What I Hear

I go through Roosevelt Avenue in Jackson Heights almost every day of my life. I am on a bus or walking, either way I’m wearing headphones. If I am alone and in public, I am wearing headphones. The sounds around me are always being cancelled out and ignored. Simply strolling through Roosevelt Avenue, without any barriers from the world, I noticed the chaos around me. Chaos that has always been visually apparent, but now I could not escape from. The 7 train thunderously roars above me every ten minutes. All other noises are drowned out during this brief period. I hear several different languages being spoken, mostly Spanish. Cars are honking, they sound annoyed. I hear the hiss and beeping of the bus as it lowers itself for its elderly passengers. Someone is yelling about the business behind them; his voice is effortless and rehearsed. I hear the sizzling of meat as orders are being taken in Spanish. Right across from this cart a woman monotonously sells her batteries; “baterias, baterias, baterias” is repeated over and over again. Her short chant is unconvincing. Occasionally, one car will stand out from the rest. Rap will be blasting from their speakers and my attention is immediately grabbed, but it quickly fades away as they keep driving. After awhile, I decide it’s time to put my headphones back in. Sound adds to the commotion of Roosevelt Avenue and it is not something I can handle for long.

Artist Statement

My work is more for amusement than anything else. I am not trying to influence anyone's social or political perspectives. When someone looks at my work, I would rather they get a smile out of it. Even if it's just for a second, it's gratifying because it means they relate to something that I'm addressing.

I found that the creative part of being an artist could be fun, but I am more interested in the technical side of it. I have always liked mastering new skills and using that to perfect something I am working on. 

I am in awe of the comedy world, which includes stand up, podcasts, television, and films. I am inspired by the amount of talent and courage it takes for people like Amy Poehler and Mindy Kaling have to make people laugh. They are famous for their hilarious television shows, but there are crews that make that possible. They are my idols, but not because I want to be like them. As an artist, I want to be a part of aiding people like them in order to execute their visions. I would like to be a contributor to something I think is worth making.

Overall, I intend to find myself as an artist so that I can one day be a part of these worlds that has always fascinated me. I hope to create and help to create in the future.