Featured prominently in this work, blue and pink fabrics allude to the traditional gender divide between boys and girls. For Meléndez, subverting these conventional associations is a form of activism that calls into question the assumed roles of men and women in society. The juxtaposition of childhood references with profane phrases embroidered in the center of the composition creates a bold and irreverent statement against the status quo: “Profanity is vital to me in this work. The text invites you to read it until you reach the center of the piece, which includes a tongue that can also be interpreted as a vagina.” Created using materials often associated with feminine crafts, Lengua versátil challenges labels and stereotypes. 

Gisela Carbonell, Curator Rollins Museum of Art