Puerto Rican Portraits of Strength
Rebeca Garcia-Gonzalez was born in Puerto Rico in 1962 and moved to San Francisco to study art in 1985. While earning her living as an advertising freelancer and later as a teacher, she privately pursued her passion for portraiture. After Hurricane María devastated her homeland, she put together a Kickstarter campaign, raising $8,000, so she could fly to the island to capture portraits, which are currently on display (until Aug. 15) at the Sanchez Contemporary in Oakland. SanchezContemporary.com
Her hope is that the show will get viewers to examine the politics of representation and redefine the “pobrecito” victim narrative. The models hailed mostly from her home, the San Juan region, but also from Manatí, Loíza, and Caguas. She selected from a crosssection of sitters, many from the LGBTQ community. “Yes, the models were awaiting disability, but these portraits aim to show the strength and dignity of my people.” Rebeca lives in Richmond with her wife, Sarah. Garcia-Gonzalez.com
