The Rising Artist February 2015 | Page 7

Sneak Peak! Subscribe to read the whole story! In the 21st century, there is a new form of portraiture: the selfie. "Exploring the selfie, and its increasing prevalence in our culture, led me to realize that there are subthemes within how people examine or present identity such as ethnic, gender, or religious identity. Selfies are an expression of one’s identity, however contrived or imagined it may be. " New technologies led to this incredible form of active self expression. As a response and investigation, Nayda simultaneously began three projects: #WhatLatinosLookLike: "A group of painted self-portraits on those selfies posted on Twitter by individuals who demonstrate diversity within Latinos." #MurrietaProtest: "[This series] addresses a shameful display of anti-immigrant sentiment in this countryspecifically an event that took place in California in July of 2014." The Murrieta protest referrs to an event in Murrieta, CA where a group of protestors blocked buses with detained, undocumented immigrants. They were going to the border station and were sent there to alleviate the overwhelmed Texas facilities. Many of those blocking the buses held signs and made disdainful an d hateful comments towards the immigrants. #Inbetween2Worlds: "is composed of a collection of my own selfies taken of me in Arlington, Massachusetts, and in Puerto Rico." Through this series, Nayda hopes to explore her own relationship with the selfie trend and her expression of identity. 19 #WhatLatinosLookLike 3 of 10 3"x5" Oil on Wood Panel