Mercedes 2022 - Present

Mercedes (a work-in-progress) is a multidisciplinary art experience inspired by Modesto ‘Flako’ Jimenez’s grandmother, Mercedes, and the legacy of Latine individuals she helped migrate to the country. After immigrating to America as a kid, Flako was raised by his grandmother in Brooklyn. As an adult, he served as her main caregiver as she battled dementia. In the process of taking care of his “mama”, he uncovered years of letters, receipts, and papers that documented her impact on the Latine community. This journey of care, memory, and discovery is the heart of the work, Mercedes. This multidisciplinary art experience deals with our relationship to aging, dementia, and inherited trauma through a series of components: a theater piece based around Mercedes’ life, including her own migration to the U.S.; art therapy workshops in ‘The Mercedes Healing Room’; a gallery of artwork and photography created by workshop participants; a VR (Virtual Reality) healing experience; and a documentary, which will depict the entire project to share with wider audiences.

CREATOR/ACTOR

Supported by MAXmachina, the Petri Project Residency with The TEAM, the Piper Theater Residency, and the BRIClab Residency in Performing Arts.