Rosalia Torres-Weiner pairs her art and activism to lead Charlotte communities. Born in Mexico, she has brought bits of home with her that can be found in the rich color schemes of her work. Often featuring bright reds, yellows, blues, and bold symbolism her art captures the dynamic nature of the South. The vibrancy of her work, she says, has become the staple of her art and is a vital part of the stories that she strives to tell.
“I use my creativity to express myself, and, equally important, to educate and give voice to untold narratives.” — Rosalia Torres-Weiner
In 2010, Torres-Weiner intentionally shifted her focus toward activism. Her direction was charged by the persisting injustices and dysfunction present in the United States immigration system. Her work is also used as a means to document social conditions and raise awareness for issues facing immigrant communities. These issues include family separation, racism, access to public education, and the job of dispelling stereotypes.
An adaptation of her story “The Magic Kite,” can be found as a product of The Children’s Theatre of Charlotte. The story opens with a painting of a young brown boy, Tito, being tossed in the air by his father. While working with the McColl Center for Art and Innovation, she completed 24 panels of the project. It ends with an image of a sky filled with kites. Each kite tells a story of a different child. As she continues in her artivism, Torres-Weiner also looks for more ways to continue telling Tito’s story.
Featured on Medium.com by Daviana Fraser on Feb 16, 2019