Black and AAPI Youth dismantle the tricultural myth at the ABQ Artwalk.
The New Mexico Black Leadership Council and New Mexico Asian Family Center were in force at the First Friday ABQ Artwalk on May 7th. We installed the True New Mexico Photovoice popup in the parking lot of the B Ruppe Drugstore gallery, along with several other artists and artisans sharing this collective space. A bright, sunny day in the wake of the state’s gradual reopening proved the perfect backdrop for bringing the message of these young artists to the greater community.
“In the form of cubism and collage, I create pieces that reflect my Tibetan-American experience and the abundant issues and joys the Asian American Pacific Islander community faces.”
— True NM Artist Sowang Kundeling, She/Her/Hers, AAPI (Tibetan)
The collection of self-portraits from young Black & AAPI New Mexicans dismantle the tricultural myth and answer the question “What’s YOUR TRUE NEW MEXICAN story?”
“I photograph my form as if to say,
“I am.”
“I am.”
“I am.”
—True NM Artist Donald Roberts, They/Them/Theirs, Jamaican
Check out our photo gallery from the True NM ABQ Artwalk Popup below.
Watch the powerful video for the original song “Why Not Me” by True New Mexico Artist Kai Warrior:
To learn more about the artists and view their projects, click here.