This painting is the result of a study of murals in West Saint Paul, Minnesota, USA. This piece is composed of various symbols referenced in these murals, along with other community symbols and my artistic style. The tree, which represents life also creates the division in this piece. The roots are grounded within challenges: barbed wire, a tearing eye, disheartened people and bugs. The branches reach out to the glowing sun, free and flying eagle and the rolling hills. Centered is a staple symbol of liberty in the USA, but with her back turned. Is everyone free? An incredible image inspired from a mural in West Saint Paul. ​

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​No, I do not have any traceable evidence to being of Latino decent. Yes, I speak Spanish and have spent quite a bit of time in Spanish-speaking countries. My sisters have done the same as well as various friends. Why? There has always been a large Latino population in the USA and continues to grow. Based on how I was raised, where I grew up and who my friends were, I have always felt that it is only fair to hear and try to understand the stories of others and their cultural traditions. ​Sometimes I pass for Latino based on how tan my skin is, my painted eyes lit by the night-sky or my accent - and on the contrary, sometimes it is so obvious that I am not Latino for those same reasons. Whether or not I share a blood connection, I do embrace the culture for various reasons. Especially for its support of using artistic expressions to communicate different social themes.

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