On December 12,2003... I threw a party. It was intended to be an opening of my latest body of work but turned out to be the beginning of a project I am still working on.

To me Guadalupe is the same image as the Shiva. To me they are embodiments of care and order. Baby chaos underfoot. From what I gather, the story of Guadalupe is a Catholic translation of something older. She is embraced by Mexican American culture because she is considered as the dark skinned Madonna, or the dark Goddess. A strong woman, but I see this icon as genderless. It also connects me to my heritage as a Hispanic, Latin American.

Every element of this event was constructed as an installation, an inclusive ceremony, a performance I wanted to graciously include my guests in because I had spent a year learning for the first time how much I need to surround myself with people.

I scattered rose petals over the entire floor, each guest left with a hand-painted glass for drinking red wine and tequila, and the whole "to-do" was catered by a Mexican restaurant neighbor from Hollywood Boulevard.

My Atelier was a sacred space, and this night was in honor of that and the people who felt the same as I did.

(Photos Guadalupe Hollywood Below)

OUR LADY OF GUADALUPE 2

December 12 2007

This Myspace slideshow holds images from my second event, four years from the first. This time it occurred in Kansas City and I only invited my studio mates. It was something far more modest than what I had in Hollywood. It is interesting to see how I am able to present this recent documentation. From the party / to the shared data space (myspace) /and back onto a more personal presentation here at my domain.

The group effort at this second event was to purchase animals for a family through the Heifer Foundation. We collected enough for "a flock of hope"

The collective effort of Guadalupe 1 was a painting.