A Note on “Multi-Vocal” Works
The idea for “multi-vocal" paintings originated as I was driving across the desert to one of the five different youth detention facilities where I taught art classes. I wondered how all of the talented students I was working with might create a painting together, even though they couldn’t be in the same room. The first multi-vocal painting, Clouds, brought those student together with the broader local community, symbolically closing the distance between inside and out.
I have continued to develop this multi-vocal art practice as a way to work with diverse communities. Each participant receives one laser-cut tile from a repeating geometric pattern, and paints on it according to a specific set of visual limitations and prompts. The finished pieces fit together to form a seamless whole.
This type of artwork celebrates a diversity of perspectives, and resists the notion that plurality might become consolidated into a singular view. Each multi-vocal painting is a visible disruption of the Western world's emphasis on the isolated individual, which I've come to see less as a sign of freedom than a symptom of colonization.
These works were greatly influenced by the beautiful poetic inquiries of M. NourbeSe Philip and Yanara Friedland.
I have continued to develop this multi-vocal art practice as a way to work with diverse communities. Each participant receives one laser-cut tile from a repeating geometric pattern, and paints on it according to a specific set of visual limitations and prompts. The finished pieces fit together to form a seamless whole.
This type of artwork celebrates a diversity of perspectives, and resists the notion that plurality might become consolidated into a singular view. Each multi-vocal painting is a visible disruption of the Western world's emphasis on the isolated individual, which I've come to see less as a sign of freedom than a symptom of colonization.
These works were greatly influenced by the beautiful poetic inquiries of M. NourbeSe Philip and Yanara Friedland.
Voices of Adams County
2024
75 x 130 inches
Acrylic on individual laser-cut tiles
| Artists: Marlon Barralaga Mayen, Ricardo Diaz Sales, Marck Foster, Jesus Gama Bajo, Ka'Mari May, Buntu Nishirimbere, Michael L Phelps, Jayden Robinson-Rowe, Julissa Romero Bonilla, Amir Wade, David Aguilar, Sebastian Aguilarte Rojas, Rayvan Arestigueta, Jose Banuelos Soto, Raynieli Bossio Perez, Efrain De La Rosa Castro, Adrian Estrada Guevara, Shianna Mewhinney, Bibi Omolbanin Mousavi, Richard Ortiz Leon, Yami Estrada Lopez, Jeremy Portugal, Anlly Romero Yanez, Ismary Solares Gonzalez, Meliza Vicente Lopez, La'Darious Willingham, Janeth Aranda, Christian Flores Diosdado, Genesis Garcia Salinas, Sergio Molina Sosa, Azariah Otero, Adan Rivera, Tanya Acosta, Jesus Arreola Garcia, Daron Bautista, Lizeth C. M., Eran (Sage) Cartwright, Tauti Fellows, Natalie Franqui, Ever G. C., Elda Garcia Lara, Dharma Groen, Lexi Heit, Loveigh Hernandez, Hannah Kaiser-Henson, Jasmine L. H., Anahy Loera, Anna Maez, Brooke Marlin, Daniel Miller, Kane Molski, Malachi Padilla, Isaiah S., Rachel Smith, Kelsea Speer, Jonathan Streeter-Munoz, Dave Towne, Carmine Unate, Savanna Herrera, Joy Chacon, Gallilea Munoz, Viridiana Aguilera Molina, Nyx A., Kiera B., David C., Cora D., Trey C., Jeremiiah D., Daniel E., Yanelis F., Mily G, Ateefa J., Dalynda K., Emily L., Lianny L., Adrian M., Diana O., Simone P., Amecia R., Casius R., Marianna S., Valentina S., Shahid S., Abraham T., William T., Jesus V., Maria G., Leilani D., Ivalyss F., Danaliyah G., Marissa Q., Stormy V., Ava Apodaca, Emily Carlton-Birch, Serenity Cruz, Dezmond Haralson-Garcia, Claire Keep, Alli Merritt, Damien Meyer, Clint Nethken, Milo Norland, Chloe O’Callaghan, Kaden Pierce-Fernandez, Maya Reid, Nolan Scow, Izabella Stratton, Ethan Tran, Sang Trang, Jaidyn Trujillo, Leah Velasquez, Greta Walsh, Brady Watkins, Fynn Archibald, Ava Brown-Soliz, Elizabeth Christensen, Jakob Domanico, Keira Holland, Bronson Johnston, Harley McDowell, Naimah Medina, Genevieve Miotto, Layla Parran, Cole Podleski, Violet Samuels, Jazmyn Schwanke, Roger Shaul, Eddie Singletary, Aidan Tenhulzen, Anthony Velarded, Avery Calus, Aidyn Conley, Eva