"Heart Beat" means to convey the close ties of Latino families. I often make positive pieces that relate to concerning issues but present a story that is positive. I have the opportunity to know a number of Latino families and recognize their special love for family. Here, I recorded two of my Latino family members whose hearts, hands, and dancing feet are just one of the the ways they bond and love.
"Heart Beat" 2019
60"H x 42"W x 3"D (Hangs away from the wall)
Hand Embroidery. photography printed on silk, applique
MARIE BERGSTEDT
ARTIST STATEMENT
People, their stories, and issues currently being faced in our world launch my artwork. Family members, a mixed-up tree of bloodlines that nobody can follow without a chart, especially encourage exploration of contradictions, tragedies, challenges, and sometimes bliss. Add a lifetime of experience with fascinating friends and you have my inspiration and real life examples to unbutton stories, mend tears, and stitch together relevant visual tales. I search for the best materials and techniques to visualize the wealth of personal relationships and episodes I experience, with a goal to encourage viewers to discover their own narrative through my characters.