Image of a cloaked skeleton holding an outstretched figure. In the style of a traditional depiction of Mary holding Jesus after his deposition from the cross. Printed in yellow, orange, blue, purple, black, white, red and pink ink.
"I am a visual artist who utilizes printmaking, painting, mixed media, installation, film and video to explore personal, social, political and environmental issues. My style combines symbolic and expressionist imagery as well as abstract elements. I love to experiment with different media and technology.
In Muerte Dolorosa, I combined the Cristian figure of La Virgen Dolorosa with Mictecihuatl, the Aztec Lady of the Land of the Dead, as a way of “invoking/provoking” a reaction to the devastating consequences of violence in Los Angeles. It’s been many years since I made that print but the issues that urged me to make it haven’t changed that much. We still live in a very segregated and unfair society. The hoods of LA are still neglected, underfunded and discriminated areas where survival is an every day task. Self-Help Graphics & Art is amongst the few cultural institutions that help disenfranchised Chicax/Latinx youth find a voice and a sense of community.
This print was made by painting directly on the silkscreen mesh and pushing the paint down. It’s a very challenging technique to use because it’s hard to determine how color will blend after been squeezed down on the paper. The ink I used is acrylic based and it tends to dry fast. That means you have to work pretty fast and be open to the accidents and unexpected imagery that result from using the mono print technique." (Artist's statement from email on 10th October 2018)
