Artist Statement
My sculptures are inspired by the architecture and environment I have lived in, particularly the Spanish architecture in Puerto Rico, Latin America, and the United States. I grew up in Puerto Rico and have spent half my adult life living on the East Coast of the United States. My sense of self, as an individual, developed as I walked these locations. My work is a representation of my experiences in these places. The architecture of these structures, erected centuries ago, neglected and in disrepair, embodies the passage of time and place. The old buildings have a style that feels like home. The beauty and geometry of old architecture is inviting and reverent of the environment surrounding them.
Using different clay bodies, hand-building methods, and firing at mid-range and raku temperatures, I construct the geometric forms with corners, triangles, circles, and the shapes created by the sun as the light of the day hits the structures. The sculptures are designed with lines that guide the viewer’s eye over the form. I create stamps and carvings from places I visited, and the symbols used by the Taino Indians. With these, I create the sense of place reflecting where I currently live and places I have experienced in the past. My pieces are finished with terra sigillatas, patinas, and washes. This clay slip-based finish portrays the passage of time and age on the surfaces, giving them a weathered appearance. Terra
sigillata is applied to pieces in the green state. Once bisque-fired, washes and patinas are applied in a watercolor consistency. Pieces are fired once more to cone 5 in an electric or cone 10 in a wood-fired kiln.
The symbols of the Taino Indians hold great significance for me as they represent my culture, heritage, the legacy of the thousands of people living in Spanish-colonized places. We are a mix of races and ethnic cultures: music, food, art, and lifestyles which when brought together from different places and times create a dynamic society. My roots guide my perspective and influence my daily memories. Every day, I am aware of the passage of time, my heritage, and the places I have lived. As I work on my sculptures, the clay in my hands gives form to the shapes that reside in my mind.