Parkway and Soquel          

Description:  This art piece shows the local LGBTQIA+ history of Santa Cruz County and beyond as a tattoo flash sheet in the American Traditional Tattoo style. The different images represent a variety of people, places and groups that helped shape the LGBTQIA+ experience across the county including Norma Jeans in Castroville, a drag night club that opened in 1987, Herland’s Bookstore that opened in downtown Santa Cruz in 1993, and Rubyfruit Readher that was one of the first lesbian publications in the county.

Artist Bio: I was born in Santa Cruz's "old" Dominican Hospital and was raised between Watsonville and Santa Cruz. I have always loved my home county and found a way to become a homeowner at the end of 2020. Since then I have been active in the arts ecosystem actively working towards equity and inclusivity within my professional and artistic careers. My vibrant works of art honor my Chicana roots and the feminine experience. My inspiration is often drawn from the folklore, artisanal crafts, iconography and flavor of the culture that allow me to be unapologetically bold and find strength in my femininity. As a self-taught artist, I am eager to build community through culturally relevant public arts, workshops and conversations.
Historical Context: Amazon music festival history.