Mateo Blanco honors the Hopi tribe with sculpture

Orlando, Florida, 2019-Jun-20 — /EPR Network/ — Watching futuristic movies, many people don’t recognize the stylistic elements Hollywood borrows from Native American tribes.

Orlando artist, Mateo Blanco, is on a mission to change this. On Thursday, June 6, his latest piece “Hopi Girl” will debut at the Orlando Museum of Art’s 1^st Thursdays event.

The piece is of a young Hopi girl, featuring her native hairstyle made popular by Princess Leia in the “Star Wars” franchise. Over time, this hairstyle has become a representation of female strength and prosperity.

Blanco created this piece to bring recognition to the Hopi culture and honor its influences on our society.

The medium of the sculpture – rope – is a metaphor. A strong material, rope represents the pain every woman must endure and the strength that guides her through it.

“On a recent trip to Arizona with my parents, I was able to reconnect with my roots,” said Blanco. “My mother is a descendant of Native Americans, so I wanted create a sculpture as a tribute to her and our ancestors. Always a fan of “Star Wars”, I thought this piece was an excellent chance to draw attention to the influences the Hopi tribe has had on our culture.”

Mateo Blanco is a world-renowned visual and vocal artist. Known for his unconventional use of mediums and edible materials, Blanco’s sense of wonder is present in everything he creates. Noteworthy projects include portraits of Jennifer Lawrence in peanuts, Dolly Parton recreated in pieces of cloth and string, and Elsa from Disney’s “Frozen” in sugar crystals. His art can be found in Ripley’s Believe It or Not! museums, as well as in museums and private collections around the world. Blanco’s recently re-released album “Mateo Blanco 724” can be found on iTunes, Spotify, Tidal, Google Play and Amazon Music.

To view Blanco’s art and other projects, visit http://mateoblanco.us.

About Mateo Blanco

Mateo Blanco stands out for using unusual materials to create works of art, which have captured the attention of Ripley’s Believe It or Not! His art is sold at ArtSpace Virginia Miller Galleries in Coral Gables, and some pieces have been displayed at Disney Springs and Aloft Hotel in downtown Orlando. Blanco was born in Miami in September 1981. Blanco is also a talented opera singer. He sang a birthday celebration for President George H.W. Bush. For more information or inquiries, visit his Instagram @mateoblancoart.

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