CROSSINGS

Identity is a reflection of self-image. As military troops spent the holiday at the border waiting for a migrant “caravan,” presidential compassion remains limited and divisive. Stoically, the Statue of Liberty showcases Emma Lazarus’ The New Colossus poem: “…Give me your tired, your poor, Your huddled masses yearning to breathe free, The wretched refuse of your teeming shore…” Need we say more?

Statue of Liberty at the Musée d’Orsay in Paris.

Three of my braille artworks (WALL, HOME, and MOTHER EARTH) will be featured in an exhibit titled Crossings at El Sótano Art Space in Brooklyn, New York. The venue is a community social and creative space hosting group and solo exhibitions throughout the year. Artistic conversation and advocacy thrives here.

From El Sótano Art Space: “This show addresses the changing essence of identity through the process of immigration. Our definition of immigration is not limited to the crossing of geographical divisions. We define it as the significant movement of a person through borders whether they be physical, emotional, social, ideological, and/or conceptual in either literal and/or figurative modes. We find it important to broaden the definition of immigration for this exhibition and include actions that encompass more than the literal meaning of the word to embody the full spectrum of the process of moving from one place/thought/emotion/identity/etc to another. We encourage artists to interpret this definition in their own creative manner.”

“Through this exhibition, we seek to create a space that brings together a variety of experiences that intersect at the crossroads of change and identity.”

*MOTHER EARTH*, clear braille on polymer.

WALL, HOME, and MOTHER EARTH description: Lady Justice is a symbol of impartiality in our judicial system. Standing stoically with a scale in one hand and a sword in the other, she is blindfolded representing that power, status, or money has no influence. A standard braille sign becomes repurposed by altering its function. The art serves as a marker questioning how special interests have weakened the fundamental principles of democracy. Citizens must not follow but question, organize, and demand the highest standards preserving truth and justice.

Diversity is our strength. A monolithic culture lacks vision and reality. When borders are built on racism, it’s a failure for humanity. Crossings highlights an honest pattern of immigration throughout ancestry. The truth is that clinging to a toxic identity equals self-hatred.

Listen to the wisdom of Emma Lazarus’ The New Colossus poem: “…Send these, the homeless, tempest-tost to me, I lift my lamp beside the golden door!”