Tres Graces of the Mediterranean

In keeping with my recent piece Tres Graces de Nuevo Mexico- in which I celebrated the many things I love about New Mexico: the rich cultural heritage of Pueblos & Spanish Catholicism, fine art, flamenco, lowriders, films, seed banks, swing dancing, & more; I’ve created a counterpart honoring a place also dear to my heart, yet on the opposite side of the world: Tres Graces of the Mediterranean. Both works center women as embodiments of dance, art, literature, custodianship of the natural world. In the Mediterranean version, a redheaded, combat-boot & picasso-esque t-shirt clad Greek girl is representative of fine art. She carries paintbrushes in her backpack & rides a Vespa; behind her is the Sanctuary of the Gods on the Greek island of Samothraki- where I did a Tango Workshop nine months ago. The central figure is a stylish Turkish girl, also on a vespa,- in blue jeans, sneakers, & a zebra striped hijab. She represents film & literature; behind her is the famous Aya Sofia mosque in Istanbul- where I was fortunate to return in late 2024. On the far right is a sexy Sicilian girl on a vespa who is representative of  dance. She is in front of the Basilica of Sant Agata in Catania- a place I’ve now sketched numerous times. All three young women are composites based on numerous sketches from my recent travel journals.

Tres Graces of the Mediterranean posits a future rooted in feminine grace, beauty, sensuality, & solidarity. At a time when religions, nationalities, & peoples are exploited in the service of war & destruction; the piece instead portrays a unified scooter girl gang that integrates ancient civilization with Islam & Catholicism. Torn bits of packaging herald ‘A New Day’ . Large torn posters from Palermo Buenos Aires & Palermo Sicily proclaim: ‘Futuro’; ‘Futuro e l’Idea a Bailare’; ‘Chiariamo’; and ‘Epic Sogni’. In the foreground of the piece are Sicilian style tiles made of soap packaging. There are Saint Anthony cards from Padova; sex worker cards from Buenos Aires; Hotel Willa business cards from Taos, New Mexico; an Athens beer coaster; Baci chocolate wrappers; a Bandaid box; deli sandwich wrappers; sardine packages; Italian porn comic pages; Catania Park & Ride bus tickets; a three of cups tarot card; a Granite menu from Palermo; Albuquerque Double Time Dance Studio punch cards; Greek philosopher playing cards; 14k gold leaf; Fabriano sketch book cover; a Parisian Ritz Bar coaster; Uno cards; a Bomb Pop wrapper; & so much more. The diversity of ephemera is an undeniable testament to our commonalities & interconnectedness as human beings.