Life Lines, no 3
My Soul's Language: Remembering and Celebrating My Grandmother
Hello from San Rafael, California! I've been in the Bay Area working on some murals as part of my Inspired Students Mural Initiative. It's a bit crazy to think I am already writing issue number 3 of Life Lines (a little bit late 😬 whoops). I've been on the go for the last few weeks, so it has been challenging to keep up, but here we are! Giving it all I have! Anyway, here's issue no. 3. Vamos!
Drawing The Moon.
Since I was a child, I've always known Day of the Dead as a significant holiday in my culture and at home. I never met my maternal grandmother, Hilaria Rosas Torres, as she passed shortly after my parents married. Though neither my sisters nor I got to meet her, I feel like I know her through the stories my parents shared. My mom often said she was watching us from the stars, and on bright moonlit nights, I'd imagine her there, observing us from the porch of our house in Mexico. These narratives, rich with tears and deep pain mixed with profound love, helped me meet my grandmother.
My grandmother, despite never having met her, has been one of the most influential figures in my life. How can someone who has never shared this Earth with you shape who you are? How can someone living on the moon love you so much? Though I've always wondered, I've never delved deeper, understanding that these feelings come from a world that speaks the language of our souls—the spiritual and the fantastic. That understanding is sufficient. I am forever grateful to my mother for instilling in me this deep love and the painful joy of remembering someone so beloved.
The moon is a vital symbol in my work; each time I draw it, I think of my grandma. It's fleeting, but the thought is profound and part of who I am. I consider myself incredibly fortunate to have grown up in a culture that values the spiritual world, and I am thankful for the bittersweet conversations about my grandmother. Meeting her, even if only in dreams, has been a blessing, and I cherish calling her my angel.
Symbols are important to me as they serve as portals of connection. They are universal yet can carry personal meanings—our soul's own language. As I celebrate my grandmother's existence and her journey through different realms, I find myself more connected to my spiritual side, a feeling that enriches my life. Celebrating her and anticipating her presence allows me to continue nurturing my spiritual self.
The Inspired Students Mural Initiative
I have spent the last couple of weeks in the Bay Area, specifically in Novato, California. I'm here to work on four murals at four public schools while also giving all the students at each school a workshop about mural art. Earlier this year, when we did the first school, I had no idea what it would become, but I felt deeply fulfilled and understood how important it was for me to inspire the students to believe that becoming an artist—or anything they want to be—is possible. Growing up, I always wanted to be an artist but didn't have anyone to look up to. I want students to know that if I could become an artist, they can too.
It's an incredibly exciting project that has been growing this year; we've finished a mural at the ninth school and have given workshops to more than 4,000 students!!! Not sure how it all happened, haha, but it did! If you want to learn more about this project, please visit muralinitiative.org, and feel free to reach out if you have any ideas on how you could help us move this project forward! We are always looking for ways to make this better and more impactful. More to come! In the meantime, enjoy some photos from being on the road, surrounded by eager-to-learn students and a lot of very special moments.
Collaborations (but fast).
⚬ In the last issue of Life Lines, I mentioned a video I was featured in. It has since premiered at this year's Americas Leadership Luncheon, hosted by the Biennial of the Americas. To watch the video, click here —>
⚬ A few weeks ago, I finished this small but mighty mural at York Street Yards. See more pictures here —>
In Flux (Zeus at Olympia)
This one is a bit challenging because I don’t really have much I can say about it (yet). I just know I love it so much, and I love how the line brings all the layered worlds together. What do you think?
Art Friend Showcase: Kristina Davies
Kristina and I met a few years ago right after I moved to Denver and got my first studio. Her studio was in the same building, and one day we just started chatting. The connection was deep and immediate, and we've been close ever since. Sometimes, Kristina and I paint together—not just side by side, but on the same canvas, responding to each other's strokes. It's one of the most enjoyable experiences I've had, and every time we do it, we have a blast.
Kristina isn't just an amazing contemporary visual artist and educator; she's also my kindred spirit. I love talking with her because our souls are perfectly in sync, which is truly priceless. Check out her portfolio here, or follow her journey on Instagram here.