As someone born here, from a family born there; I’ve oftentimes felt a disconnect between my own experiences in the US and the culture my parents raised me with. There are many things that strain the wire between us: resentment, love, guilt, the list goes on and on.

There are things about them I cannot even begin to comprehend, and there are things about me I fear they will never understand, much less accept.

That leaves us at a standstill, each person fearing to take the first step towards connection. My goal with these paintings is to learn how to communicate those undivulged feelings, and begin to heal. It's a slow process but at least today I know that we are better than yesterday, worse than tomorrow.

Como alguien que nació aquí, de una familia que nació allá; Muchas veces he sentido una separación entre mis propias experiencias en los Estados Unidos y la cultura con la que me criaron mis padres. Hay muchas cosas que tensan la cuerda entre nosotros: enojo, amor, remordimiento, y mucho más.

Ellos han experimentado cosas que ni siquiera puedo empezar a comprender. Y hay experiencias mías que temo nunca entiendan, mucho menos acepten.

Eso nos deja a todos paralizados, cada quien con miedo de dar el primer paso hacia una conexión. Mi objetivo con estas pinturas es aprender a expresar esos sentimientos y comenzar a sanar. Es un proceso lento, pero al menos hoy sé que estamos mejor que ayer, peor que mañana.

Due to our financial situation, my grandma had to come from Mexico and take care of me and eventually my brother while my parents worked full-time. By the time the both of us were grown her visa had expired and her health declined. She has missed many things in her home. The deaths of two sons, the birth of a great grandchild, her freedom. And I know she loves me, but in the stories she tells me of her home I feel the blame she has for me, for being the reason she's here and not there.

Anonymous