DAFNE RODRIGUEZ
(SUMMER of 2022)
“I want to be a vet because I have seen how many people see animals and think of them as objects and those animals need as much help as they can get.”
Artist Statement
My name is Dafne Rodriguez, I am 14 years old, and in eighth grade. I am a very good student and usually have very good grades. When I'm older I want to earn my bachelors degree in biological sciences then complete a four year Doctor of veterinary medicine program. I want to be a vet because I have seen how many people see animals and think of them as objects and those animals need as much help as they can get. Also I just like helping animals in all ways I can. I know being a vet can be hard but I really want to help these animals.
My family means the world to me and I would do anything for them.
-Dafne Rodriguez
I was born in Santa Fe, New Mexico. Only my little sister and I were born here in the United States. The rest of my family was born and most were raised in Mexico. They came here for better opportunities and decided to stay. My parents are both from Delicias, Chihuahua in Mexico. My family is close and we do a lot of traditional things. On Christmas we make tamales.
Artist Biography:
Dafne comes from a large extend family, as she stated in her application for Gather, ‘Family is everything to me.’ Dafne’s residency was guided by her own words. Dafne’s artistic exploration while participating in Gather was supported by community and family.
My family is made up of my parents, my two sisters, my grandma, and my auntie. The rest of my family live in Mexico or in a different state and I don't get to see them often. My family means the world to me and I would do anything for them. Right now some of my family is not in the best situation financially and if I get accepted into the project and do a good job I will use the money to help out as much as I can. I would also like to get something meaningful for my family as a thank you for everything they've done for me. My family always gave me the best they were able to in my life. Two years ago my grandpa died and my grandma was mostly financially dependent on him and now she is struggling a little so I want to be able to help her.
“My family always gave me the best they were able to in my life”
-Dafne Rodriguez
GATHER has been generously funded by NDN Collective.
Part of the NDN Collective statement reads - “…Building indigenous power…”. One of the goals of Gather is to help build “indigenous power" at the grass root level - using art.
Visit www.ndncollective.org for more information.