2021

Copper, vitreous enamel, graphite, luster, china paint, sequins, seed beads, embroidery thread, hair extensions, knurled brass screws.

Trenzaré mi tristeza (I Will Braid My Sadness) emerged from my experience of grief and from childhood memories of watching my great grandmother braid her hair during difficult moments. Influenced by Mexican and Indigenous beliefs that understand hair as an extension of the spirit and a vessel for memory and emotion, the braid becomes a symbol of protection, resilience, and emotional endurance. Rather than concealing sadness, the act of braiding serves as a way of carrying it, organizing it, and moving forward despite it. The work reflects on the rituals through which women compose themselves in the face of loss while continuing to care for their families and communities.