Murals

Diaspora

A haloed child wearing a traditional Vejigante mask from Loiza Puerto Rico throwing Pan Am paper airplanes along 111th street, symbolizes the sanctification and innocence of the migrants that were lured into the U.S. to work as industrial and agricultural laborers under "Operation Bootstrap" in the 1940′s. Pan Am being the first commercial airline to transport Puerto Ricans from the island to New York City.

To create a more interactive and personal experience for the community, I asked longtime residents, elders, and children of El Barrio to assist me in making the mural and by making and designing paper airplanes that we would hang on the trees lining 111th street.

Lagrimas De Oro (Golden Waters)

Created for the 1st Annual Puerto Rican Parade in Sunset Park Brooklyn

Gold is the color of success, achievement and triumph, abundance and prosperity, luxury and quality, prestige and sophistication, value and elegance. Yellow means joy, happiness, energy, has the power to stimulate mental activity. These two color choices for this one little rain drop means HOPE for a lot of our people, especially in neighborhoods like Sunset Park. It's difficult to believe sometimes that when the dark clouds come trying to rain on our "parade"... Collectively we bottle up enough golden yellow rain drops through those clouds to overcome it together.
The mask represents our Puerto Rican people, the rooster represents our pride and strength, a guardian, a celebration of life and embracing the sun. The flood water means new beginnings and old grief and emotional confusion become further washed away.

Lagrimas De Oro
47th street & 5th ave, Sunset Park Brooklyn, NY
2015

Libre
Monument Art festival in El Barrio NYC
2015