Nopal En La Frente
2023
Ceramic with red crystals
The title of this piece is referring to the Mexican phrase that is used on someone who is obviously Mexican and denies their Mexican identity. It translates as “A cactus on your forehead”
I wanted to turn that phrase on it’s head and instead use it in a positive light. I shaped the cactus into a crown.
Heavy is The Head That Wears The Crown: Corona de Nopal III
2023
Ceramic and Swarovski crystals
As first generation immigrants or children of immigrants we are often seen as the prodigal children, the sacrifice our parents made to uproot themselves and migrate for a better future for their children and future generations. We carry our parent’s dreams and aspirations on our shoulders.
I often use the nopal cactus as a symbol for not only resiliency and adaptability but also as a nod to my home state of Zacatecas. A high desert region in Mexico where nopales dot the landscape.
Cactus Crown
Ceramic
2022
As children of immigrants we are often loaded with familial pressures to succeed. We are the reason our parents made the sacrifice to migrate. This crown is a symbol of that pressure.
Corona de Nopales.
Gold embroidery floss. Swarovski crystals. 2021
This piece is dedicated to my dad and all immigrant laborers. My memories of my dad always include his unofficial uniform. Pressed Dickies with the sharp crease down the middle, a white undershirt and a flannel or short sleeve plaid. Always topped with a cap.
I embroidered the cacti in the shape of a crown. Nopales as a symbol of resiliency and a nod to our home state of Zacatecas. The red prickly pears as abundance like a September in Zacatecas during the prickly pear harvest.
Jaguar headpiece
Hardhat, handpainted rivets
Wooden stand with mirrored floor
2020
The jaguar has a long history in Mexico, going back to ancient Maya and Aztecs, known as the ruler of the animal world. The Jaguar Warriors were the elite and bravest warriors of the Aztec empire. I am paying homage to the immigrant laborers in the US. Using a construction hat and rivets, two materials that are used in the biggest employers of immigrant labor, Manufacturing and construction.
Nopal en la Frente
Cap and embroidery floss
2018-2019
Cactucha
2023
Ceramic w steel pins
The Nopal cactus is a motif I use often in my work and I often associate it with working class folks, specifically the migrant laborer. Just like the cactus the migrant community is adaptable and resilient.
The cap is often a symbol of working class folks and laborers as a way to shield oneself from the harsh sun.
Here I merge both to create this piece.
