El Zodíaco Familiar
I was honored to be one of thirteen artists selected to collaborate with
ceramic sculptor, George Rodriguez on a piece for this exhibit.
I was honored to be one of thirteen artists selected to collaborate with
ceramic sculptor, George Rodriguez on a piece for this exhibit.
|
|
El Cacomixtle del Desierto Sonorense (the sculpture shown above) was made in collaboration with
George Rodriguez as part of a group show that has been on exhibit at CWU, The Whatcom Museum, San Juan Islands Museum of Art, and Philadelphia's Magic Gardens.
George Rodriguez as part of a group show that has been on exhibit at CWU, The Whatcom Museum, San Juan Islands Museum of Art, and Philadelphia's Magic Gardens.
Artists Statement for El Cacomixtle del Desierto Sonorense
What exactly is a Cacomixtle? This animal has a history of being misidentified as humans have attempted to categorize it based on its appearance. Tlahcomiztli means ‘half cat’ in Nahuatl, and in English it is known as the Ringtail Cat. Its genus name is Bassariscus from the Greek word bassaris meaning fox. These names don’t quite capture this animal’s identity, as it is neither a cat nor a fox. It simply is its own distinct self, within its own genus.
Cacomixtle and I have several things in common, one of which is that subtle ambiguity of identity. I am half Mexican, half American and based on my name and my appearance nobody ever suspects that I have deep roots in Sonora, Mexico. Cacomixtle and I can both be found in the canyons and mountains of the Sonoran Desert. We both love solitude and eating prickly pear fruit/tunas. We feel at home on both sides of the US-Mexico border, not completely belonging to either country or culture.
I have grounded the Cacomixtle sculpture in the rocky canyons of the Sonoran Desert, in a landscape where we both belong. Geology, landscapes, and plant life are common themes in my pottery. I gathered micaceous schist from the stream beds of several nearby canyons where I frequently hike and where Cacomixtle lives. I added these minerals to clay, marbling it in with other clay layers to form a patterned base for the sculpture. The random marbled patterns created by the compression, folding, and stretching of the clay/earth layers represents the geology of this region. The sculpted saguaros and the color palette represent the plant life and visual character of this desert.The Cacomixtle's eyes are prominent, absorbing and reflecting all of this culture and landscape outwards. We are attentive and contemplative.
What exactly is a Cacomixtle? This animal has a history of being misidentified as humans have attempted to categorize it based on its appearance. Tlahcomiztli means ‘half cat’ in Nahuatl, and in English it is known as the Ringtail Cat. Its genus name is Bassariscus from the Greek word bassaris meaning fox. These names don’t quite capture this animal’s identity, as it is neither a cat nor a fox. It simply is its own distinct self, within its own genus.
Cacomixtle and I have several things in common, one of which is that subtle ambiguity of identity. I am half Mexican, half American and based on my name and my appearance nobody ever suspects that I have deep roots in Sonora, Mexico. Cacomixtle and I can both be found in the canyons and mountains of the Sonoran Desert. We both love solitude and eating prickly pear fruit/tunas. We feel at home on both sides of the US-Mexico border, not completely belonging to either country or culture.
I have grounded the Cacomixtle sculpture in the rocky canyons of the Sonoran Desert, in a landscape where we both belong. Geology, landscapes, and plant life are common themes in my pottery. I gathered micaceous schist from the stream beds of several nearby canyons where I frequently hike and where Cacomixtle lives. I added these minerals to clay, marbling it in with other clay layers to form a patterned base for the sculpture. The random marbled patterns created by the compression, folding, and stretching of the clay/earth layers represents the geology of this region. The sculpted saguaros and the color palette represent the plant life and visual character of this desert.The Cacomixtle's eyes are prominent, absorbing and reflecting all of this culture and landscape outwards. We are attentive and contemplative.
The exhibition is currently on display in the Philadelphia International Airport.
Stay tuned to learn where the exhibit will travel to next...
Feel free to watch the video from 2021 below for more information about the exhibition.
Stay tuned to learn where the exhibit will travel to next...
Feel free to watch the video from 2021 below for more information about the exhibition.
