Culture is invisible like the air we breathe. Therefore, cultural connections are often overlooked in daily life. We are not born with a culture; rather, we are born into a culture and our parents’ language, behaviors, and values are transmitted to us unconsciously. Our culture – like an iceberg – has both visible and invisible dimensions. All the externals of our culture, however, are only the tip of the iceberg. The vast majority of our cultural identity lies beneath the surface of the water, the hidden realm of our unconscious attitudes and values. The three pieces I created for the Parson’s challenge explore how the power of culture connects us with people who are seemingly very different from us. By overlooking these similarities in daily life, we can fear and judge people from other cultures and religions and overlook our own prejudices and mindsets.

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This piece is called “The Soul of Culture” and depicts a sculptural relief of Our Lady of Guadalupe made of clay, plaster, and acrylic paint. As a child, I grew up with remarkable stories about Guadalupe and how she appeared to a poor indigenous man after the conquest of Mexico to bring a hope and healing in the midst of so much death and hatred. As I experience and learn about other religions and cultures, I can see similarities in the emotional connection human beings have with representations of God because of the deep, spiritual impulse that all people share. Her image is revered not only as a religious icon but also as cultural symbol that unifies people of different classes and beliefs. As I created each face, I became more aware of how each person brings something unique to his or her cultural group. The faces surrounding her represent how religion can connect the people of a certain culture. The diversity of faces represents how religious beliefs and spirituality are part of every culture.

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When we overlook cultural connections, we focus only on religious dogma that divides us, rather than seeing the intrinsic connections between spirituality and culture that can unite us. In my own culture, the image of Our Lady of Guadalupe represents the essence of spirituality – goodness, empowerment, and inclusivity. Latino/as of various classes and religious affiliations claim her as a symbol of cultural identity and belonging. Certainly, there are differences in particular beliefs and practices but this piece focuses on the possibility that all human beings – regardless of differences – have essential cultural connections that can bring us together at a very deep, soulful level. This piece represents my hope that we can find ways to foster peace and reconciliation in our war-torn world by learning to see the cultural and religious similarities that we often do not notice in our daily interactions.

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