wood, house paint, hand-painted fabric, lace, cinder blocks, digital video
72 × 108 × 46
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.
Detail
Detail
Cortez Gonzales and Herrera articulate their Mexican American experience with assimilation as Mexican-Americans growing up in Texas. The video montage honors their cultural past. The first segment features a woman embroidering a Texas bluebonnet, recounting a story of a Singer sewing machine's link to proving U.S. citizenship. Photos of Cortez Gonzales’ relatives intertwine with a recording of music performed by her father's band from his youth. The second and third clips by Herrera depict her performing a dance while immersed in a scene from her grandparents' home, evoking a sense of being transported there regardless of her whereabouts.
Video and poem confronts the legacy of the “English Only” law enacted in Texas from 1918 until 1973 making it illegal to speak non-English languages in classrooms and some public spaces. Through the action of hanging sheets, I embody the ongoing psychological and emotional impact still felt by generations after. Though, no longer set into law, attitudes of discrimination continue in today’s anti-immigrant climate. Distant sounds of cicadas and thunder roll through, while sheets with embroidered words literally hang exposed to rain and wind, each one heavy with meaning. As a mother, a woman, and a descendent of my own family, I inherit this load, carrying its burdens and its strength forward into the future.
resin, mylar, graphite, wood, paint, sewn fabric
19 x 11 x 2 in / 12 x 6 x 2 in
photo credit: Melissa Gamez Herrera