Thoughts on the 4th presents a collection of images exploring my deep and complex connection to both the American flag (1960), representing my birthplace and upbringing, and the Puerto Rican flag (1895), symbolizing my family and heritage. Influenced significantly by my grandparents, I inherited a critical perspective on the United States due to its historical exploitation of Puerto Rico, shaping my complex emotions towards my homeland.

The American flag, in particular, has fostered conflicting feelings within me. Lately, the overt display if the flag evokes a bigoted sense of what it means to be American, making it difficult for me to fully embrace it. As a child, my grandfather told me it was okay to remain seated during the pledge of allegiance, a defiance that led to punishment in elementary school. Despite this, the red, white, and blue have always held a certain allure. One poignant example is a mural at the intersection of Murray Ave. and Chandler Street in downtown Worcester, where I grew up. This mural was more than just a flag; it was a neighborhood icon, a symbol of home. When it was damaged in 2020, the owners invited me to recreate it after seeing a mural I had painted in my parents' garage on social media.

This opportunity was not only my first public mural in Worcester but also in my childhood neighborhood. The legacy of the wall inspired me to create something striking, visible from half a mile away. Completed over three nights, finishing on the Fourth of July 2021, the mural resonated deeply with the many folks I interacted with while working. Many shared my sentimental attachment to the wall, others simply admired the bold display of the stars and stripes. This experience gave me a renewed appreciation for the American flag, revealing its multifaceted meanings and the diverse individuals who identify with it. It reminded me that being American is an intrinsic part of me, and I have a role in shaping this country for the better. I made sure to sign my entire name next to it so folks could figure out it was painted by a latinø.

The proud display of the Puerto Rican flag by my family and the Boricua community has always connected me to my heritage. As a child, I was obsessed with drawing and wearing it whenever possible. Understanding the historical events that have fueled these proud displays on the island has taught me the profound significance of these symbols. They are more than just shapes; they embody identity, pride, and resilience. The duality of these flag relationships is something that has driven me to explore their similarities through abstraction, destruction, and reshaping.

After reading “What is the fourth of July to a Puerto Rican?” an online essay inspired by Fredrick Douglass’ “What to the Slave is the Fourth of July?” I sought to make something that altered my mural, to make it a part of something beyond its existence on the wall and acknowledge the very real feelings towards American Flags and their use in the polarization of this country. Julying to yourself, the first iteration, stemmed from a cathartic act of “destruction” that sought to turn an image of the mural into its own two-dimensional abstraction. There is a slight emphasis on the yellow of a parking space line to remind myself and the viewer that it is more than just a flag, but to many a symbol of home and a part of a much larger landscape. Mi Orgullo, the second rework, utilizes the same digital process to shape the image into a Puerto Rican flag, directly referencing this duality and creating an image closer to my heart and soul. Both images, printed via jacquard-loom, are not just flags but objects of comfort and protection.

American Flag Commission: 4th of July 2021

Commission for Kirsch Liquors in Worcester, MA at the intersection of Chandler street and Murray Ave, completed on the fourth of July, 2021.

Thoughts on Fourth of July: Mi Orgullo 2022 was Inspired by the art essay WHAT IS THE FOURTH OF JULY TO A PUERTO RICAN?

Reworked in response to my thoughts and feelings, an image of the only public mural I had made in my home city became the flag Ive always felt closest to

An image of the original Ameircan Flag mural— I grew up walking past this wall. The simple colors, shapes, and composition became engrained in my mind as a symbol of home. Not so much as an American flag, but as a visual icon of the intersection and location itself. The wall was destroyed in an accident.