Tesoro De La Juventud (Treasure of The Youth)

Margarita Boettcher

I was eight years old when my family moved to the United States in pursuit of a better life and the chance for future opportunities. In the 1970s the Catholic School I was enrolled in employed brutal assimilation practices that included eliminating an immigrant child’s native culture to make room for the American one. [1] The intolerance I felt from the nuns and my schoolmates caused a lot of fear and confusion. Tesoro De La Juventud invites the viewer into the world through the innocent eyes of a child caught in an uncomfortable and inescapable situation. This body of work demonstrates the significant attachment I developed due to extreme anxiety to my childhood home and the books I brought with me to America from Mexico. [2] The book sculpture represents my understanding as a child that literature provided power to escape and explore the world from the safety of my home.

 Through my work, I have created worlds that reflect my subjective response as a child to the overwhelming anxiety of change and imbalance in the world beyond my front door. [3] I employ symbolism to capture the essence of my subjective experiences, the resilience of my mind, and the perseverance and indomitable spirit of my family. [4] The bubble letters are a celebration of my adolescent journey of rebellious expression and growth. I use a vivid color palette to convey all the positive and negative emotions of searching for a place to thrive in during times of great uncertainty. Tesoro De La Juventud is a journey of understanding, acceptance, and finding the courage to heal traumatic wounds.

[1] “Chapter XIII: Catholicism and Immigrant Assimilation.” Center for Migration Studies Special Issues 1, no. 1 (1975): 185-197. https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/pdf/10.1111/j.2050-411X.1975.tb00073.x.

[2] "Anxious Attachment: Causes and Symptoms.” The Attachment Project online. July 30, 2021. https://www.attachmentproject.com/blog/anxious-attachment/.

[3] Robin Atler. Ph.D. “The Role of Imagination in Children with Anxiety.” Dr. Robin Atler Website. Accessed August 2021. http://www.docrobin.com/the-role-of-imagination-in-children-with-anxiety/

[4] Terry Barrett. “Expressionism and Cognitivism.” In Why Is That Art? Aesthetics and Criticism of Contemporary Art, 65-109. New York: Oxford University Press, 2017.