Edith Santos: Migration, Storytelling, and Self-Reflection

Hello! My name is Edith Santos, and I am a Studio Art major in the BFA program at Florida State University!

As a daughter to immigrant parents, my body of work centers on Mexican labor in the United States to highlight the opportunities and challenges immigrants take on after crossing the border to support their loved ones. After crossing El Rio Grande, my parents took on extensive jobs to support the household, these ranged from picking strawberries, cleaning horses, working in construction, and produce factories. My parents’ journey is one that many Mexican American families can relate to and is the focus of my practice. These recollections impacted my understanding of their sacrifices and the sacrifices of other immigrants, and it influenced my interest in migration and agriculture labor. My theme is influenced as a display of reverence and an examination of identity, my paintings function as storytelling and reframes the migrant experience from a source of pride.

This upcoming summer, I plan to create four large scale paintings to demonstrate the treacherous routes that immigrants follow to migrant into the United States. These series of paintings will explore the risky paths that Mexican immigrants take: El Rio Grade, Darien Gap, Chihuahuan Desert, and La Bestia. Scattered on the floor at the Base of the paintings will lay replicas of abandoned valuables found during these journeys, raising questions about the owner’s whereabouts or any signs of life. In preparation for this research, I will interview those who have traveled these familiar routes making note of the dangers they have described encountered, this information will contribute to painting the scenery from these experiences.

The perspective of immigrants crossing the border have been visually falsified by political propaganda around the nation, dehumanizing migrants who have come into the United States in hopes for a better future, not only themselves, but for the sake of their families. My hope is to humanize their stories and create works of art having their voices heard.

Conducting this creative research will be beneficial for my artistic development and career, this project will act as building blocks for similar themes toward my BFA thesis for the following year. My goal for the future is to become an advocate for the Hispanic community and share their stories through my art. The application of this grant is the start of pushing my goals forward and introduces me to endless opportunities how far my art can endeavor.