@Cattco
“Ni de aquí, ni de allá is the best way to describe home for me. Home is where you cultivate love, support, and strength. My home does not belong to one place but every person I’ve met and loved”
I discovered these letters after my father passed which was over a decade at this point. The letters were most likely collected by father when my grandmother passed. I like to think that the discovery of these letters were memories kept safe for the loved ones we leave behind. These letters have outlived the recipients yet their love continues through the words they left behind.
Letras Para Gume is a reinterpreted memory. The work reflects the joy and laughter of reuniting with family while honoring our loved ones who are no longer with us. Each photograph captures a letter my grandmother received from my father. These Intimate moments speak about love and yearning to be with the one’s you love. Love that is divided by land and water.
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My family’s journey to the United States was rooted in survival, sacrifice, and hope. My father grew up in poverty, with limited access to opportunity despite his strong work ethic. When an opportunity arose to travel to the U.S. for promised work, he viewed it as a temporary solution. A necessary step for him to earn a living, support his family, and eventually return home to Mexico.
That plan changed over time. What was meant to be a brief stay became a lifetime shaped by labor, perseverance, and deep love for his family. He wanted the best for us, even when it required enduring uncertainty and hardship. Forty years later, our family remains in the United States, with my father now buried here. In the final years of his life, he became disabled, yet he persevered with quiet strength until the very end.
Today, my mother continues to be a pillar for our family. Her resilience and unwavering strength inspire me to persevere through even the toughest moments. Together, my parents’ sacrifices and perseverance form the foundation of my values and drive me to honor their legacy through my own determination and growth. ” “Our immigration story has deeply shaped my relationship with both my family and my community. Growing up, there were many nights when I barely saw my parents because they were working long hours to provide for us. Their absence wasn’t a lack of love rather it was an act of it. That sacrifice taught me early on what commitment, responsibility, and perseverance truly look like.
What grounded us were the moments we carved out together. Weekly family days at the park were always my favorite. Those afternoons felt sacred time. Laughter came easily, and for a moment, everything felt whole. The park was also where our community gathered. I watched friends and neighbors who immigrated around the same time as my parents play basketball, share stories and chisme, and look out for one another. It was a space of connection, familiarity, and belonging.
Because of this, my idea of family extends beyond blood. It looks like shared meals, collective care, and people who understand sacrifice because they’ve lived it too. My community feels like resilience, cultural pride, and mutual support. Even in hardship, people find ways to build joy, connection, and build a home. Home is where the heart is. ” Ni de aquí, ni de allá is the best way to describe home for me. Home is where you cultivate love, support, and strength. My home does not belong to one place but every person I’ve met and loved. From my family in Mexico to my family here and to the family I have yet to meet you are my home. Tradition lives through us and although change is certain we carry our stories with us and move forward with the journey of life. For me the pull is strongest when I am experiencing intense emotion. Whether is joy or worry I remind myself of those who came before and those who will come after. For my hope is centered around community and the bridges that are built from it. I’m incredibly grateful to have met all walks of life who have made an impact on me through their lives, missions, and experiences. The power of art has greatly allowed my dreams to manifest themselves. My dream is to make this world bigger and create a space that gives others the freedom and opportunity to explore their own dreams.