The United States flags and Mexican flags are fashioned into bulbous tubes intertwined on a rebar which produces a trophy—this is the realization of The American Dream. Flags are the main object in this body of work for the relationship of my two separate countries whose history is perpetually tangled. Two nations that often merge and try to break free from each other because they are intrinsically bound by immigration, labor laws, and the requirements to cross over. The use of construction materials juxtaposed with soft materials create the tension of being bound by flag fragments. The stuffed flag tubes struggle to free themselves from the rigid piece of metal. The pedestal base is cemented by its heavy construction. Inevitably the cement and rebar are a direct connection to building shelters as my father was a construction worker all his life. My father’s chosen profession was a labor of love to build homes for others and to support his family—he makes an appearance through the materials he knew best. Trophy I to Peace was created with white fabric and charms called Milagros used in Mexico. They are pinned to the robes of saints in Catholic churches in exchange for miracles. This piece asks for the miracle of peace among all people—which is by far the hardest thing one can ask of the world.
