This relief print is inspired by mythology and the courage of immigrants seeking a new beginning.  The illegal crossing of immigrants along the Rio Grande River is something that has always existed since Texas was annexed from Mexico in 1845.  Today, it has shaped the politics of the United States with an exorbitant number of immigrants escaping the hardships and violence of Mexico. I cannot help but be biased that the majority of Mexicans entering this country have intentions of pulling their weight by what they know how, and this is to work hard.  However, today, the association with drug cartels has a negative influence on every Mexican entering the United States. 

The mythology is how “La Serenita del Rio Grande” is presented.  Every culture is defined by its dreamlike, rich mythology.  This print is one of my own.  I envisioned a little mermaid of the river navigating and aiding people across the Rio Grande River.  Since childhood, my father would take me to the river to fish.  I learned the flow and powerful eddies swirling within the currents along with plants and animals living within it.  The river is alive with movement and abundance.  With its beauty, there are also dangers, from the river to the people who prey on the unfortunate and seek passage.  Thousands of people have lost their lives crossing this body of water.  For this work, I wanted to embrace the supernatural aspect of the river, which is interwoven with Mexican culture. 

“La Serenita del Rio Grande” captures the dangerous movements of the surging river with the innocence of a little girl who navigates it in darkness by sensing the presence of the moon and every element that surrounds her. She holds a rope, saving and steering people to safety. This work was a joyful challenge, adding mythology and an opportunity to stress imagination, creating a presence of light and shade, and highlighting the rhythm of lines.

 

Serenita Del Rio Grande

24” x 36”

relief print linoleum