Playing with notions of cultural identity has been one that I have wrestled with from time to time. The notion of who defines identity and how it becomes imbued with certain characteristics gives me fodder for thought and an avenue to pursue in my artwork. I selected images from mid-century Mexican and American printed materials. These images are combined with repeated patterns found in popular Mexican oilcloth designs and embroidery fabrics. The shared “icons” of both cultures, the perfect 1950’s housewife, and the historical image of the Mexican woman in traditional dress, are still very much a part of the culture of both countries today. For me, using historical images evokes a duality of ideas, at once decorative and yet questioning the role of the original in popular culture.