“True Peace”
Links to articles concerning images on the piece
Pedro Albizu Campos
(June 29, 1893 – April 21, 1965) was a highly educated, Puerto Rican attorney and politician. He rose to prominence as the leading figure in the Puerto Rican independence movement. He was the president and the political spearhead of the Nationalist Party of Puerto Rico from 1930 until his death.
https://www.britannica.com/biography/Pedro-Albizu-Campos
The Young Lords
During the civil rights movement of the 1960’s Puerto Ricans took to the streets marching and making their voices heard along side others with a similar mission. Next to señor Campos we have the “Young Lords”. Lead by a young man wearing a beret this group joined the Nationalists movement as its next generation.
https://nmaahc.si.edu/object/nmaahc_2014.109.7.2
Planned Parenthood Logo
The logo was placed in the piece in representation of Margaret Sanger’s illegal Contraceptive pill trials. Puerto Rican women were mislead and used as test dummies resulting in the sterilization of 47% of the population of women on the Island.
https://www.history.com/news/birth-control-pill-history-puerto-rico-enovid
Lady Liberty
The Statue of Liberty, In October of 1977, Puerto Rican nationalists radically placed their flag across the forehead of Lady Liberty. For decades, residents of the U.S. territory had lived as second-class American citizens, so activists desiring to be heard took over the statue to make a statement that could not be ignored.
https://www.nytimes.com/1977/10/26/archives/30-in-puerto-rican-group-held-in-liberty-i-protest.html
Munitions Waste Left Behind
The munitions left behind serve as evidence of the mistreatment of the islands beauty and its people. A proud people, who have been left with this pollution that serves as an eye soaring reminder of the power possessed by their overzealous colonizer.
https://cswab.org/military-munitions-disposal-is-polluting-puerto-rico-despite-safer-alternatives/
The Hen With Her Chicks
(a photo taken by Abner on his trip to Vieques Puerto Rico 2022)
Artist intent and interpretation
The Puerto Rican nationalists movement craves independence from those that have come claiming to be the saviors of the beloved “enchanted island”. This desire is understandable considering the ways Puerto Rico has been used for its riches while its people have been treated as less valuable than those in the “so called” main land of the United States. It can be said that their mission is a noble one, but it is known without question that their actions at times have been as evil as those they claim to fight against.
True peace can only come at the hands of a true savior. As Jesus told Jerusalem “How often would I have gathered your children together as a hen gathers her brood under her wings, and you were not willing!” (Luke 13:34). God longs to save the people of Puerto Rico and He will when they call upon Him, the true savior.
https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Luke%2013%3A34-35&version=NIV
(June 29, 1893 – April 21, 1965) was a highly educated, Puerto Rican attorney and politician. He rose to prominence as the leading figure in the Puerto Rican independence movement. He was the president and the political spearhead of the Nationalist Party of Puerto Rico from 1930 until his death.
https://www.britannica.com/biography/Pedro-Albizu-Campos
The Young Lords
During the civil rights movement of the 1960’s Puerto Ricans took to the streets marching and making their voices heard along side others with a similar mission. Next to señor Campos we have the “Young Lords”. Lead by a young man wearing a beret this group joined the Nationalists movement as its next generation.
https://nmaahc.si.edu/object/nmaahc_2014.109.7.2
Planned Parenthood Logo
The logo was placed in the piece in representation of Margaret Sanger’s illegal Contraceptive pill trials. Puerto Rican women were mislead and used as test dummies resulting in the sterilization of 47% of the population of women on the Island.
https://www.history.com/news/birth-control-pill-history-puerto-rico-enovid
Lady Liberty
The Statue of Liberty, In October of 1977, Puerto Rican nationalists radically placed their flag across the forehead of Lady Liberty. For decades, residents of the U.S. territory had lived as second-class American citizens, so activists desiring to be heard took over the statue to make a statement that could not be ignored.
https://www.nytimes.com/1977/10/26/archives/30-in-puerto-rican-group-held-in-liberty-i-protest.html
Munitions Waste Left Behind
The munitions left behind serve as evidence of the mistreatment of the islands beauty and its people. A proud people, who have been left with this pollution that serves as an eye soaring reminder of the power possessed by their overzealous colonizer.
https://cswab.org/military-munitions-disposal-is-polluting-puerto-rico-despite-safer-alternatives/
The Hen With Her Chicks
(a photo taken by Abner on his trip to Vieques Puerto Rico 2022)
Artist intent and interpretation
The Puerto Rican nationalists movement craves independence from those that have come claiming to be the saviors of the beloved “enchanted island”. This desire is understandable considering the ways Puerto Rico has been used for its riches while its people have been treated as less valuable than those in the “so called” main land of the United States. It can be said that their mission is a noble one, but it is known without question that their actions at times have been as evil as those they claim to fight against.
True peace can only come at the hands of a true savior. As Jesus told Jerusalem “How often would I have gathered your children together as a hen gathers her brood under her wings, and you were not willing!” (Luke 13:34). God longs to save the people of Puerto Rico and He will when they call upon Him, the true savior.
https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Luke%2013%3A34-35&version=NIV