Human interest

I’ve been thinking about my culture and what makes it unique. My family didn’t celebrate the holidays like the dominant culture in the United States, but they didn’t celebrate it like they did in Boriquen (Puerto Rico) either.  My parents grew up celebrating Noche Buena (Christmas Eve) like Thanksgi…

Home is a funny word.  It conjures up different things for different people.  A high rise in the middle of a busy city might be the best home for some. While a secluded off grid tiny home might work for others.  I like my house and have slowly been working to turn it into a space I feel comfortable…

Chief Billy (right) and his father, Chief Turkey Tayac Chief Billy Redwing Tayac died yesterday.  He was beloved by his family and many across the world. He was a warrior, gentleman, activist and humanist. We all were so proud when he did the opening ceremony at the National Museum of the American I…

My uncle, Guadalupe, before he left Puerto Rico. The de Jesus’: My uncle (seated) with (from left to right) my cousin, Julie, his wife Ana, and my aunt Pina.  The picture in the frame is the only photo of my grandmother, Julia Malavé Velasquez. My cousins in a “memory” photo probably taken in the ea…

From left to right: The Robles— Auroro, Natividad, and my grandparents, Fernanda and Francisco I only saw my paternal grandfather once and my paternal grandmother once.  I saw them together only once when I went to Puerto Rico (Boriken) when I was 6 years old. I remember running up a beautiful green…

I painted this in the 80s and remember doing the shadows and enjoying the painting process.  I used a reference photo but don’t remember where the photo came from. It resided in my parents’ home for many years.  I must have brought it back with me when I returned to DC after living in NY for a year.…

You look furtively at the other ones’ eyes Their brown eyes mysterious and deep Thoughts and feeling you know nothing about Even though you tried hard to make them forget They remember They remember the earth, her mountains, rivers, green grass, soaring eagles, dark caves, animals running free and w…

Papi, where is paradise? M’hija, paradise is in the aquamarine waters of the Caribbean, a small island of green mountains, cool breezes and warm sunshine. Papi, what is paradise like? M’hija, the coquíes sing you to sleep, the flamboyans wave their ruby flowers at you, oranges grow wild and the agua…

Under a red, incandescent Lakota sun, we met over a thousand years ago and yesterday. Travelers on a journey through a universe of love and beauty. Recognition in the sacred arbor devoted to the humble truth, where we sang and danced prayers for humanity. Dreams foretold of an ageless time when ther…

I’ve been reflecting on isolation and social distancing that we are all undergoing.  As an artist, I am very comfortable being on my own and naturally an introvert who doesn’t do much social interaction.  In looking over my work, I found this image I did while living in New York City of a young woma…