Celebrating My Roots

My roots first sprouted in fertile Honduran soil and have been happily transplanted in Oklahoma red clay which has infused into the very fiber of my being. These roots have developed dreams that have been nurtured and encouraged by an amazing tribe of family and friends, dreams that have been made a reality by fabulous teachers, fellow artists, and art collectors from all over the world of different and lovely races and ethnic backgrounds becoming part of my story.

This little self-portrait was created in celebration of my Hispanic heritage, It’s painted from a photo taken just before I turned four to record my first day of kindergarten. However, as I worked on it it was clearer and clearer that the quilt that is me is made of so much more than that one word. This little girl ran around with the smell of mangos and orange blossoms in the air. She lived much of her early childhood in a home with dirt floors and kerosene lamps lighting the evenings and the songs of Vicente Fernandez coming from an old radio. Painting this took me back to when those little hands kept busy by joyously climbing trees and making paper flowers and corn husk dolls. That brown little girl had no clue how many different people were going to nourish her creativity long into adulthood.

Three years after this photo was taken I arrived in the US. It’s the place where my father started an upholstery business from literal scratch, where I went to school and met my husband who has been my partner in all things since, It’s here that teachers were patient and loving enough to teach me to communicate in whole other language (now not speaking either perfectly and even after 40 years, I’m still reminded that not all Spanish sayings translate well to English but I keep trying and am thankful for both). It’s where we celebrate Christmas by making tamales with my mom, my sisters and now my beautiful girls> It’s where I was honored to make Quinceañera dresses for my own beautiful girls, like my mother did for my sisters and me. This is the place I’m fortunate to call home. This was made truer when I became a citizen in my early twenties and let me tell you, I wish that all people would get to participate in a naturalization ceremony, because it will make you feel more American than anything else.

So today, I celebrate where those roots first sprouted and where they are now planted firmly, as it is all part of me and I proud and thankful for all of it.

Thank you so much for being part of my journey this and every day.

Hugs,

Carolina