Image Gallery: Dani Coronado
To view the artist’s gallery, click on the image thumbnail. AAPLAC extends special thanks to Kristen T. Woodward of Albright College for suggesting this feature and for providing helpful guidance with its design.
Dani Coronado
Educator
Masc
I have light skin and don’t speak Spanish. I have grown up with the privileges my appearance brings and have only recently realized the plight of my fellow LatinX. The white-elitest culture, especially prevalent in the past four years, has pushed me to study my heritage and analyze my personal identity therein. I focused on corn, a fun nickname from the American pronunciation of my Hispanic last name (Coronado) and an agricultural staple of Peru. I learned its use in ceremonial rites, which lead me to the anthropromorphic imagery in Masc and Femme, and the juicy beverage Chicha Morada. I wanted to express the varietals of corn similar to my various cultural identities in Corn, Huitlacoche, Maíz Morada. Finally, in my self-portrait Kulli Anqas (Blue Violet), I address my personal identification as a descendant of the Inca and how it personally affects me in the current climate of today’s culture.
Femme
I have light skin and don’t speak Spanish. I have grown up with the privileges my appearance brings and have only recently realized the plight of my fellow LatinX. The white-elitest culture, especially prevalent in the past four years, has pushed me to study my heritage and analyze my personal identity therein. I focused on corn, a fun nickname from the American pronunciation of my Hispanic last name (Coronado) and an agricultural staple of Peru. I learned its use in ceremonial rites, which lead me to the anthropromorphic imagery in Masc and Femme, and the juicy beverage Chicha Morada. I wanted to express the varietals of corn similar to my various cultural identities in Corn, Huitlacoche, Maíz Morada. Finally, in my self-portrait Kulli Anqas (Blue Violet), I address my personal identification as a descendant of the Inca and how it personally affects me in the current climate of today’s culture.
Chicha Morada
I have light skin and don’t speak Spanish. I have grown up with the privileges my appearance brings and have only recently realized the plight of my fellow LatinX. The white-elitest culture, especially prevalent in the past four years, has pushed me to study my heritage and analyze my personal identity therein. I focused on corn, a fun nickname from the American pronunciation of my Hispanic last name (Coronado) and an agricultural staple of Peru. I learned its use in ceremonial rites, which lead me to the anthropromorphic imagery in Masc and Femme, and the juicy beverage Chicha Morada. I wanted to express the varietals of corn similar to my various cultural identities in Corn, Huitlacoche, Maíz Morada. Finally, in my self-portrait Kulli Anqas (Blue Violet), I address my personal identification as a descendant of the Inca and how it personally affects me in the current climate of today’s culture.
Corn, Huitlacoche, Maíz Morada
I have light skin and don’t speak Spanish. I have grown up with the privileges my appearance brings and have only recently realized the plight of my fellow LatinX. The white-elitest culture, especially prevalent in the past four years, has pushed me to study my heritage and analyze my personal identity therein. I focused on corn, a fun nickname from the American pronunciation of my Hispanic last name (Coronado) and an agricultural staple of Peru. I learned its use in ceremonial rites, which lead me to the anthropromorphic imagery in Masc and Femme, and the juicy beverage Chicha Morada. I wanted to express the varietals of corn similar to my various cultural identities in Corn, Huitlacoche, Maíz Morada. Finally, in my self-portrait Kulli Anqas (Blue Violet), I address my personal identification as a descendant of the Inca and how it personally affects me in the current climate of today’s culture.
Peruana
I have light skin and don’t speak Spanish. I have grown up with the privileges my appearance brings and have only recently realized the plight of my fellow LatinX. The white-elitest culture, especially prevalent in the past four years, has pushed me to study my heritage and analyze my personal identity therein. I focused on corn, a fun nickname from the American pronunciation of my Hispanic last name (Coronado) and an agricultural staple of Peru. I learned its use in ceremonial rites, which lead me to the anthropromorphic imagery in Masc and Femme, and the juicy beverage Chicha Morada. I wanted to express the varietals of corn similar to my various cultural identities in Corn, Huitlacoche, Maíz Morada. Finally, in my self-portrait Kulli Anqas (Blue Violet), I address my personal identification as a descendant of the Inca and how it personally affects me in the current climate of today’s culture.
Soy Peruana, pero soy Americana (I am Peruvian, but I am American). As our world continues to grow in acceptance of other cultures, expanding our “world view,” I struggle with the ideas of assimilation that I have grown up with. In my art, I explore the historical traditions, native resources, and powerful symbols of the Inca culture. I focus most on finding my personal identity as a half-Peruvian female who grew up in an American household, the attributes of conservatism in my Hispanic-Catholic upbringings, and the political tensions of the U.S. in relation to my bloodline.
The catalyst to this internal search stems from my years teaching in Kansas City Public Schools at the “ELL hub” of our district. I actively work with immigrant families, some undocumented, who face this acculturation being placed in “low-performing” public schools. We collaborate on expressing ourselves in personal cultural identities, meeting white-washed standards in our own way. With such a diverse group of students, half of which identify as Hispanic, I focus on giving students a voice in an institution where they are asked to assimilate. I’m excited to engage with other conference participants on educational policies that work with a proud and growing Latin culture.
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