Artist Statement

First impressions are difficult to change, and it takes numerous interactions before you change your mind about someone.  These initially started from the idea that we make judgments based on what we see and hear, never giving a chance to get to know someone.  We hear people but we don’t listen to what they are saying. We see people but we make assumptions about them before a single word is spoken.  We look at their expressions and misinterpret what they may be feeling or thinking.  This brought on the idea of removing sight and sound from the human form and simply exaggerating the other senses: smell, taste, and touch. 

​

My masks have evolved and are more personal, drawing on my own experiences as a woman, a Latina, the daughter of immigrants, and my culture.  Traditional braids with ribbon and flowers and red lips represent my lively spirit when I danced Folklórico. The Charro bowties to some of my male representations honor my heritage and our traditional Mariachi’s.  The feathers are beautiful and used to represent the fire burning within, coming out from the darkness of feeling silenced and repressed.  Despite these feelings, I am not empty; I am full of thoughts, feelings, and emotions: anger, disgust, fear, but also pride, joy, and passion.  Going through trials and tribulations, pain, and sorrow, it has taken a toll, and my work signifies that for me.  However, it also reflects my joy through color, texture, and a touch of my magnificent culture.