Uno ha creído a veces, en medio de este camino sin orillas, que nada habría después; que no se podría encontrar nada al otro lado, al final de esta llanura rajada de grietas y de arroyos secos. Pero si, hay algo  is a woven tapestry that appears rough in texture, with frayed edges that are long and black, measuring fifty by sixty inches. The center of the tapestry is woven to appear fainter with the colors and the large words in block print, which are on a lighter off-white, jagged part of the design to look almost like a torn page from a novel. The words read in Spanish, from top left to bottom right: “Uno ha creído a veces, en medio de este camino sin orillas, que nada habría después; que no se podría encontrar nada al otro lado, al final de esta llanura rajada de grietas y de arroyos secos. Pero si, hay algo.”

No tenía ganas de nada, solo de vivir is a cotton and hand dyed wool, brocade woven cloth, ink, sand, and text from Juan Rulfo’s short story “Tell them not to kill me!” from his collection “El Llano en Llamas” or “The Plain in Flames,” measuring forty by seventy inches. It lays on top of a rectangular platform. In the center is a vertical, rectangular woven tapestry. It appears rough in texture, and the weaving is made up of black, gray, cream, and white wool. The colors weave in and out of each other, except for the top right and top left corners, which are woven solid black squares. The center of the tapestry has the imprint of a person in black ink. Some parts of the figure are missing, appearing like a person laid on top of it. The figure is curled up, with the head at the top of the tapestry and the feet at the bottom. The figure’s right leg is pointing away from the rest of the body, with the left pointing down. The hands are extended, the right one palm side down and the left palm up. The sides around the tapestry on the platform are covered with sand. In the center of the tapestry, the surface is raised to emphasize the remnant of the body that is imprinted into the weaving, as if to make it appear that someone is lying under it.

To Have and To Hold is a collection of soda fired and electric fired stoneware pieces, each of the seventy pieces measuring approximately five by two inches with variable dimensions. The objects are various shades of brown, tan, and cream, with some parts being shiny or polished. They are all irregularly shaped, which the subject can feel when picking them up. There are also a couple of translucent, lighter-colored stones or fragments. Viewers are also invited to pick these pieces up and feel the variations of smooth and rough surfaces. Some pieces may even feel slightly jagged and as if they jut out in odd places.

Monument Quilt square is a 8’x8’ fabric and sharpie marker piece created in 2018 by Gloria Garrett, FORCE: Upsetting Rape Culture, and Anonymous Artists from Councilwoman Rita R. Church Community Center in Clifton Park. The quilt is divided into four quadrants, with a variety of colorful fabrics. Garrett’s is in the bottom left quadrant. It has a solid red background with a large rectangle in the center with thin stripes of white and light pink. Laid over top of the striped fabric in the center is white lacy fabric made up of large flowers, thin stems, and small leaves. The leaves have been painted over with dark green that speckles the fabric but allows the white to still peek through. The flowers are painted with smudges of color such as red, purple, blue, and yellow. Outside of the rectangle on the solid red background, there are white speckles scattered throughout. In the four corners there are small white rectangles with block letters in sharpie and thin lines of blue paint on the border. They each say (from top left to bottom right): “You,” “Are,” “Not,” “Alone.” In the center above and below the piece of rectangular fabric there are large letters that are painted on in overlapping blue, green, and yellow pigments. They say (From top center left to bottom center right): “You are loved and beautiful.” The upper left quilt has a solid, black background with a bright red fabric square in the center. Within the red square, there is handwritten text in large blue painted letters which says (from top to bottom): “Stop the violence. God is love.” The words are flanked by two hearts painted on in the same blue. Throughout the square are faint speckles of yellow and white. Flanking the middle red square on the left and right are a variety of bright, colorful, patterned pieces of fabric. The upper right quilt has a solid, cream background with a red square of solid fabric in the center. Within the square are three words painted in yellow, blue, and red that say (from top to bottom): “Love doesn’t hurt.” On the edges of the square there are six flowers cut out of floral fabric. The red square is flanked by two pieces of fabric- the one on the left is light pink and white striped and the one on the right is bright off-white. The bottom right quilt has a patterned fabric background composed of small green and yellow squares. In the center is a red square of fabric. At the top of the square is the word “Believe!” in bright yellow letters. In the center of the square are a series of hand painted pink and yellow flowers. Below the flowers are the words “Jesus is always around!” with squiggle shapes, all of which is painted in bright yellow.

