March 20 through April 24, 2021
Extended to May 15, 2021
Opening Reception: Saturday, March 20, 5-8 pm
NELA/Cypress Park
Inaugurating a new series of installation-based exhibitions dedicated solely to BIPOC + LGBTQ artists, “Del Cielo Caen las Hojas” is a site-specific installation questioning the concepts of destiny versus free-will. Comprised entirely of corn-based materials, this work serves as an homage to the artist’s mother and their shared Mexican heritage.
“My mom often recalls stories of her early childhood back in Mexico. 5am wake-ups to gather water from the town well; milking goats; and taking corn to be processed into masa harina for tortillas, sopes, or tamales, ” says the artist. “That last chore has always remained in the back of my mind, because if you were to meet my mom, you would have no idea she grew up poor in a small pueblo.”
“There’s a Mexican proverb that says, Al que nace para tamal, del cielo le caen las hojas. For those born to be a tamale, the leaves (or cornhusks) will fall from the sky.”
According to this axiom, Destiny will find you. Yet, the artist challenges this very notion.
“Was it my mother’s will that set in motion the changes in her life? From hauling corn to becoming a college-educated, home-owning American citizen, my mom embodies and challenges the duality of this adage.
Simultaneously, the installation serves as a reminder of life’s impermanence. Over time, the work itself will decompose and cease to exist.
“This work will age, change, and transform, as with all things in life,” adds the artist. “I encourage you to engage and revisit this piece, time and again, as a reminder that nothing is permanent.”
