Thank you for reading this. This show is a retrospective on the last 9 years of my life. I moved to NYC on July 20th, 2016, mere months after Santurce helped me burst into a the painter I might still be today. NYC brought a lot of things I did not expect. And I always wondered if I'd be more of a Caribbean artist had I lived back there... back home. Instead of here, working to make it my home.
As a New York City-born, Puerto Rico-raised, Dominican woman living in Brooklyn, identity is something I've grappled with. Being from many places is being from nowhere. And it turns belonging is essential. Or at least feeling like I do. And the thing is that I don't most of the time. And then when I do, I'm haunted by the thought that not belonging is greater than me... that maybe we, as a species, don't belong in this world.
Everything we humans create, everything we deem knowledge, and progress, and the things, things, things, we are proud of ultimately damage and pollute the world we live in, or use tools that do. And it seems we're the only species that does this. At an accelerated rate. As if we hated her. As if we loathed this Earth. And because I don't, I've made it my mission to create wearable, useful, or decorative art out of otherwise wasteful materials. My main girl is cardboard. And I aim to one day be a 100% waste-free artist.
In this exhibit, you'll see a few of the art forms I've enjoyed. Not to mention, a selection of performance photographs I've taken right here at Ornithology since it opened its doors. [...]
Painting for me arrives with inspiration, a proper burst of color, always.
Sketching for me is the release of something no one else can carry, no one but a notebook.
Photographing for me is being safe behind the lens; it's not about me.
Now, the title for this show... I'd love to know what you think about it. So don't forget before you read on. "Are You Sure?" is a question that always irked an important person who was with me through most of this retrospective's span. And I would ask it, and I would ask it, and I would ask it. It was in the little things of our days. I never meant to irritate, I just had it in my head about everything. Because the thing is, I'm not sure about anything.
Or better yet, I'm only really sure of one thing.
How about you?
I'd love to hear from you...
Thank you!