Maizzey On A Mission

As Cinco de Mayo approaches each year, I find myself reflecting not only on the historical meaning of the date but also on the many ways I have been fortunate to celebrate it alongside extraordinary creatives whose work I deeply admire. This day has always offered more than an occasion for festivity. It invites remembrance, cultural dialogue, and artistic exploration. One project, in particular, remains close to my heart: Divinemoira Studio’s 2015 interactive installation Maizzey on a Mission, created in collaboration with Session Taco (formerly Mission Taco Joint). The work unfolded as both a symbolic and participatory experience, brought to life through the independent contributions of artists Danielle Aslanian, Rose Merello, and Megan Hutt.

To understand the spirit of Maizzey on a Mission, it helps to return to the true origin of Cinco de Mayo. The holiday commemorates the Mexican army’s victory over French forces at the Battle of Puebla on May 5, 1862. Within Mexico, it is considered a relatively minor observance. In the United States, however, it has grown into a larger celebration, especially among Mexican-American communities. Here, it often serves as a way to honor ancestral resilience while amplifying cultural identity and artistic expression.

Guided by these themes, Maizzey on a Mission was imagined not as a static object but as a living sculpture. It invited people to interact with it while drawing on Mesoamerican symbolism. Maizzey herself was rooted in the sacred maize plant, a central figure in Indigenous cultures throughout the Americas. The maize has long represented nourishment and survival, migration and memory. Through its form, the sculpture carried this layered history forward. Constructed from reclaimed materials, rich textures, and intentional symbolism, Maizzey sought to weave connections across time, space, and personal experience.

The making of the piece was as layered as its meaning. Each artist created their portion independently, developing ideas within their own studios. There was no single workshop where every hand shaped the work together. Instead, the independence of the process allowed for distinct interpretations to take shape within a shared theme. The final sculpture was assembled only shortly before its public unveiling. That moment of convergence was exhilarating, embodying the collective spirit we hoped the work itself would inspire.

Central to the installation was the use of milagros—small devotional charms rooted in Mexican folk traditions. These tokens are often offered as expressions of gratitude, requests for healing, or calls for protection. Visitors were invited to leave their own impressions through this ritual, binding themselves to the sculpture in a direct and tactile way.

Maizzey on a Mission became a space of shared experience and reflection, a heartfelt tribute to tradition and resilience. It also stood as proof of the beauty that arises when artists trust their own instincts while embracing the unpredictability of true collaboration.

As Cinco de Mayo approaches again, I find myself returning to the memory of Maizzey and all she came to embody. She continues to remind me of how history, culture, and creativity can converge in ways that leave lasting imprints on both art and community.