Metal to Melody: Stephanie Mercedes' Artistic Response to Gun Violence

Artistas in the Capital

In this episode, we sit down with Stephanie Mercedes, a talented queer Latinx artist based in Washington D.C. Mercedes is an interdisciplinary artist who explores various mediums such as sound, performance, metal casting, welding, and musical composition. With a deep connection to her family history and Argentine ancestry, her performances and installations ruminate on that country’s history, particularly los desaparecidos, as well as colonization, dictatorships, and juntas prevalent throughout Latin America. Additionally, Mercedes shares her unique artistic process of transforming weapons into musical instruments and sculptures, and how she intersects art, history, and activism.

Episode Credits:
Host: Norma Sorto
Guest: Stephanie Mercedes
Episode Interviewers: Estrellita Soto Flores and Flavia Olivera
Episode Scriptwriter: Flavia Olivera
Episode Editor: Claudia Peralta Torres
Music by Blue Dot Sessions:
Sour Mash - Golden Grass
Cholate - Arizona Moon
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