10/20/2021
It is an honor to be able to share such an uplifting piece of culture and artistry. Not only is it a beautiful work of art, but a powerful message as well. Thank you Sophi Marsaw-Nevarez for allowing your story to inspire others.
This art piece was inspired by my experiences living at the Sacramento Receiving Home and getting through the Foster System. Currently there are more than 500,000 foster youth in the "United" States, which continues to grow every year. The individual you see is unraveling themself and revealing a piece of them they don't show the world. The foster system is like a hidden institution that remains covered and discrete, I wanted to portray that through the model. The building is symbolic for the Receiving home. Hands and legs dangle and reach to be freed from the overfilling bedrooms and inability to be mobile. Though it is not meant to bring sadness but empowerment and awareness, to create both an understanding for those that don't know the system and a connection to those that do. The bright yellow you see represents strength, that is something my mother told me at a young age, "Yellow is the sun, a strong color." Then I decided to add the daffodils which represent prosperity and new beginnings. That is a message to the youth to continue moving forward and "unraveling" yourself to the world; we need representation. Lastly, I wanted this art piece to be a message to foster youth directly that anything is possible and as long as you follow your heart whether it be the arts or sciences- to take your story and let it be your inspiration to do better and create meaningful things.
When I was 16, lost and homeless I would attend Sacramento Second Saturdays (Art Showings) in Midtown to escape into the art realm. I have a strong recollection of seeing this public art piece of Andy Warhol and Basquiat, Warhol was the first artist I was introduced to (and my favorite artist), it was striking to see it at that point of my life. I remember thinking how beautiful it would be to present work like that into the world and that I would someday do the same, in my own way. At 19, I am happy to say that the location of that exact art piece I saw at 16 is the art piece you see here on 15th and K. Little did I know that I would be the one handed the torch to replace the work that inspired me. My only hope is that my box does the same for someone else who is lost out there in the streets of Sacramento. I feel that if this piece doesn't reciprocate the same love, that it is simply not finished.
The contract for this location ends in 3 years.
Thanks for the support!
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Sophi Marsaw-Nevarez