MFA, Kent State University, 2023, College of the Arts / School of Art

This thesis research seeks to investigate the emotional and philosophical relationship between recorded history and lived experience. The paintings use self-portraiture to expand my personal narrative, situating myself in an ongoing, collective history of struggle that reflects the human condition. How the self fits into a larger whole is continuously investigated by inserting myself as the figures populating these historical settings. The paintings explore how violence is consumed in the stories we share and how it reflects the political and economic history we experience.

Committee: Joseph Underwood (Committee Member); Eli Kessler (Committee Member); Shawn Powell (Advisor) Subjects: Art Criticism; Art History; Fine Arts; Hispanic Americans; Latin American History; Middle Ages; Religious History

MA, Kent State University, 2017, College of the Arts / School of Art

SUMMARY: Combining my knowledge of fashion with my interest in textiles seemed like a natural way for me to communicate my concerns about the current situation in Venezuela, and an effective manner to compare the past and present. The garments in this collection serve as a metaphor for the stages that my country has experience from my perspective. The visual elements of the designs are meant to evoke my happy memories as well as the reality of the present situation. I believe that fashion should not be meaningless, and these garments provide a way for me to express my feelings and concerns in a form that is familiar to me. Garments provide a way to make my ideas more accessible to the public. The dresses are meant to be worn and seen in a variety of settings. When one of the dresses is worn in a location that correlates with the message of the piece, it will blend in and make the meaning very apparent. Alternatively, if the piece is worn out of context, I hope it will attract attention and provoke questions. Bringing the most visibility to my concerns is very important to me. Wearable art is uniquely portable, allowing me to combine my interest in fashion, sewing, weaving, and printing on fabric, so my message can move easily out into the world.

Committee: Janice Lessman-Moss (Advisor); Rebecca Cross (Committee Member); Isabel Farnsworth (Committee Member) Subjects: Design; Fine Arts; Textile Research