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 only what can be safely thown into a recycled cardboard box and brought to my next home. As a child, my father and I 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 Papa as we drew silly animals on sticky notes. I remember cycling through different blow-up air mattresses as they slowly developed holes, leaving me closer to the ground every night. I remember a mix of cowboy posters and 2010s 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 faces and scents of my Mama and Nana, and of times on the playground,
Rene - a silly looking frog sewn for me by my stepmother, 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 offer a view of the people that have created and maintained my sense of home through the mudanzas I have experienced, and the mudanzas to come.
mudanza aims emulate 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 Papa, 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 displayed tilted and at different heights, seeking to emulate walls full of posters.
The show title will appear 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 duration of the exhibition. 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.
