Mudanza - moving of the home, a change, a passage into what comes next.
Throughout my life I have cast aside protectiveness over my personal items, instead vouching to keep all that can safely be thrown into a recycled cardboard box, brought to my next home. As a child, me and my father would move 3 or 4 times a year, switching from schools, scenery, friends, and cheap posters on the wall. From Nevada, California, New Mexico, Arizona, even outside of the States into Mexico—-I had moved more times than my young mind could remember.
What I do remember is using cardboard boxes as dining room tables, laughing with my dad as we drew silly animals on sticky notes. I remember cycling through different blow up air mattresses as they slowly got holes in them, leaving me closer to the ground every night. I remember a mix of cowboy posters and 2010’s pop music icons stuck onto our walls. Home was never a stagnant thing, but it traveled alongside me.
Some items we can not bear to ever lose. As I have continued to move in my adulthood, I keep three stuffed animals near to my heart.
Mimi - a now sad looking stuffed rabbit given to me on my first Easter, her fur and ears peeling away, changed by my anxious tiny hands. I remember the face and scent of my Mama and Nana, times on the playground,
Rene - a silly looking frog sewn for me by my step-mom, Tina. A sign of love through creation, a peace treaty, a mutual understanding of our existence in each others lives. The difficult childhood years of finding one’s identity, mood swings, awkward clothing choices and lots of acne.
Bubcat - a plush of ‘Bugcat,’ purchased for my by my partner, Jairo. A choice to cling onto childish fun as an adult, an example that love can be found, not necessarily brought to you or chosen by blood.
Through my studies of these stuffed animals and the environment presented to you, I give you a view of the people that have created and maintained my home through the mudanzas I have had, and the mudanzas to come. Who knows what the future will bring.
mudanza aims to create an emulation of what was many of my childhood rooms; it will feature cardboard boxes as decorations and entrance pedestal, screenprinted with old addresses, states, and towns I have lived in over the years. Some boxes may contain personal effects relating to my theme, the stuffed animals featured in my proposal, clothing printed with drawings from my father, non-print works leaning against objects.
The work on the walls will be printmaking works created within the last two years, hung by magnetic pins. These works will be hung tilted and at different heights, seeking to emulate walls full of posters.
The show title will be at the front of the door alongside my statement.
The center of the gallery will feature a queen sized blow up mattress, similar to what I used for many years. It will be allowed to slowly deflate over the time the gallery is in use. On top of, and falling off the bed, will be screenprinted playing cards featuring the stuffed animals mentioned prior.
The goal is to create an environment that feels familiar to some, foreign to others, but overall lived in and childish.
Below is an example of some finished work within the body of mudanza. Pieces range from A4 to half sheets, however, more prints are planned to better fill the Dutzi Gallery walls. There are currently 13 finished pieces.
