Overview of Avenida Nosara

 

Introduction Avenida Nosara is a multidisciplinary project that serves as both a personal exploration and a societal critique. Rooted in themes of displacement, resilience, and the struggle for rightful belonging, the project intertwines historical narratives with contemporary issues of immigration, colonization, and cultural erasure. At its heart, Avenida Nosara is a visual and intellectual journey that seeks to confront the enduring impact of colonialism in Latin America and advocate for justice and representation for Indigenous and immigrant communities.

 

The title, “Avenida Nosara,” derives from the artist’s upbringing in Costa Rica and reflects a personal connection to the land and cultural identity. This body of work has been exhibited at the Rochester Contemporary Art Center and the National Women’s Hall of Fame. Through vivid figurative art, mixed media, and textual narratives, the project bridges the gap between historical awareness and modern advocacy, offering a powerful commentary on the legacies of exploitation and resilience.

Themes and Artistic Approach Avenida Nosara focuses on the intersection of historical and contemporary injustices.

 

Thematically, the work explores:

 

• Colonial Exploitation: The project delves into the devastating effects of European colonization in Latin America, including the theft of gold, land, and cultural heritage from Indigenous peoples.

• Cultural Erasure and Resilience: It highlights the destruction of Indigenous knowledge systems, languages, and traditions while celebrating the resilience of these communities.

• Immigration and Displacement: The work examines the current struggles of Latin American immigrants in the United States, juxtaposing their contributions against the systemic exclusion they face.

• Identity and Belonging: Through personal stories and symbolic representations, the work reflects on the complexities of identity as a first-generation immigrant.

• Visually, Avenida Nosara employs bold, expressive colors, figurative compositions, and layered symbolism. The work incorporates imagery of Indigenous resistance, natural elements, and textual references such as “Where’s our gold?”—a recurring motif that challenges the narrative of colonial triumph and calls for reparative justice.

 

Main Goals

 

• Promoting Reparative Justice Avenida Nosara aims to create awareness about the lasting damages caused by colonization and to advocate for concrete reparative actions. One of its main proposals includes urging European nations to indemnify Latin American countries by offering 100 college scholarships and 50 seasonal work visas per year. This initiative emphasizes education and economic opportunity as pathways to redress historical injustices and foster a more equitable future for descendants of colonized communities.

 

• Expanding Representation in Art History The second goal of Avenida Nosara is to address the gap in Latin American representation in art history. While Western civilization is often the focus of art history curricula, this project proposes that all colleges across the United States include a Latin American Art History course as part of four-year art degree programs. Through exhibitions, workshops, and advocacy, the project emphasizes the importance of diversifying educational offerings to include the rich artistic contributions of Latin America, fostering a more inclusive and accurate understanding of global art history.