Interno Externo
wood, house paint, hand-painted fabric, lace, cinder blocks, digital video, 72 × 108 × 46 inches

The home-like structure represents the inner and outer struggles of maintaining a hybrid identity. The only color emerges from hand-painted fabric inspired by Mexican oilcloths for the intimate space they create for conversation, and nourishment. The fabric, known for its durability, bursts through the whitewashed facade signifying cultural resilience against external influences. Collaborative video with dancer Sara Herrera.

Interno Externo
9-minute video

This video montage sits within the sculpture Interno Externo, honoring the cultural histories of artist Cortez Gonzales and dancer Herrera. It begins with a woman embroidering a Texas bluebonnet while recounting a Singer sewing machine's role in proving U.S. citizenship. Photographs of Cortez Gonzales’ family appear together with music from her father’s band in his youth. In following segments, Herrera performs a dance within a scene from her grandparents’ home, evoking the feeling of being transported there across time and place.

Interno Externo, Detail

Silent Knowledge, detail

Silent Knowledge
resin, mylar, graphite, wood, paint, sewn fabric, 19 x 11 x 2 in / 12 x 6 x 2 in. Photo credit: Melissa Gamez Herrera