Participatory Installation in Cuyama, California

During my June fellowship at Blue Sky Center, I held several cartonera-making workshops for the residents of the Cuyama Valley. With the Fourth of July nearing, participants decorated and filled their cartoneras with original stories, thoughts, and drawings about what “independence” means to them. Additionally, I worked with the community to convert the display case behind New Cuyama’s C&H Market into a community art gallery. The cartoneras made during workshops were then exhibited in “Cuyama Cartonera,” the inaugural art show in the new gallery. During the opening celebration, community members nominated and voted on potential names for the art space and “Art from the Heart Gallery” won!