Regálo

The passing on of knowledge is a key component of society. Unfortunately a lot of history is being forgotten due to a lack of conversation between generations. I am fortunate enough to have access to a direct line to my Mexican heritage through my mother and Abuela, but as my Abuela gets older and her memory starts to fade, the connection between the past and future is in danger of being lost. For this project, I took the time to sit down and discuss with my Abuela, how she makes Tamales and the importance they have to her and her family. I learned she made these with the sole intent of feeding her family with a skilled mechanism. I also learned that her sister, who still lives in Mexico, makes tamales every day. Every day, in order to sell her products to the people of her town, and beyond the mechanics of mass producing, she adds a bit of flare and artistry. She takes the time to wrap every tamale with a corn husk bow. I like to believe she is presenting each of her clients a gift, in a simple and natural wrapping. A gift, and one that I receive in the form of knowledge and time from my Abuela and from my mother. I’ll continue to absorb as much knowledge as I can from my family, an I hope to one day to pass it on to my own children, but in the meantime I would like to acknowledge the strong women in my family that keep our culture alive. This series is a gift to them.

Un Regálo.