Row one, from top left to right:

Mom and Son is a makeup and paper drawing measuring 8.5 by 11 inches, featuring two figures- a young boy with a light brown complexion, brown hair,  a blue shirt, and green pants, and a woman with a lighter complexion in a red and white patterned outfit with a red hat. They are on a grassy field with autumn colored trees in the background. The figures are both smiling with closed mouths, and appear to be in motion, the mother holding the son and seemingly swinging him from side to side. The texture appears rough and the work lacks sharp, dark lines, making the image appear softer and almost blurred. In the bottom left corner, a small signature is written in black, uppercase letters spelling “GLO.”

Spring Garden is a makeup on paper drawing that measures 8.5 by 11 inches. It features a mix of red flowers, a large white and red flower on the right, green stems, and a faint butterfly with brown wings near the center. The background is silvery and almost reflective. The texture is thick and the brushstrokes are expressive.

African Baskets is a makeup on paper drawing measuring 8.5 by 11 inches. Both figures are holding large baskets on their heads, with the one on the right faceless and the one on the left’s face is covered by their arm. The woman on the left has a medium brown complexion and is wearing an orangeish yellow robe that is off the shoulder and has dark hair up in a bun, while the man on the right has a dark brown complexion  is dressed in a dark green and brown robe that exposes most of his chest and is draped over his right shoulder. The woman is turned away in profile. The man’s basket is filled with bright but indistinct produce, and he is facing forward. The background is done in bright green, yellow, and brown, suggesting an outdoor setting with trees and bushes around them. The brushstrokes are thick and expressive, with the man outlined in soft black lines.

Row two, from center left to right:

Rise and Shine Collage is 8.5×11 inches in size and uses collage, makeup, paper, and photocopies to create a colorful, hand-painted piece of art divided into four panels, each with a motivational message. The text is somewhat rough and painted in different colors. The panels say: Top Left: “RISE AND SHINE,” Top Right: “REACH FOR THE STARS,” with a small star and person shapes above the words. Middle across both panels: “Promote Peace,” Bottom Left: “Smile Within” with a smiling face illustration. Bottom right: “Seek the Light.” Along the bottom on a dark strip, it says “BE BOLD,” “Listen for Song,” and “BE KIND.” The texture is thick and appears oily and slightly shiny.

Peace and Joy is a painting 12×12 in size using makeup and cardboard of a man in profile, facing right and looking up at the sky, taking up the foreground, middle, and background with medium brown skin and curly black hair, wearing a red headband with red circles. The background features a colorful arc resembling a rainbow that starts behind the person’s head and curves forward into the foreground of the piece. The figure is dressed in red and gold tones, and the painting style is textured and expressive, with visible brush strokes. There is an almost oily texture to the piece, with parts of the cardboard coming through under the thinner layers. The bottom right corner has a small signature in capital letters spelling “G L O.” The person is smiling slightly and appears calm, giving the viewer the same sense.

Be Joyful Collage is 8.5 x 11 inches in size and is made up of collage, makeup, paper, and photocopies. It is a colorful, textured artwork divided into four sections with positive messages. The top left section reads “BE Joyful,” and the top right has a heart with “GOD IS LOVE” inside. The middle blue and yellow band reads “Count Blessings.” The bottom left heart-shaped area says “Believe in Miracles,” and the bottom right says “Listen for the song.” Along the bottom, it reads “Sparkle With Joy.” The texture appears thick with a blotting technique used to create a blended backdrop in a variety of pinks, greens, yellows, blues, and reds. The words are almost all outlined with white, with “count blessings” and “sparkle with joy” outlined in a dark blue.

Row three, from bottom left to center right:

Daughters of Africa is a makeup on paper drawing measuring 8.5 by 11 inches, picturing four people against a soft, orange background. Each person is depicted with distinctive facial features and clothing. The person on the left has a lighter tan complexion and is bald, wearing large yellow hoop earrings and a headwrap, and a colorful almost coiled neck piece. The person in the center is looking to the side, with a medium brown complexion and short, cropped brown hair. She is wearing an off the shoulder light blue gray robe that is tied at her left shoulder. The woman on the right is in profile, and only their face and neck can be seen. They have a medium brown complexion and blurred facial features. The woman on the far right is looking head on and has a medium brown complexion. She is wearing a large ornamental collar and a colorful headdress and medium sized gold hooped earrings. The drawing is vibrant, with an expressive style  and thick texture, using orange, brown, yellow, and blue tones. All four of the women seem close and in community with each other.

A Fruit Market is a rectangular artwork that is 8.5×11 inches in size using paper and makeup. It features four abstract, roughly painted female figures. The figures are gathered around several woven, brown baskets filled with colorful foods. The scene uses vibrant colors, such as reds, greens, blues, and yellows, with thick, raised brush strokes that give a three-dimensional, almost sculpted effect. The women are all wearing bright colors and have wide, open mouthed smiles. The two on the left have lighter brown complexions, and the two to the right have medium brown complexions. The scene is joyful and communal.