Created by
Sánchez, Juan, American, born 1954
Subject of
Colón, Carmen Maria, Puerto Rican, 1919 - 1987
Date
2013
Medium
mixed media: paper, acrylic paint and oil paint on paper
Dimensions
H x W: 35 1/2 × 37 1/4 in. (90.2 × 94.6 cm)
Description
This is a mixed media collage by Juan Sánchez to memorialize his mother. The overall collage is bordered in black. Along the left and right vertical borders are two red lines framing the collage. The background of the collage is black and gray images of a woman’s upper torso with her bare breasts exposed and her face covered with a faded blue/gray Puerto Rican flag, as representations of vulnerability and U.S. colonialism in Puerto Rico.
Centered within the collage and near the top is an imperfectly rectangular-cut white, floral lace pattern. At the center of the lace is a black and white photograph of the artist’s mother’s calves and feet, wearing worn, open toe sandals while standing on cracked pavement. Underneath the image is a poem written by Sánchez on paper with pencil. It has multiple erasure marks and uses past and present tense. The handwritten poem reads: [Your sad eyes always radiates(d) / smiles. Your hands always heal(ing) / and your soul (for)ever forgives(ing). / Your feet (always)righteously grounded / I was (am)so blessed But(now) / I’m missing you now mommy I / am so thirsty now / all that you are is(was) gone (the) joy].
Centered and to the bottom is a sideways heart thinly drawn in red, yellow, green and blue. It is filled with a mosaic of red, yellow, green, blue, black, and brown squares. A few of these squares are outside of the heart. At the center of the heart is an imperfectly arch cut red, floral lace pattern with a prayer card depicting Our Lady of Perpetual Help, a title of the Virgin Mary. The prayer card belonged to his mother and sat near her bed. Underneath it is a row of five cowrie shells, an Afro-Caribbean spiritual symbol.
Cultural Place
Puerto Rico, United States, Caribbean, Latin America, North and Central America
Portfolio/Series
UNKNOWN BORICUAS
Classification
Visual Arts
Type
collages
multimedia works
Topic
Art
Catholicism
Colonialism
Families
Motherhood
Multilingual communication
Photography
Poetry
Prayer
Religion
Spirituality
Credit Line
Collection of the Smithsonian National Museum of African American History and Culture purchased with funds provided by the Smithsonian Latino Initiatives Pool, administered by the Smithsonian Latino Center
Object number
2021.71.2
Restrictions & Rights
© Juan Sánchez, Guariken Arts Inc
Permission required for use. Proper usage is the responsibility of the user.
GUID
http://n2t.net/ark:/65665/fd5d40c966f-9df3-4457-a2ba-8a64f6a6efbb

Cataloging is an ongoing process and we may update this record as we conduct additional research and review. If you have more information about this object, please contact us at NMAAHCDigiTeam@si.edu

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