Today we’d like to introduce you to Arica Roberts
Hi Arica, we’re thrilled to have a chance to learn your story today. So, before we get into specifics, maybe you can briefly walk us through how you got to where you are today?
After completing a B.A. in History from BYU and a M.A. in History from the University of Utah, I moved to the U.K. to pursue a PhD in Archaeology. During COVID-19 lockdowns, I had to move back to SLC and it was during this time that I began naturally applying my research to my direct surroundings in Salt Lake City. My archaeological research was on power and the landscape; specifically looking at the ways intersecting identities shaped the landscape and displayed their power.
Salt Lake City is well-known for its Mormon pioneer heritage and grandiose monuments of Brigham Young. But the city also contains a rich heritage documenting the feminine divine and I wanted to capture that. I began an Instagram called @sl.utvirgins which references the acronym used for Salt Lake, Utah (SL, UT) and the documentation of las Virgencitas (Virgin Mary). The pairing of these words is the conscious dismantling of the constricting false dichotomy on women; channeling the still very necessary slogan, “Ni Santas, Ni Putas: Solo Mujeres,” translated to English, “Not Saints, Not Whores: Only Women.” While the Virgin Mary is the focus, other depictions are also included such as statues of Mormon pioneer women or murals of women throughout the city.
I’m sure it wasn’t obstacle-free, but would you say the journey has been fairly smooth so far?
Graduating from BYU was a struggle due to the restrictions it had on me, not only as a person, but also on my academic research. I did my best to work through this confines and am grateful for the professors there who understood my point of view. I also was not able to finish the PhD because of COVID-19 lockdowns because I could not do any fieldwork during that time. I was able to complete an MPhil degree from a distance, and am continuing to push forward as a researcher and writer.
Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
Right now, I am a freelance writer for City Weekly and write on all sorts of topics from music to art to politics and history. I continue to speak at academic conferences nationally and internationally and am building a platform that can make my research more accessible (by making it relatable and fun. Art is most powerful when its subversions are also fun).
How am I doing this? I explore the city in search of statues, murals, plaques – any medium of art – that represents the feminine. I do a lot of research to find the artist, explore the historical contexts (including its placement in the city), and dissect that analysis for my followers on @sl.utvirgins. It’s truly local art and microhistory connecting to larger macrohistory. This passion project will very soon include a podcast, so please follow the Instagram page for updates.
Can you share something surprising about yourself?
My own research has ranged from how art, poetry, and newspapers were used during political youth movements of the 20th century in the United States to early medieval female saints of Ireland and Wales. Art and identity are central to my studies, no matter the time period or geographical location and I believe this helps humanize the past for people.
In addition to my writing for City Weekly, I have been involved in the nightlife music scenes in Salt Lake City for a decade. These connections to artists and creatives has fueled my vision and continues to broaden the scope for the @sl.utvirgins page and project.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://reading.academia.edu/AricaRoberts
- Instagram: sl.utvirgins
