Tina Hernandez: Nichos of the Afterlife

From San Jacinto College:

“In celebration of National Hispanic Heritage Month, the San Jacinto College Central Campus Art Gallery presents Nichos of the Afterlife on October 9th. The Black Box Gallery will be transformed into an immersive installation drawn from a photographic series influenced by the tradition of small, colorful Mexican shadow boxes called nichos, traditionally created for the Day of the Dead or el Día de los Muertos.

For this exhibition, the artist will take her photographs one step further, creating life-sized scenes inclusive of everyday items such as a kitchen table, snake plant, cups and plates. The nicho, or small portable box reminiscent of a shrine, now becomes a three-dimensional space where the artist “steps inside,” effectively merging art with life. Against the matte black walls of the small subsidiary gallery space, colorful panels, faux floor mats and a variety of bric-a-brac delight the senses while providing insight into the artist’s Chicana experience and her interest in crafting, prop-making, photography and self-portraiture.”