Felicia B Avalos
2022 HEAR US Awardee
Art & Public Policy Class of 2022
Felicia B Avalos is a Chicana performance artist based in NYC. Her thesis was on Mexican/Central American immigration told through her father's story of crossing the Mexican and USA border. She is a performer with Calpulli Mexican Dance Company and continues to research the juxtaposition of Mexican/Central American political topics with dance.
Project
Runway to the Border (working title)
"Runway to the Border" is a presentation with storytelling through fashion and dance. Both demonstrate the dangers of the immigrants’ journey for a hopeful future of opportunity in the United States for them and their families.
Performers dressed in border crossing attire and representing immigrants would have their own fashion show to present to the audience what is worn to journey towards starting a new life in a new country. The countries people are traveling from are not only México and Central American countries, but also Haiti, Dominican Republic, and South American, Asian, European, and African countries. I envision the crossing to the United States to be a kind of runway with traveling clothes and materials that have a story, a spotlight on the walkers, and an audience constantly watching and judging their every move. I will be working with fashion designers to recreate the immigrant clothing materials and obstacles immigrants face when crossing, into avant garde clothing. This fashion show is also representing the families who were separated at the border when requesting asylum. The dance section of this project would be telling different viewpoints of the detainees, adults and children, in the detention centers and their treatment and relationships with the guards and each other, while being detained.
The inspiration for my projects on Mexican and Central American political and social issues is my father and his journey from México to become an American citizen, obtain a bachelor’s degree, and have the right to vote; all of which he accomplished. I constantly admire my father for his bravery and courage for leaving his home and embracing a new one. It is my duty as an artist and as a daughter of an immigrant to reflect, step up, and create art about the times.
