The Place of Duality | 2024
Born and raised in Lompoc, California, I organized this pop-up installation within the walls of La Purísima Mission to pay homage to my ancestors that were born into California’s nineteenth century mission system. My pieces and the accompanying symbolism seek to expand and reimagine tenets of Nahua mythology within a modern landscape. According to the Nahua people, the place of duality was the top layer of their thirteen heavens. This layer of heaven represented divine conception and manifestation. For me, the place of duality also speaks to my own ancestry, having ancestors on both sides of Spain's colonization of the Americas — Spanish and Indigenous.
This installation finds its grounding between underworlds and heavens, between our own shadow and light. Somewhere between omniscience and curiosity we find earthly paths to walk in service of purpose.
P.S. The top I am wearing in the photo above was designed and dyed by me as an extension of the piece to my left.
13 Heavens, 2024
ice-dye on hemp canvas, immersion dyed and cut velveteen application, hand stitching53 x 72 in Inspired by the Nahua concept of heaven being divided into thirteen layers or levels, with each being occupied by differing celestial bodies and governing gods. The dyed canvas illustrates the totality of the thirteen heavens. From cold to warm tones, the colors featured resemble the earthly pigments found in prehistoric fresco paintings; by way of color movement, a heavenly atmosphere prevails.
The design I have dyed, cut, and hand-stitched onto the canvas is the Amazigh symbol representing life and fertility. This symbol paired with the dyed canvas embodies the cosmology from which life is produced. It explores the ways we as humans seek to understand ourselves as products of the universe.
13 Heavens (Wearable), 2024
ice-dye on cotton skirtThe hand-dyed skirt I am wearing is an extension of the 13 Heavens canvas piece. Creating wearable garments that complement my large-scale pieces grants my work the freedom and fluidity to move through environments as both garment and art. With the thematic expression of each large-scale piece translated into the wearable garment, the garments become instruments of accessibility — to be seen, worn, and experienced outside of traditional gallery settings.
The Glimmer in My Eyes Reflected a Fire, 2024
ice-dye on hemp canvas, immersion dyed and cut velveteen application, mixed-media applications, hand stitching53 x 72 in Drawing inspiration from the Nahua concept of nine layers of the underworld, this piece represents obstacles, perseverance, and passion. The blue symbol surrounded by eyes serves as an entryway into the soul, taking on an omnipotent presence.
The title of the work is camouflaged into the actual piece (above the symbol) through a process similar to batik. This title was adopted from a journal entry of mine that represents this piece thematically, the entry reads as follows:
The veil was so thin,
the sun’s dying
red light was pouring in.
The glimmer in my eyes reflected a fire
and as the moon appeared
I promised the stars,
I would rewelcome the light tomorrow.
I would not shy away from my fate,
I’d carry the weight on my shoulders
until I reached a field serene enough
to lay it down
and roll around.
The Glimmer in My Eyes Reflected a Fire (Close-up), 2024
mixed media applications, hand stitchingThis is a close-up shot of my piece 'The Glimmer in my Eyes Reflected a Fire'. Since the piece is quite large (53x72), it is difficult to see the details in the wider angle shot. Thus, I wanted to draw some attention to an aspect that brings the piece to life when viewing in-person. This print of an eye framed by eyelashes and eyeshadow is of my eye. I developed a technique to print, preserve, and seal my makeup onto fabric to utilize for the purpose of this project.
The eyes not only serve as a representation of an omnipotent presence, but also as expansions of my own soul and my physical expression.