Artist Statement and Set Up

So as much as I hate to say it - I may have to cut some of my images out because I don't think they will all fit. This will however, make it easier to view in the gallery. I will need help on which ones to omit - although I do have some in mind already. Anyway, this is my Artist Statement that may or may not be on audio for the viewers to listen to in my voice. I will discuss other details on the setup on Thursday - I need feedback!!

Artist Statement

I am Latina. Religion and faith are embedded into my culture and my immediate family. I did not just practice my Catholicism at Mass or on Ash Wednesday, Easter and Christmas – for me, it was my identity.

For a long time I dared not to ever question my upbringing within the Church, but throughout the years I’ve become more curious into finding answers within myself.

In this work, I am exploring my religion and asking why it was so profound to my family and me. Through these photographs, I am seeking the connection between the Catholic religion and my family and how it affects and reflects within each individual. I intend to capture evidence of the Catholic influence within my family and examine how these influences have affected us and have molded us into who we are today. I begin to examine relationships between “saint” and “sinner” and question if it is even possible to be recognized within a portrait. Are we true to who we should have been? According to whom? How far have we gone away from what we were taught? These are some of the questions I hope to unveil throughout this series.