeo SMA, but different as they’re locally based rather than globally. On August 31^st, the three projects will exhibit and fundraise together at Galería Kikimundo in San Cristóbal Las Casas.

New groups around México and Guatemala, as well as the U.S., Canada, and England are joining YoTeVeo SMA. “I’m thrilled to see this project going international. And it makes me happy to know I can make a difference by inspiring others.”

To contact Lena Bartula: lenabartula@gmail.com 52 415 111 3039