Sofia Ramirez
Location: 1909 Spruce Street (north of home in Alley)
Photo by Peter Kowalchuk
Artist Statement
I wanted to honor the fight for women's rights in Afghanistan. It started when I learned about a 23 year old activist named Wazhma Tokhi through a travel influencer I follow that goes by @destinationchaser
Wazhma was wanted by the Taliban for her activism, education, and political voice. The death threats she has faced have caused her to have to change her mode of transportation to work everyday to avoid being easily followed. Despite’s the risk she kept working to better the lives of women in her country for many years. Due to the recent fall of the government in Afghanistan to the Taliban, Wazhma's life was more in danger than ever. I am happy to report that she was able to safely leave the country just before the Kabul airport was taken by the Taliban. She is safe now facing an entirely new struggle of being a refugee. Walking this journey with her has been a roller coaster of emotions but I’m glad to call her a dear friend now. We look forward to meeting soon. I hope this honors her bravery and helps humanize a crisis which headlines too often dehumanize.
The mountains behind her are part of the Hindu Kush Mountains in Afghanistan. They parallel her strength and beauty. It is a pleasure to share her story with you all.
Please donate time, money, or house hold items to the Islamic Center in Denver to help refugees coming to Colorado from this crisis. If you are not local to CO please do your part in connecting with your local officials to provide the best aid possible to the refugees in your area. The only difference between us and them is the geographical location of birth. No one has ever done anything to deserve being displaced. Love each other, be kind.
Artist Bio:
My name is Sofia Ramirez. My art alias is Sofi Rami. I am a first generation Colombian American multi-media artist. I have practiced studio painting in oil and acrylic medium as my main discipline for five years. As well as practicing 3D design, digital art, illustration, and most recently public art. I graduated from Towson University receiving my Bachelors in Fine Arts with a concentration in Digital Art and Design in December of 2019. Through all those mediums I mostly practice abstract art and illustrative portraiture with inspirations from movements like graffuturism, minimalism, and art nouveau. I've been practicing studio art for 5 years and public art for 2 years. I believe in the ability art has to transform spaces, guide emotions, conversations, or even give the viewers a moment of clarity in an often confusing world. This belief is what drives my passion for making beautiful and thought provoking work. My strengths as an artist include doing intricate line work, patterning, geometry, use of bold color, symmetry, and movement.
LINKS
Photo by Shanna Fortier