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These oil and gouache paintings interpret the resourcefully improvised domestic dwellings and infrastructure of the rapidly and perilously expanding working-class communities of Tijuana, Mexico. The more recent paintings examine the repurposing of cast-off garage doors from vintage San Diego subdivisions to build sturdy four-walled Mexican homes. These garage doors—once an important façade component for mid-century American commuter homes—now function as the only façade for households that (more often than not) cannot afford a car. This subtle irony—as well as these homes’ iconic beauty—is completely compelling, as are the complex social and economic contingencies that shape these communities. (All works are 2005-2008, 9" X 12" to 11" X 20") (Click on each image to enlarge)

Estas pinturas al óleo y gouache interpretan la ingeniosa improvisación en las viviendas e infraestructura de las peligrosamente crecientes comunidades de clase trabajadora en Tijuana, México. Mis pinturas más recientes examinan el reúso de puertas de cochera--deshechadas por antiguas entidades sandieguinas--para construir resistentes hogares de cuatro paredes en México. Estas puertas de cochera, que previamente fueron un elemento muy importante de la fachada de las casas norteamericanas de mitad de siglo, ahora funcionan como la única achada en hogares cuyos habitantes (la mayor parte de las veces) no pueden comprar un auto. Esta sutil ironía--así como la icónica belleza de las casas creadas--es fascinante, así como lo son las complejas contingencias sociales y económicas que dan forma a estas comunidades. (Todas las piezas fueron producidas entre los años 2005 al 2008, las medidas son 9" X 12" a 11" X 20")

04_G4_C5

04 G4 C5 (2008)

diamond-home

Diamond Home (2008)

Duplex

Duplex (2008)

brown-home

Brown Home (2008)

tidy-duplex

Tidy Duplex (2008)

Tienda

Tienda (2008)

biege-home

Beige Home (2007)

pink-home

Pink Home (2007)

ruta-dos-mil

Ruta Dos Mil (2007)

ruta-dos-mil-2

Ruta Dos Mil 2 (2007)

ruta-dos-mil-3

Ruta Dos Mil 3 (2007)

nosotros

Nosotros (2007)

lazaro-cardenas

Lazaro Cardenas (2007)

la-gloria-jardin

La Gloria Jardin (2007)

la-gloria-jardin-2

La Gloria Jardin 2 (2006)

la-gloria-jardin

La Gloria Jardin 3 (2006)

la-gloria-monolith

La Gloria Monolith (2006)

la-gloria-memento

La Gloria Memento (2006)

watershed-with-palm

Watershed with palm (2005)

watershed-with-pink-barrel

Watershed with Pink Barrel (2006)

watershed-with-view

Watershed With View (2005)

watershed-with-barrel

Watershed With Barrel (2006)

watershed-with-gate

Watershed With Gate (2005)

watershed-with-tires

Watershed With Tires (2005)

watershed-with-rocks

Watershed With Rocks (2006)

watershed-with-home

Watershed With Home (2006)

watershed-with-dog

Watershed With Dog (2006)

infrastructure-with-toy

Infrastructure With Toy (2006)

la-morita-sewer

La Morita Sewer (2006)

la-gloria-construction

La Gloria Construction (2005)

infrastructure-with-shoe

Infrastructure With Shoe (2005)

infrastructure-with-cliff

Infrastructure With Cliff (2005)

infrastructure-with-ornament

Infrastructure With Ornament (2005)

la-morita-infrastructure

La Morita Infrastructure (2006)

la-morita-infrastructure

La Morita Infrastructure With Ornament (2006)

la-morita-infrastructure

Research & Desire, Lake Tahoe Community College (2016)

la-morita-infrastructure

Research & Desire, Lake Tahoe Community College (2016)

la-morita-infrastructure

Research & Desire, Lake Tahoe Community College (2016)

la-morita-infrastructure

Research & Desire, Lake Tahoe Community College (2016)