Melissa: An American doll
Alexies Benitez
“Adventures with Melissa: An American Doll” we delve into the narrative of my sister’s unique odyssey to the United States. This story unfolds a childhood marked by the absence of a doll that mirrored her likeness and a book that echoed her personal experiences. However, the resonance of this narrative extends beyond the confines of our family, echoing the experiences of countless immigrant children who arrive in the United States, armed with nothing but a dream.
This initiative is not just a personal endeavor but a broader mission to provide representation. It seeks to bridge the gap for many others who, like us, deserve to witness themselves reflected in the dolls that accompany their dreams. Through Melissa, I aim to furnish families with a tangible symbol that not only encapsulates but also narrates our collective stories.”
The TASTE OF TRADITION
Jen Joaqui-Almendarez
“The Taste of Tradition” involves a “cartoonized” watercolor portrayal of the first time I prepared buñuelos (a quintessential Colombian treat and an annual tradition lovingly upheld by my grandmother) with my partner. Rooted in my U.S. upbringing, food has served as the primary bridge to embrace my Latine heritage. The art piece aims to redefine the essence of one’s Latinidad and what it means to be Latine, as well as illustrate how cultural dishes can meld distinct cultures, individuals and narratives. The piece is accompanied by a transcribed account from my grandmother detailing how she goes about making buñuelos, and the significance the process holds for her.
Buñuelo Interview Questions + Transcript
Sports FIrsts
Isaiah Gray
I wanted to display the importance of Latino identity in sports for my final project in this class. I highlighted some of the first Latino athletes to appear in major sporting leagues and competitions in the United States, like the NBA, NFL, U.S. Open, etc. I wanted to exhibit this through a large sized baseball card format, with images of the athlete on the front and more information about them on the back.
Inter generational Insight
Genesis Báez
Poster
The aim of my project is to visually depict three generations, highlighting differences across culture, religion, and education. By exploring these three aspects, I seek to illuminate a broad spectrum of themes, examining how immigration, identity, and the influence of American culture have collectively shaped the evolution of Dominican culture within the United States.
“Dos vidas”
Sofia Escalona and Hannia Arevalo
Art (9 x 12 in.)
Dos vidas depicts two worlds of two people tied together by a Mexican-American identity. Duality is showcased through 6 pages of sketches composed of drawings of our lives in Houston and McAllen, pictures, quotes of music and contemporary books, and a solidarity between two distinct ways of living as a Mexican American. Our purpose is to show is that there is no wrong way to live within your culture – our commitment to portray these “dos vidas” demonstrates our interest in not only highlighting the importance of our culture, but that this relationship with our heritage is distinct and deserving of understanding, love, and representation.
The Ancestral Times: Family Immigration Edition
Allie Pequeno, Cristina Rojo, Petros Georgiou
Trifold poster
We will be creating a trifold containing a newspaper that describes our families’ immigration stories and a collage of newspaper archives. In the middle of the trifold, we will be replicating the format of a New York Times article with stories, images, and captions. The three passages in the article discuss each of our families’ stories immigrating to the United States. On the flaps of the trifold, we will create a collage of old newspapers from the years our families immigrated, giving further insight on what was occurring in the U.S. as they settled. This poster will serve as a representation of how our families came to the United States and created a home here.
“I am first Aztec, then Mexican and then Latina, but at the end I am all three”
Maria Lima Valdez
3 painted canvas
I will be presenting 3 painted canvases that reflect the intersectionality of my three identities and how they interact with each other. I will be displaying how they are reflected in my life and how they are unable to be separated one from the other since they co-exist together creating my full person. I have decided to display this due to the large emphasis I always put in my identity and in order to show that Latinx people are not a monolith since they all have their own stories and identities behind just being Latinx.