Sing, Don’t Cry

Porque cantando se alegran... los corazones (Because by singing, hearts get happy)

-"Cielito Lindo" (Lovely Sweet One)

Mexican people, my people, are one of the most grateful and joyful I know. Growing up, however, I didn't always relate to this. It wasn't until I moved to Canada and found sobriety that I began to reclaim a number of aspects of Mexican culture, including its stubborn optimism.

Having a positive outlook on life seems counterintuitive when in Mexico things can be quite challenging for a lot of people and if they aren't, just wait a second and your luck might run out! Faced with consistent hardship, focusing on the good that persists is not only a matter of survival, but also one of Mexico’s greatest strengths.

The work that makes up 'Sing Don't Cry' reflects this spirit of persistent joyfulness. By centring colour and geometric forms in all their boldness and purity, but in combinations that offer a more subtle aesthetic, I want to affirm an unapologetic, relentless optimism.

This is a mindset I share with Mexico's unofficial anthem, "Cielito Lindo", a powerful song that frequently unites the country in celebration (at the World Cup, for example) but also in times of real tragedy and mourning. In September 2017, when a catastrophic earthquake in Mexico City left hundreds dead, volunteers collected food and medical equipment while singing a profoundly moving rendition of "Cielito Lindo."

The chorus of this spirit-lifting anthem-"Canta y no llores"- is where I take my show title. To sing rather than cry: this isn't a toxic optimism; instead it's a choice made from strength and a brave hopefulness, a reminder not to bury negative feelings, but rather to not spend so much time in the dark that we forget to see the light. This body of work is my way of singing with colour and shape, and an invitation for anyone who needs it, to get a dose of what I like to call dopamina mexicana.

THIS_ Gallery

​Lower Ground Level. 30E - 268 Keefer Street. Vancouver, BC

Opening reception

Saturday,October 12 from noon to 4 pm PDT. The artist will be in attendance.

ARTIST TALK

Thursday, October 17 from 6 - 7pm PDT. With guided walkthrough by Miret Rodriguez.