20 of my pieces will be on exhibition at 

Westfield University

Emilee’s Art Dream:  In Her Honor, an Exhibition for MS Awareness
Works by Emilee Dawn Gagnon, faculty, and artists affected by MS
October 24 – December 10
Reception:  November 6, 5:30-8 p.m.
Arno Maris Gallery

#WhatLatinosLookLike Art Project

For my Art enthusiast. Do you want to be a part of my Thesis Art project? Send me your Selfie. 

Project completed

I recognize that the selfie trend is not just about narcissism or need for validation; I also see it as a platform for addressing important issues. Social media provides a forum for anyone to create awareness and express dislikes on any issues. For instance, I came across the hashtag, #WhatLatinosLookLike, which was provoked by the theory that Hispanics are identifying as white in larger numbers as part of a process of racial assimilation resembling that of Italian or Irish descendants: a theory that both the New York Times and Slate addressed in June 2014 (Benedetti, Huff Post).  These articles may aim to point at the possibility of an evolving self-identity or benefit associated with being identified with a specific group.  #WhatLatinosLookLike prompts the viewer to reflect on self-identity while making visible that Latinos are diverse in skin color. In order to engage in this issue, I interacted with strangers and responded to their selfies on Twitter. I take pride in identifying as Latina; therefore I joined strangers on Twitter to take part in displaying the diversity within Latinos. 

While painting the portraits of fifteen of the participants, some of whom identified as Mexican-Greek, Chicano Afro-Cuban, Puerto Rican-Mexican-Polish to Cuban-Ecuadorian, I was able to slow down and think about these individuals in the process of undoing stereotypes and showcasing diversity. I sifted through hundreds of selfies posted on Twitter, and selected ones that I felt displayed diversity, in terms of age, ethnicity, skin tone, profession, or religious preference. As shown above, on the left the subject tagged his images as Argentine, Porteño, with Jewish, Ukrainian and Polish roots; while subject on the right tagged his as AfroRican, having African and Puerto Rican roots. I painted portraits from these appropriated selfies as a means of making connections in our shared identity. My series #WhatLatinosLookLike allowed me to demonstrate diversity within the Latino community and casually attempt to describe the complexity within it. Painting from images that are inherently informal and impermanent, I created an archive: my own record of these images that became more permanent than in digital form on social media networks.

#MurrietaProtest

My experience with displacement gave way to the creation of the #Murrieta. In this “selfie conversation” I address the immigration crisis in this country, and more specifically reference the events that took place in California this summer. On July 1, 2014 Murrieta became a flashpoint in the immigration crisis when protestors blocked the road to prevent three buses transporting 140 migrant woman and children from entering the town (Fieldstadt, NBCNews.com). Instagram and Twitter users posted selfies while observing the people protest and supporting the transfer by U.S. Customs and Border Patrol. Angered by what was taking place, and feeling empathetic to those women and children whom must have been terrified, I selected images from the protest. Once again, I found selfies that move beyond narcissistic tendencies and showed a political stance to create change. The series #MuerrietaProtest sheds light not only on the event that occurred on July 2014, but also the participation of people who voiced their opinion in a greater sense. In Figure 11 (above), the participants of the self-portraits hold a sign near their faces making visible identifying with its message. Even though we cannot read the sign, it is evident that they are participating and taking action in a protest. These images have more contextual clues about the issues of identity and activism than the series #Iamhere or #WhatLatinosLookLike.

We are all born into this world with a history. What I do with my history and my present find ways to address my experience in it.  By examining deeper I realized that painting as a child and being “skilled” at it gave me praise and validation. Being relocated at a young age from Puerto Rico to Florida evoked a new sense of self-exploration and need to find connections. My new language, loved by all, became the tactility of paint and the possibilities of color that produced an image of both physical and emotional experiences. There is an importance to sustain the tactile response to the human body as we move further into the age of new technologies.  Trying to figure out who we are and what we are about is a distinctly human pursuit for almost everyone, whether you are trying to find greater consciousness or simply fitting in.  Even while living in the digital age I choose to communicate through portraiture; combining current trends and old traditions in art. 

As I noticed my own participation of self representation on social media, I looked at the selfie trend and the way people have become engaged in exploiting their experiences and modify identity.  The “selfie,” is a self-portrait taken via android phone and instantly shared in social media. Turning to twitter I search for fellow Latinos and followed conversations around similarly lived experiences felt by Latinos.  My concerns, my experiences, likes and dislikes are also lived by others. I quickly learned that social media was more than just keeping in touch with friends, it is a platform to give voices and make connections.  Although it may be accessible to the masses, I wondered of its permanence.  In my opinion we need to slow down in order to be more empathetic to each other.

#Iamhere

A current popular trend is the "selfie," a self-portrait taken by the viewer of themselves with their cell phone and quickly shared on social media. A painted portrait, like the selfie, wants to be noticed because a part of us wants to be valued, appreciated, and included in the groups that matter to us.

For the past 6 months I have been collecting selfies from friends, families, and strangers on Facebook and twitter. In contrast to the instant satisfaction of taking multiple photos and uploading them, I approach the painted selfie portrait in order to slow down the gaze. 

#bikeMS #selfie #unselfie #4myMom

The new look for my #selfie art project framed in iPhone cases and glass tops.