An "American" passport for a second class citizen.
I am of Puerto Rico, the genesis of me begins with her. From the roots of San Juan I began my love of this land with the people. Neither of them could exist without the other, and through my lens I seek to personify the spirit she evokes through her children.
While pursuing my BFA in New York, my energy shifted from student to teacher. To educate peers and professors with a frame of reference I’ve experienced since my body’s birth: being born an American, but being treated as a second class citizen.
In my last year of University, Hurricane Maria created a distance & fear I’d never known. I couldn’t reach the island or my family for weeks, so the distance grew further and the fear greater. I created this work to be in two places at once- so those who don’t have the frame of reference the children of Puerto Rico look through, before, during and after the hurricane.
La resiliencia de mi comunidad es lo que me mantiene viva y mantiene mi creatividad como artista.
Piel Gruesa
2018
(Thick Skin) Have you ever ached for your land? A year after the hurricane I can still hear the screams in the mountains from those found weeks after. Can 70% of an island be charged with the energy of its people; instead of the empty promises of electricity restored by our government? I dream of the day when the people of the island will be able to speak for themselves without being accused of spreading fake news. We are made to seem boisterous and loud- without understanding the essence of the Caribbean. Our spirit is resilient and our skin is thick.
2018
Maria dejo desastre en la isla, mas daño del que ya teníamos. La noche nos sirvió como sabana y La Luz de la luna y las estrellas iluminaban nuestras calles. Maria nos unió para seguir hacia adelante y no darnos por vencido. Maria fue otra prueba que el boricua con o sin huracán no se deja.La lucha sigue y nosotros nadie nos tumba. Seguiremos siendo una colonia en busca de liberación. Borinken sigue de pie. "Maria left disaster on the island, more damage than we already had. The night served us as sheet and the moonlight and the stars illuminated our streets. Maria united us to continue forward and not give up. Maria was another proof that the Puerto Rican with or without hurricane is not left. The fight continues and we are not going to allow anyone to knocks us down. We will continue being a colony in search of liberation. Borinken is still standing."
2018
En 1898, después de ser adquirido de España después de la guerra hispanoamericana, Puerto Rico recibió el título de territorio de los EE. UU. En 1917, nos dieron la ciudadanía estadounidense para sacrificar a nuestros hombres en guerras en suelos extranjeros. Nuestros cántitos de liberación han caído en oídos sordos de los ignorantes y los delgados labios intencionalmente. La libertad es para aquellos que pueden pagarla en la última colonia en pie. Nuestras mujeres taínas desarraigadas por manos estadounidenses que arrastran su falda por la oportunidad de probar frutas exóticas. (Oppressed by the Tyrant)In 1898, after being acquired from Spain post Spanish-American War, Puerto Rico was given the title of US Territory. 1917 we were given US Citizenship to sacrifice our Men to wars in foreign soils. Our chants of liberation are fallen on deaf ears from the willfully ignorant and the thin lipped. Freedom is for those who can afford it in the last colony standing. Our Taino women uprooted by American hands that creep up their falda for the opportunity to taste exotics fruits.
2018
A pesar de estar a 3 horas de casa siempre me siento tan cerca de los míos y mi gente. El olor a grama fresca, el viento que nos arropa y el verde dela naturaleza en el patio de mis abuelos en Carolina.Mi familia y donde me crié es mi escape de este mundo que no nos ven y no nos celebran. "Despite being 3 hours from home I always feel so close to mine and my people. The smell of fresh grass, the wind that envelops us and the green of the nature in the patio of my grandparents in Carolina. My family and where I grew up is my escape from this world that does not see us and does not celebrate us."
2018
It's been difficult documenting my own culture and people after the Hurricane. Just seeing how nothing has changed even after a year an unbearable pain. To feel your own land in pain, to document surroundings, the people and the culture has been an emotional draining process, but at the same time gave me the motivation to create content to show and validate what the media has forgotten about. El pueblo unido jamás será vencido.The people united will never be defeated. See for yourselves what the media is not putting out there. Don’t forget about us. Don’t forget we are still out here.
2018
Yemaya vive y gobierna sobre los mares y lagos. Soy su hija y se donde buscarla. Ella sabe como ayudarme a despejar la mente y liberar mis ansias y todo lo que me bloquea. Boriken.. madre tierra que está junto ami a donde quiera que voy. Tus encantos son bendiciones, el coquí canta para nuestros ancestros y tu gente son parte de la magia. Donde en tus patios respiro tu aire fresco y siempre me siento segura en casa. " Yemaya lives and rules over the seas and lakes. I am her daughter and I know where to look for her. She knows how to help me clear my mind and release my cravings and everything that blocks me. Boriken .. mother earth that is next to me wherever I go. Your charms are blessings, the coquí sings for our ancestors and your people are part of the magic. Where in your courtyards I breathe your fresh air and I always feel safe at home."
2018
Dejar a tu isla y tu vida entera para poder volar alto hacia tus metas y oportunidades es un dolor indescriptible. Es gratificante sentir y saber que tengo la habilidad de poder ser parte del cambio y la voz para mi gente. Siempre estaré cerca de la playa y el coquí sin importar en cual jungla yo este. "Leaving your island and your whole life to be able to fly high towards your goals and opportunities is an indescribable pain. It is gratifying to feel and know that I have the ability to be part of the change and the voice for my people. I will always be close to the beach and the coqui no matter which jungle I'm in."