Felipe Contreras: /fell-LEE-pay/

The Mariago Collective is pleased to present  /fell-LEE-pay/, curated and created by Felipe Contreras.

On February 6th, 2016, the New York Times published an article titled: Ted Cruz and Marco Rubio Made History.  Didn’t You Hear?

In this article, Roberto Suro writes that because both Marco Rubio and Ted Cruz campaign as “America First” politicians on the campaign trail and do not play up racial/ethnic stereotypes and grievances; therefore, declaring they are not really “Latino” politicians because it is not race, heritage, or ethnicity that makes one “Latino”, but having the right grievances, and/or representing the right Party.

As a first generation American, born from Colombian parents, much like Cruz and Rubio, the artist finds himself wondering if he were to run for office of the Presidency of the United States, would Mr. Suro and the New York Times consider him “Latino” enough.

He will use this exhibition to  delve into this question by examining contrasting views between perceived “Latino” stereotypes and his own life experiences through a series of self-portraits utilizing photography, painting, and collage.