Tío, Meaning Uncle, 2021

48” x “36

To: Tío Tone & Tío Louie

My Grandfather had two sons when I was growing up. As a kid, I always wanted to be like them-maybe because they were his actual sons…and I always just “felt” like his son.

Tio Tone, is a fierce defender of the people he loves. In the 1st grade, I was tricked and robbed for a beloved item by some older kids in the neighborhood. My innocent view of the world shattered, I’ll never forget the happiness I had when I got my things back. Tio Tone and Tio Louie went and hunted the group down and got vengeance, along with my stuff. Such an important lesson in my life…and if you ask the family- they’d say this is an integral part of my make up.

Tio Louie, I can say, was my best friend for a long time. He made every lesson fun and even in the fun, there were lessons. We would spend Summers (and nearly every weekend at some point) hanging out. Still some of the most memorable times of my life. He showed me how to be a hustler, in every shape of the word, and helped me to identify work ethic. We used to work hard, play harder and he always told me right from wrong. He gave me the blueprint that I used to build the house I live in…and I’m eternally grateful for that.