Crutchfield, Harvey Culbert, Ziyah Duran, Leonardo Elliott, Elizabeth Fry, David Garcia, SaLaura Guerrero, Alisson Hernandez Vega, Ashly Hernandez Vega, Sophia Mejia, Alvaro Munoz Mora, Amora Sanchez, Samuel Stice, Axel Robert Swigart, Bryan Velazquez Goytia, Nicole Villalobos Gutierrez, Trent Warner, Braden Watkins, Allison Avelar, Jaqueline Avila Salazar, Andrea Castillo Soto, Yamileth Chacon, Brayden Day, Jonatan De la Cruz, Josue Frias Vazquez, Noah Gomez, Kendrick Hernandez Payan, Maria Hester-Hurtado, Ethan Lamorie, Sergio Lopez, Michael Marisco, Janeth Martinez, Ramon Martinez, Micah Oldenkamp, Jadiel Peguero, Melanie Preciado, Lydia Rivera, Zayne Rogers Ortivez, Ivanna Sotelo Portillo, Camille Thompson, Ava Watson, Jack Wuerschmidt, Alanna Arellanes, Emma Arguello, Zoey Bertsch, Anzhalika Budzko, Kiera Conrad, Katie Davila, Addilynn Dreger, Kaylee Dreger, Addison Eads, Isabella Fernandez, Caleb Garrison, Vivian Gonzalez Nava, Baldo Guajardo, Harmony Hanson, Brooklyn Hoskins, Leovigildo Kokoletzi, Kendra Kraft, Mia Lee, Julian Lewis, Hayleth Lopez, Jade Lopez, Arissa Lopez Ramos, Isabella Ly, Presley Marshall, Isabella Masuch, Alysa Matilla, Nevaeh Mendiola, Lillie Miller, Ezekiel Montoya Marquez Lame,Talia Pevan, Jayde Phipps, Zury Rodriguez Diaz, Alena Rojas, Isabelle Sanchez, Felyx Solis, Vincent Valdez, Nikayla Verver, Serafina Williams, Samantha Wunsch, Arianna Young |
In a six-month workshop series, I worked with over 200 middle and high school students throughout Adams County, Colorado to create a painting about something that they cared about. Students were remarkably vulnerable, and shared their concerns about climate change, war, inflation, homelessness, and mental health. A few students opened up about having been unhoused themselves. At that point in the conversation, I asked what helped in these most difficult moments. Several students said that being seen, heard, and believed were what got them through.
The overall shape of the painting is a soundwave, representing the students’ desire to be heard, but also bearing associations with a human pulse and a graph of rising intensity.
Each tile bears the shape of a seed, a symbol representing home, a protected place where it is safe to grow. Each seed has an inner core and an outer kernal, which connects to students’ observations that the personal and the global are deeply interconnected.
Made possible by the Adams County Parks, Open Space & Cultural Arts Department
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ژن ژیان ئازادی
زن زندگی آزادی
Woman Life Freedom
2023
each piece approximately 38 x 38 inches
Acrylic on laser-cut panel
Artists: Mally Cardenas, Zari Cardenas-Banki, Risa Greene,
Abby Templeton Greene, Ellen Strickland, Courtney, Mona, Sho, Hanny, Yasi,
Kourosh, Noushin, Kaveh, Parisa, Ahmad, Farnosh, Saeedeh, Shirin, Marjan,
Andrea, Phil, Jeffrey, Carolina, Patrick, Ethel, Julie, Tim, poupeh, Mollie,
Hamid, Kari, Leila, Pari, Joey, Holly, Ali,
Leili, Elham, Emily, Alex, Stephen, Matt, JRG, Lydia Mae, Diane O., Emily Schnipper,
Ryan T., Will E., Maya F., Lani, Kiah R., Sanaz Masoumi, Mica Ingland, Catie Bryant, Seth Divine, Gabriele Ocasek,
Ethan Houck, Ali Graham, Channing Cole, Ilona Kovas, Pippa, Morgan Sirota,
Althea Abrusci, Jared Wright, Eli Newman, Kristina Gashi, Mehdi Hosseini, Mona
Moayedi
The Woman Life Freedom series was a collaboration with writer and translator poupeh missaghi. In the aftermath of the killing of 22-year-old Mahsa-Jina Amini, we decided to design a
series of symbolic art pieces in response to the courage we were witnessing,
especially from women and young people in the streets of Iran.
The artworks came to life through participation of communities in Brooklyn, NY; Denver, CO; and Portland, OR. They gathered to grieve, in solidarity, and to raise awareness about the Woman Life Freedom movement.
The final paintings were exhibited at Denver University’s Davis Gallery.
The artworks came to life through participation of communities in Brooklyn, NY; Denver, CO; and Portland, OR. They gathered to grieve, in solidarity, and to raise awareness about the Woman Life Freedom movement.
The final paintings were exhibited at Denver University’s Davis Gallery.
