Where I’m from, a “temple”/stage sits in the center of La Raza Park, popular in the Northside of Denver. In the Westside, A church, St Cajetan’s sits along with a few of the old houses from the neighborhood hood they wiped out to build a College/University Campus. Both have played a role in my life. Living in the Northside and learning in the Westside. Both neighborhoods have changed, some say they blossomed. Some say they’re dying. These sneakers were popular in these neighborhoods when I was growing up. Because of this, I decided to dedicate these to North/West Denver for the Ten Toes Down Exhibit. My love letter, an ode. You can’t hear the song or see the words, but if you sit with them, you can hear their story. Huichol art took my breath as a child when I saw people creating it in Mexico. It hit me hard and I knew, tho I didn’t know at the time I was an artist, that I had to do this one day. After years of this feeling brewing inside of me, @theyshootn and @olddenver gave me the opportunity to bring this vision to life. After a lot of research, support from my familia, heart and soul, here’s the result. Mi Amor would ask me what I was going to do and I’d smile and tell him, “I don’t know”. Ha! I only knew that I wanted to add the two locations, the rest came to me through the process. I let the beads guide me. I let faith guide me. I had no room for negative thoughts or feelings that I couldn’t accomplish this. Ah, I’m in tears at the responses they have gotten. It’s amazing what you can accomplish with the right energy and support around you and inside of you. I put a lot of love in these, I appreciate the love their getting back. Gracias @armando_geneyro for taking these shots at both locations

“¡Sí, Se Puede!”-Acrylic (large canvas) 2ft.x 4ft. Back in May I submitted my piece for The Aurora’s Art in Public Places (AIPP) special exhibition commemorating the anniversary of women's right to vote. AIPP invited 10 local women artists. I’m honored to have been chosen to submit a painting. Here is the final piece and some words of inspiration behind it.

I’m a self-taught Xicana artist born and raised in Denver, Colorado. I’m honored to have been chosen to participate in the Voices of Women Reflecting the 19th Amendment exhibit! I work with many types of media, but for this piece, I decided to use paint to tell a story inspired by the path that women paved 100 years ago. I recognize that this movement was a spark that started other movements for women. This piece is inspired by the women who look like me and who use their right to vote to be heard – and by the women who have taken the steps to use their power in the senate, congress, and city councils across America (@aoc @senadorajulie @serena4co @councilwomantorres @sandovalcd1 @candicdebacad9 and more). It’s inspired by the conversation that representation matters. Finally, it is inspired by the little ladies who are often told they’re too bossy, but the truth is, they’re natural leaders and have aspirations to break the ceiling that they’ve been told couldn’t be broken.”