About

Mercedes (work-in-progress) is a multidisciplinary work inspired by Modesto "Flako" Jimenez’s mother Margarita and grandmother Mercedes, and the legacy of Latinx individuals she helped migrate to the country. After immigrating to America as a kid, Flako was raised by his grandmother in Brooklyn. Now as an adult, he serves as her main caregiver as she battles dementia. In the process of taking care of his “mama”, he uncovered years of letters, receipts, and papers that documented her impact on the Latinx community.

Mercedes is a new multidisciplinary theatrical work in which we explore our relationship to the matriarchy and our ancestors, familial bonds and inherited trauma, and how our own identity can impact our mental health.

The project began as a residency to produce a theatrical work with Piper Theater and other partners, which was canceled due to global COVID-19 pandemic. As a result, MERCEDES shifted from a theatrical work to a multidisciplinary work, which culminated in a project with BRIClab released on February 5th, 2021 which was an excerpt for a full length documentary.

The Healing Room/Gallery will function as live, multidisciplinary installations- all over the five boroughs; currently booked for Bushwick Summer 2022 and at the Abrons Arts Center Fall 2022 - for the public to:

• Participate in Art Therapy workshops, led by a health care practitioner and artists

• Experience the gallery exhibit and share resources

• Allow participants to watch the documentary and share their personal story through therapeutic art practices

• Create a network of new relationships, and build community

 A scan of the healing rooms for a virtual reality experience.

Dementia/Alzheimer's is complex and leads to a variety of challenging symptoms, making each person’s experience unique.

This experience is through the lens of Mercedes Vinales' life.