"I came to the ACF Experimental Institute without fully knowing what kind of space it would be. It turned out to be a thoughtfully curated, holistic experience where I felt supported by both the facilitators and fellow participants. Small gestures like receiving compliments on my name, or regularly hearing Spanish, made a meaningful difference. Most of my past encounters have been in homogenized, polarized environments, where differences feel like barriers and create hierarchies of power. Here, I felt safe to talk about identity, race, and language, and even begin to heal from past trauma.

The Ei fosters individuality in artistic voices. Having artistic freedom and trust allowed my creative process to flourish. Before coming here, I was struggling with 'artist’s block,' feeling uninspired and insecure about my work. The Ei helped me process past experiences, provided tools for navigating challenging environments, and introduced me to an incredible community of artists.

Each of the mentors was inspiring in different ways. I especially appreciated their honesty. They were open about their feelings in past collaborations, institutions, and experiences—there was no hidden information. It's easy to see the final product, but it was truly inspiring to hear about their struggles, how they overcame them, and to witness works-in-progress or finished pieces. My main takeaway was the idea to 'dream, and to DREAM BIG.' Each mentor spoke about maintaining artistic identity and working on one’s own timeline.

Being immersed with these inspiring artists was a reminder of the importance of resilience, resistance, and hope for better things to come.”

- Ana Luisa Díaz de Cossío
2024 Experimental Institute artist-fellow

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