LAS MADRES  These figurative paintings with Madres (mothers) in heroic postures are homages to the working mother. Mothers are the invisible labor, unpaid, underpaid, undervalued, unappreciated, and overlooked for their contributions to multitasking duties in this complex fabric of our society. They have been, and still are a large part of institutionalized gender inequality. This invisible economic engine where women do the cooking, cleaning, child, and elder care keeps them from advancing economically, at work, and in society. For me, it is important to represent women in a strong manner and to illustrate the dignity I witness in them and hope to give voice to their oppression. Their attitudes provide intimacy, strength, endurance, pride, and unsparing honesty in wanting and praying for nothing less than a better future for their children.