Dame tus Manos

An exhibit of art & ethnography by Kai Tomalin

St. Petersburg native son and recent honors graduate of The American University, Kai Tomalin presents “Dame tus Manos”, a collection of oral histories and hand-painted illustrations told through a storybook narrative.

Come experience the magical realism of Colombia, as told through the artist’s madrina (godmother) and abuelita (her mother). Compelling stories and watercolor illustrations recount the 20th century lived experiences of The Vargas Family, displaced from their homeland following La Violencia, a civil war that forever impacted their community, traditions and physical home.

The pigments created and used by the artist in the research and collection are natural materials like those found in the valley from which the Vargas family was displaced. Compounds of coffee and mango, turmeric and saffron, spinach, and many other natural elements bring the tales of magical realism to life in living colors that will never fade from the hearts of those forced to flee their homes.

Kai will give a brief talk about this project at 7:15 PM.

Prints of the original artwork will be available for purchase during the event.