Seven Self Sabotaging Sins of a Mixed Tejana Gemini - New works by Hailey Marmolejo (First Friday)

Seven Self Sabotaging Sins of a Mixed Tejana Gemini consists of seven large scale works, each depicting a woman in various battles with herself, and who she thinks she’s supposed to be, amidst a surreal landscape. The seven deadly sins, whether you are religious or not, are a looming concept drilled into us by society to ensure “good” behavior. But has this threatening idea instead made us quick to shame ourselves and others, and anxious to prove our worthiness and seek validation outside of ourselves? The idea of "sinning" is disempowering in nature. So what if instead of beating ourselves up and giving away our power, we give ourselves GRACE. Only through self-compassion can we find the strength and resilience to challenge the oppressive systems that perpetuate injustice. With grace, we create a safe space to examine our own biases, dismantle our privileges, and listen to the marginalized voices that have long been silenced. As we extend grace to ourselves, we become agents of change, paving the way for a more equitable and inclusive world. Each of these paintings is my way of taking responsibility for the ways in which I could be nicer to myself. It is my hope that they inspire the viewer to also commit to giving oneself grace, to the cultivation of forgiveness, and to the pursuit of compassion. In doing so, it is my belief that we can truly challenge the status quo and rebuild society on a foundation of empathy and understanding.