watercolor, sharpie; 16×20″
“My art piece involves people who reside in Puerto Rico or who are Puerto Rican having voting rights. Puerto Rico residents are American citizens who are treated like second-class citizens. However, Puerto Rico was never intended to be a U.S. state. In 1967, 39% of Puerto Ricans voted for statehood. In 1998, 46.6% voted for statehood. 2012, 61% voted for statehood. 2017, 97% voted for statehood, but only 23% voted. There was unemployment in PR, 17.7% twice than in the USA. There was a 45% poverty rate in PR, triple the USA. In 2017, 2 hurricanes hit PR, leaving many without basic needs. Then in 2020 (COVID). Aid is too slow for the PR. Myart piece shows an OC character voting as a proud Puerto Rican.”
ARTIST BIO: Brandyn SIERRA is a grade 12 strudent at Butler Tech School of Art studying art under art teacher Mary Catherine Ruby.