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A Living Machine
2022
84 x 84 inches
acrylic on individual laser-cut tiles
Artists: Favour, Tae, Hillary, Alise, Ajith, Chloe, Lucas, Jae’dyn, Leah, Terrence, Destiny, Lucas, Tanner, Alyssa, Bailey, Dominic, Jeremiah, Genna, Talon, Layveontay, Morgyn, Hailey, Lakiya, Elena, Angel, Stokley, Elliott, Audra, Riley, Farasat, Samantha, Miranda, Carlayjia, Aiden, Briana, Ben, James, Nakiya, Katrina, Mars, Ti’Aisha, Christian, Ashanti, Rachael, Rahsaan, Mitchell, Shawn, Amosa, Serena, D’Shonda, Jarel, Zylin, Adrian, Ben, Tyree, Davii, Mallory, J.R., Harper, Jude, Levin, Jackson, Sara, Elia, Arianna, Ben, Jason, Joie, Darryl, Camila, Joaquin, Julieta, Al, Robin, Rebecca, Scott, Anthony, Shaunda, Steven, Amanda, Craig, Pam, Dylan, Veronica, Kerri, Karen, Mel, Caitlyn, Yunjin, LeeAnne, Hannah, Grace, Theo, Lindsey, Evelyn, Harrison, Chloé, Mollie, Lindsey, Phoebe, Jackie, Jordan, Gina, Alice, Bee, Mike, George, Mary, Camelia Hanna, Eric, Leo, Katie, Maisie, Heather, Brian, David, Dianna, Arin, Andrea, Haley, Gabriel, Cailey, Lynn, Hannah, James, Ellinor, Laynie, Jet, Ellen, Camellia, Erin, Faramola, Melba, Natalie, Stacie, Patricia, Tia, Richard, Megan, Barbie, Allison, Abdul, Richard, Anmar, Khalid, Reagan, Tim, Boo, Clara, Alanah, Johnathan, Layla, Liam, Brooklyn, Maddox, Kim, Charlotte, Weston, Kevin, Aliza, Isaiah, Julius, Michael, Colton, Giselle, Isabel, Fay, Mohamed, Cas, Leah, Anna, Julie, Payton, Kailynn, Leo, Parma, Naweza, Cy, Sky, Nancy, Grace, Charlotte, Madison, Hannah, Qenli, Fredy, Savannah, Kyran, & Jermeon
A Living Machine was made possible by the True/False Film Festival
Clouds
2022
81 x 88 inches
acrylic on laser-cut panel
artists: D.H., D.P. A.J., D.B., A.A., A.R., E.G., C.B.G., L.D., S.H., M.R., A.Z., N.M., R.P., R.R.R., K.S., A.N., T.V., James, Elaine, Kathy, Mike, Steven, Adam, James, Yael, Kevin, Jessie, Marta, Everest, Ryan, Jefferson, Kyle, Becca, James, Zachary, Aliya, Aspen, Travis, Lina, Ariana, Ana, Minseo, Valentina, Max, Myomi, Sloan, Gwendolyn, Vivienne, Gavin, Samuel, Shiloh, Aaron, John, Odin, Ronelle, Lizbeth, Doyun, Rita, Brisley, Nathan, Mabel, Derek, Samantha, Jennifer, Zander, Abigail, Ryker, Annilyn, Madisann, Nathan, Ray, Riley, Zyania, Jerry, Aiden, Netanya, Elian, Deklan, Serenity, Cameron, Karlee, Treasure, Kelsy, Quincy, Holden, Cambria, Sean, Emely, Angel, Ernesto, Marley, Zoe, Josue, Tiana, Alex, Faraz, Adriana, Ava, Merilee, Louise, Rebecca, Mary, Lauren, Angela, Heather, Justin, J.B., Elise, Peter, Sean, Carrie, Sawyer, Benjamin, Xela, Parker, Matthew, Evan, Crew, Jordan, Adelaide, Jack, Bella, Remi, Royce, Emma, Jeminiah, Xavian, Porter, Aric, Jackson, Soren, Damian, Rhonan, Sam, Del, Andrew, L., Mollie, Xavier, Tony, Kailey, Ellis, Liam, Madlyn, Rick, Lorie, Dailys, Z., W., S., L., E., J., E., D., T., H., E., W, S., A., D., C., F., Mary, Cleo, Trudy, Diana, Doris, Jose, Terry, D.A., C.B., M.C., S.E., L.F., M.F., M.G., J.G., K.H., E.H., K.H., B.M., B.O., F.P., M.R., J.M., H.S., I.V., C.V., Isabella, Abel, Benson, Jovi, Travis, Rutuja, Hollie, Edyn, Lucy, Quinn, Malika, Marilu, Katty, Quinten, Avian, Elias, Taizlee, Connor, Salome, Charlie, Blake, Kime, Saphira, Rachel, Jackson, Nani, Jaxon, and David
Clouds was made possible by a generous grant from the Salt Lake City Arts Council and the National Endowment for the Arts.
