I graduated from the University of California , San Diego in June 2000 with a B.S. in Biochemistry/Cell Biology and a minor in Studio Art. During my years at UCSD, an increased need for family history sparked an internal flame to research my parent's deceased mothers. Both grandmothers passed away when my parents were children. Celebrating Dia de los Muertos enabled me to draw closer to my grandmothers and to understand their lives and personalities.

My inspiration to pursue painting arose from my first trip to Mexico City in 1996. At the time I was familiar with various Mexican artists including David Alfaro Siquieros, Jose Clemente Orozco, Diego Rivera, Guadalupe Posada y Frida Kahlo. During this trip I explored the city in search of the murals, homes and studios of these artists that inspire me. Since then, I have returned to Mexico several times in order to refuel my soul with its richness in art.

Finally in 2000, I took my first painting class and was able to bring together my influences of Mexican art and culture into an ongoing series entitled Calaveras in Celebration of Life . For the Voz Alta art exhibition, I was thrilled to realize a project that began in 2000 as a scribble in my biology class notes. La Loteria de la Mujer is a series of paintings that depicts a Latina 's evolution as she comes into full bloom in an ever-changing world. These images from my imagination were influenced by mi cultura y tradiciones Mexicanas . The full realization of this exhibition this past April 2003 was presented as a multidisciplinary project in collaboration with Brujas y Bellas , Voz Alta's womans writing circle and my sister Gissel Nevarez.

I aspire to use my artwork as a creative tool to broaden the understanding of Mexican culture, its people and its traditions to non-Latinos and Latinos alike. My intention is to evoke feelings of a need for family history, inspiring a better sense of life.