03.09.21
Art by Stephany Torres for Remezcla. Photographs by Sunny Leerasanthanah and Jasmine Durhal. Pictured: David Antonio Cruz, Gabriella Sanchez, Jasmin Hernandez, and Firelei Báez. Book cover courtesy of Abrams.
The art world often represents some of the most elitist and exclusionary cultural gatekeeping in today’s society, and a pervasive, pernicious lack of diversity might lead many to think that Black and Brown creatives simply don’t exist in such spaces. However, despite being massively underrepresented, many Black, Indigenous and other people of color (BIPOC) individuals aren’t just working in the art world they’ve found their own radical ways to thrive in it. These are exactly the people that Jasmin Hernandez highlights in her stunning new book,
, you discussed how Catholicism has influenced some of your earlier projects. Do you see a common thread in how catholic visual culture manifests across your work?
A lot of my work has to do with looking at the world and wanting to talk about beauty and more difficult things through art but kind of not knowing how. I grew up in Honduras, and I came [to the U.S.] for college and got an engineering degree. Even though I didn’t go to art school, I was able to take some studio courses and some liberal arts classes, and I just fell in love with it. I figured it would be easier to stay here if I pursued a technical degree, so I worked as an engineer for about a year. It was later in life when I realized [art] is what I want to do… and that’s become an undertone in a lot of my work.
If 2021 is shaping up to be anything like 2020, we’re looking at a
lot more time with only ourselves for company. Luckily, Latine authors are up for the challenge of helping to fill that time. From a novel-in-verse about maybe falling in love with Selena’s ghost to a memoir about growing up queer and biracial in rural Indiana, 2021 promises us a dizzying variety of novels, memoirs, and poetry to carry us through the remaining lock-in.
Here are 10 books coming out (mostly) in the first half of 2021, to keep you company while you wait for your vaccine:
Marcos Gonsalez,
Pedro’s Theory: Reimagining the Promised Land
Art by Stephany Torres for Remezcla
2020 was wrought with turbulent challenges that included a global pandemic, high-stake elections, confronting injustice, and drastically adapting our general way of life. As we round out the year, taking time to recenter and indulge in TLC and R&R is especially paramount. If you could use some pampering or would like to provide a gift that encourages the act of
self-care for someone else to enjoy, we have a list of all-inclusive products from ten Latinx owned businesses.
Some of our favorites can help alleviate timely issues like maskne, stress-induced hair loss and monitoring our mental health. As shut-downs continue to take effect this holiday season, take the time to slow down and unwind on your own or in safe company with our curated self-care items.