Installation: Time Machine

Patricia Muñiz-Villanueva and Cat Palacios 

Time Machine, 2023

Blanket forts remind us of our childhoods and simpler times. They serve as a symbol for imagination, nostalgia, and creativity. Through this art installation, we aim to travel back to childhood wonderment and joy. During a time of political turmoil, finals, and tackling difficult and pressing matters, we aim to create an escape from it all.  A place for us to reconnect with our inner child or a time when the distress and chaos of the world didn’t bring us down. By using memorabilia, iconic snacks, blankets, furniture, and pillows we created a vibrant and playful environment our younger selves could only dream of. We seek to remind each other of the importance of playfulness and creativity in our lives.

Installation: American Classroom

Installation for Yellow House Art Gallery and University of North Florida's Elivened Spaces  

American Classroom, 2023

As an artist, I use mixed media and found objects to create awareness and inspire conversations toward pressing issues, such as gun violence. My installation is a visual and tactile expression of a reality that has become far too frequent in American society; school shootings. Through thoughtful placement and symbolism of school furniture, supplies, and toys, I invite viewers to reflect on gun violence through the lens of lived experience. The mock classroom setting is transformed into a battlefield where the lives of children and their educators are ultimately at stake. My work challenges inaction, seeks to unite communities, and encourages the desire for proactive change. The artwork allows us to come together and examine our collective pain, fear, and empathy. It is not a solution but an invitation to consider the impact gun violence has on our world and how we can work towards ending the cycle.

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