Summary

Creator:

Melendez, Veronica Aracely

Abstract:

Twenty 17x22-inch color inkjet prints from the body of work "Le pido a Dios que no me olviden," or "I ask God that you not forget me," by photographer Veronica Melendez document the Latin American community in the Washington, D.C. metro area, primarily in Maryland and Virginia. The images are of people, cultural events, religious scenes, and symbols that recall faraway countries of origin as well as contemporary realities in these Latin American communities. Melendez's work received the 2018 ADA Collection Award for Documentarians of the American South. Acquired as part of the Archive of Documentary Arts at Duke University.

Extent:

1.0 Linear Foot
1 box
20 color inkjet prints
17 x 22 inches

Language:

Materials in English and Spanish.

Collection ID:

RL.11692

Background

Scope and Content:

The title of this project, "Le pido a Dios que no me olviden," translates to "I ask God that you not forget me." It is taken from a letter written to the artist's mother the day she emigrated from Guatemala to the United States in 1982. These words inspired Veronica Melendez to start documenting through photography the Central American community in the Washington, D.C. metro area, particularly in Maryland and Virginia.

The twenty 17x22-inch color inkjet prints, all horizontally oriented, document people, cultural events, religious scenes, and symbols that recall faraway countries of origin as well as contemporary realities in these Latin American communities. The artist's statement is included. This work won the 2018 ADA Collection Award for Documentarians of the American South.

Acquired as part of the Archive of Documentary Arts at Duke University.

Biographical / Historical:

Veronica Melendez is a visual artist currently based in Washington, D.C. She received her MFA from the University of Hartford and BFA from the Corcoran College of Art and Design. From illustrations of iconic household products to photographs documenting the diaspora of Central Americans within the D.C. metro area, her work is greatly influenced by her Latinx upbringing. Melendez is the 2018 recipient of the Duke University Archive of Documentary Arts Collection Award for Documentarians of the American South.

Acquisition Information:

The Veronica Melendez photographs were received by the David M. Rubenstein Rare Book Manuscript Library as a purchase in 2018.

Processing information:

Processed and described by Edward Coles, Paula Jeannet, and Alanna Styer, January 2019.

Accession(s) described in this collection guide: 2018-0177.

Arrangement:

Prints are arranged in original order as assigned by the photographer.

Rules or Conventions:

Describing Archives: A Content Standard

Subjects

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Subjects:

Documentary photography -- Washington (D.C.)
Immigrants -- Southern States -- Photographs
Latin Americans -- Photographs
Latin Americans -- United States
Latin Americans -- United States -- Social conditions
Latin Americans -- Washington (D.C.)

Formats:

Color photographs
Digital prints
Inkjet prints

Names:

Archive of Documentary Arts (Duke University)
Melendez, Veronica Aracely

Places:

Maryland -- Photographs
Virginia, Northern -- Photographs
Washington (D.C.) -- Photographs