club q

For the past few days, I have been trying to think of something to say about the tragedy that took place at Club Q, but I can't think of anything. All I can do is feel this immense sadness for the victims and their families. For the members of the queer community that were taken from us and for the safe space that was infiltrated by hate.

To my queer community, I love you. We will heal. We will rebuild. We are strong. We will grieve. We will honor those who were lost. We will continue to dance and love.

Rest in Power

Kelly Loving
Daniel Aston
Derrick Rump
Ashley Paugh
Raymond Green Vance

Espacios

The first space is based on a traditional set up and altar. It is called Ahora. The items on the altar are for cleansing, such as oils, and eggs for limpias. A limpia can be performed with various objects such as a candle, a palm, an egg, plants, fire, smoke, feathers, Agua de Florida, perfumes, flowers, aromatic oils, healing stones, shakers, and chants. The second is the speculative space, inspired by the traditional. It is called Venir.  Some of the objects remain the same and some of the objects have transformed. Other objects are a little more scientific, such as the egg, radiation dirt detector, and the crystal that is used for water purification. It is not the magic or the science of Curanderismo that I am theorizing about, although that does play a big part in my research, but the intention. The intention that is placed on an object in order to remind us that we have set goals to better ourselves or to cleanse our homes in order to have control over our lives and bodies. The intention that the baggage has been removed and we can move on, unbound by the past.

DIOSAS

I created Idols, that are based on the vector icons, and are placed in two of the levels in my game. The icons are placed behind the idols as reference in order to solidify the comparison, existing in 2D and 3D spaces. I wanted to steer away from catholic imagery. Even though it is a part of my history, it is the colonization of the land that historically discouraged the ceremonial practices of my ancestors and almost exterminated the culture. So, I wanted to disconnect the two, religion and spiritualism, and create idols that were designed from ancient manuscripts, contemporary practices, and the future

Other Work