Brooklyn Roots, Boricua Branches: After Dos Corazones

Brooklyn Roots, Boricua Branches: After Dos Corazones
Stained Glass
15 x 15in
2023
Crafted using varied stained-glass techniques: painted enamel, silver stain, and sandblast-carved flash glass, this piece symbolizes unity through lineage. The central image overlaps 2 pieces of glass, merging a self-portrait and a depiction of my mother. Thus, blending identities through light and glass. Matching hoop earrings symbolize our shared Puerto Rican heritage.

Encircling the portrait are banners containing excerpts from Elisabet Velasquez’s poem “Dos Corazones: After Papo Colo.” Which explores conflicting identities and the struggle to maintain one’s cultural identity in a country shaped by a history of colonization.

This piece embodies introspection, tracing the journey that led me to the present and contemplating the significance of being an artist in any given moment. It explores the intersection of personal and cultural identity. Delving into the intricate dynamics of heritage, self-discovery, and artistic expression.