Lucy Giboyeaux
New Cumberland, PA
Lucy is a mixed media artist whose work vibrates with the energy of resilience and endurance. Born in Puerto Rico, raised in New York City now in Pennsylvania.
Message
Lucy is a mixed media artist whose work vibrates with the energy of resilience and the enduring human spirit. Born in Puerto Rico, raised amidst the vibrant cultural tapestry of New York City, Lucy now calls Pennsylvania home. Her artistic journey is fueled by a deep fascination with what sustains us through hardship – the power of community, the solace of love, the beacon of hope, and the unwavering strength of faith. Inspiration struck deeply during conversations with a group of "Abuelitas," whose stories revealed the extraordinary capacity for bouncing back from adversity. Through paintings and sculptures, Lucy weaves together poignant narratives of survival, faith, and cultural identity, reflecting on the significance of her Puerto Rican heritage and her relationship with God in the diaspora. Lucy's art serves as a powerful reminder of the unwavering human capacity for hope and perseverance.
Statement
Originally from Puerto Rico, I am a mixed media artist located in Pennsylvania, continuously explore human resilience and the things that motivate us to keep going like community, love, hope, and faith.
What sustains you going? I asked a group of “Abuelitas”. These stories evoke feelings in me that remind me why I create art. They informed me about human condition, their ability to bounce back from setbacks and tragedies, and the strength they found in God and themselves to go on. This is why I create art. Whether I am painting or creating sculptures, I want to offer a poignant reflection on this subject – people’s resilience. Through art, I can graphically express my thoughts. Feelings and people’s stories I find through travel and especially the significance of my Puerto Rican culture and identity in God in the diaspora.
For instance, in language, the “Taino Emergence” painting of my Puerto Rican Princes series, is an expression of embracing my identity with Taino indigenous language, a legacy I reminisce from my grandmother. She used Taino words like "batey" and "ditas" and "jicotea".
In addition to exploring human interaction, connection, cultural identity, and being Puerto Rican and American—symbols of the island—I consider the significance of relationships among organizations and communities.
In my process I might start with something I witnessed, like the Aftermath of Hurricane Maria, the effects I saw in Nicaraguan youth from the civil uprising, a scene of a homeless man with his head down, or a worship activity so expressive in body movement.
As in the piece "Buscando Agua Después de Maria," I also use organic materials and environmentally friendly mediums. I also recycle materials for the Flamboyán Tree flower and illustrate what many Puerto Ricans had to do following Hurricane María: fetch water in streams. I could relate to this because I had to go through a similar experience as a child when I returned to the island.
I'm currently investigating the usage of other organic materials, such as the egg membranes I utilize in "Rise." I deliberately selected the membrane of eggs that dry like paper for representation of strength, resilience, drive, life, and health.