Artist Statement

Culture is constantly changing. Culture, especially youth culture is influenced by so many things. Music, fashion, people from all different backgrounds and identities blend together to make up what youth culture is today. To me, culture in Santa barbara is heavily influenced by the Latinx community and by the landscape of Santa Barbara. In Santa Barbara, we have both the mountains and the ocean, both creating a community that values the earth and the beauty it provides. In my art, I try to reflect on the culture that surrounds me. I try to acknowledge my own Guatemalan heritage and blend it with the experiences I’ve had while growing up in Santa Barbara and my travels, as I am exposed to so many other communities I would have never been exposed to in Santa Barbara. Art allows me to vocalize and share my experiences along with the experience of other artists and peers in my community.