Dulce vida
Fond memories of the "sweet life", one that is full of innocence and simplicity.
The magical Mexican desserts that spread love from child to child, and memories
of my childhood. The delicious world of flan, pan dulce, cajeta, galletas,
churros, leche, paletas, limonadas, and aqua frescas. A time when our taste
buds only remember the sweetness of life, free from the worries of life's
struggles. Welcome to the world of a Mexican child who's so proud of his lack
of Fat-Free experiences.
La vida eterna
La vida eterna depicts the transformation, cycles and life forces with
a Mexican twist. It contains surreal elements and symbols that remind me of
life changes, movement, regeneration, escape, reconstruction, metamorphosis,
and life's physical changes. The physicality of life is left behind and enters
the spiritual world of eternal life. The idea that we are all one and become
the same after the physical world. The elements of life including earth, nourishment,
heat, water, wind that create our world and help us determine our path into
the surrealistic afterlife. It symbolizes elements that encompass our life
and let us create our present world and develop our eternal existence.
La tierra
del cielo
La tierra del cielo combines the image of the angel as imagery from
spirituality, as opposed to organized religion. A universal symbol, the angel
along with it overlooking the earth acts as a guardian to all people. It also
combines the bright colors to evoke a cultural place which has latino roots.
The stoicism of the angel and its ethereal qualities capture feelings of being
protected and that of a guardian.
Amor y la luz
Amor y la luz depicts a solid relationship. The light that still flickers
within our hearts while the partner is in the "flight" of love, never turning
to temptation, but signifying passion, trust, commitment, and the delicacy
of love and life. A person in love is like a heart that floats and something
delicate inside of the person is turned on and creates a beauty within that
illuminates.
La botanica
La botanica signifies artifacts that represent a place that cures the
heart, love, money problems, illness and overall conflicts of life. It represents
a belief in miracles, a cultural legacy of hope, a tradition of the unknown
with a mix of religion and voodoo. Swarms of people use the objects such as
the dozen eggs and are looking for a cure from the "healers" who appear to
have some special connection to the spiritual world of saints.
La fiesta
La fiesta represents a backyard celebration about to begin. With Tia
Coti and Tia Fermin enjoying the beginning dance at our cousin's Quinciniera.
The papel picado, traditional décor, and the piñata in the background soon
to be destroyed and discarded by the company that will populate this quaint
East LA back yard.
El mariachi
El mariachi represents to me the men or women who work so hard to entertain
at most latino parties and who share their talents for a small nominal fee.
The lines on this gentleman's face and his age tell us of his wisdom, experience
and love for music. He has just finished a few sets and he sits for a moment
to catch his breath. He is a cultural icon for all of us, and every year my
own mother gets a treat as we hire a few for her birthday.
