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Artist  Artist Statement 90 Miles In July of 2006, I traveled to Cuba with my mother and aunt, both of them Cuban exiles. I had never been to Cuba before, my aunt had not been back in six years and my mother was last there in 1979. The experience was one of extreme anxiety, sadness, hope, fulfillment, and love. Like most Cuban-Americans, my mother was waiting for the day Castro was no longer in power to return. It was only when my abuela, her mother, had a few strokes that she decided to file the paperwork for us to visit. Unfortunately, within a month of us beginning the legal process to receive our visas my abuela passed. In the end, it took us five months before we began that forty-five minute flight from Miami to Havana, Cuba. This incredibly short flight really pronounced just how physically close Cuba is to us. The question became, who or what was really stopping us? The work, 90 miles, explores the issues of restriction, separation, and prohibition in conjunction with the frustration as well as desire that it creates in the oppressed. The title, 90 Miles, is a reference to the southern most public spot of the United States in Key West, Florida. At this point a large buoy stands as a marker and reads “90 Miles to Cuba.” As the closest geographical point to Cuba, this location has become a popular spot for Cuban-Americans to visit. Some believe that they can see Cuba on a clear day, although its mathematically impossible due to the curvature of the Earth. What it represents is that longing for a forbidden land and the desire to feel a connection to a place. As a daughter of a Cuban-exile, I understand the power of this one spot. Through a combination of photographs, projections, and audio (recorded stories about Cuba from Cuban- Americans), 90 Miles recreates the feeling of this poignant landmark in the United States, never allowing the viewer to truly confront the images. Barriers are physically creaed with a wall that only allows one to peer in to see the images. Also for some, there is the language barrier, listening to stories in a language they do not comprehend (whether its Spanish or English). Ultimately, 90 Miles is about the limitations we put on ourselves, what we hold ourselves back from, and the fantasies we can create when we convince ourselves that something is out of our reach. Curriculum Vitae  EDUCATION 2007 Masters of Fine Arts in Photography, Tyler School of Art, Temple University 2000 Bachelor of Fine Arts in Photography, Minor in Mathematics, University of Georgia EXHIBITIONS 2007 21st International Juried Show, Curator: Laura Hoptman, Visual Arts Center of New Jersey, Summit, New Jersey 2006 SPE Snapshot Show, Honorable Mention, University of Pennsylvania Gallery, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 2005 Annual Photography Show, Youngblood Gallery, Atlanta, Georgia 2004 Silent Auction to Benefit “Our Voices” Project, Tula Gallery, Atlanta, Georgia Pinup, Aurora Cafe, Atlanta, Georgia 2003 Intern Show, Women’s Studio Workshop, Rosendale, New York Sk8 or Die, Youngblood Gallery, Atlanta, Georgia Mobilivre Bookmobile, Curator and Exhibitor, Eyedrum Gallery, Atlanta, Georgia  Animal, Youngblood Gallery, Atlanta, Georgia 2002 Annual Photography Show, Youngblood Gallery, Atlanta, Georgia DIY Show, Mission Records, San Francisco, California These Four Walls, Collaborative show with Shawn Beeks, Youngblood Gallery, Atlanta, Georgia 2001 Family History Art Book Program, Administered through TheContemporary, Curator: Helena Reckitt, Bethune Elementary School, Atlanta, Georgia Georgia National Fair Photography Exhibition and Contest, Third Prize, Perry, Georgia 2000 Studio-e, Collaborative show with Jason Thrasher, Blue Sky, Athens, Georgia 1999 BFA Exhibition, Lamar Dodd School of Art Gallery, Athens, Georgia Fotosho, Quality Warehouse, Athens, Georgia PUBLICATIONS 2003 Creative Loafing, Review, vol.32, no.23, October 2000 Frank Atlanta, October Big Brother Skateboarding, July Marquee, Review, May 17-23, Elemental Magazine, January 1999 Art Papers, David Thornton, Review, September AWARDS 2007 Teaching Assistantship 2006 Graduate Study Award 2005 Graduate Assistantship INTERNSHIPS 2003 Women’s Studio Workshop, Rosendale, New York 2000-02 Nexus Press, Atlanta, Georgia
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