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Original PRODUCTION

Mercedes

Mercedes is a new multidisciplinary art experience that deals with our relationship to aging, dementia, healing through art, and inherited trauma through a series of components: a theater piece, gallery and VR experience based around Mercedes’ life, including her migration to the U.S., her experience with dementia, and how she used art and writing to express herself at the end of her life; art therapy workshops in ‘The Healing Room’; and a documentary, which will depict the entire project to share with wider audiences.

 

Black and white portrait of Mercedes

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Mercedes: Para los Callejones

A DEEP SPACE PERFORMANCE RESIDENCY

Saturday, November 15, 2025

6:00 PM 8:00 PM

NACL110 Highland Lake Road Highland Lake, NY, 12743, United States

Mercedes: Para los Callejones

We are continuing the development of the Mercedes Stage play in a NACL residency. Mercedes: Para los Callejones, a multidisciplinary stage play inspired by Flako’s grandmother, who raised him in Bushwick after he immigrated to the U.S. As her caregiver during her battle with dementia, Flako uncovered a trove of personal archives—letters, receipts, and documents—that revealed her quiet legacy in helping Latine families migrate and survive. Blending documentary, visual installation, and live performance, Mercedes traces one woman’s impact across generations, exploring matriarchy, memory, identity, and the complex inheritance of familial and cultural trauma.

We will present a staged reading of Mercedes. The presentation will be primarily in Spanish with English translation. Audiences are invited to share soup and conversation afterward.

This project is supported by a grant from The MAP Fund.

 

Mercedes Stage Play Workshop at KAJE; Zuleyma Guevara as Mercedes

Photograph by Mallika Chandaria

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DOCUMENTARY

The Mercedes documentary aims to create a conversation around the mental and physical health needs of Latine communities and bring their stories to the forefront. In the initial stages of the project’s development, ¡Oye! Group recorded interviews with creator Modesto “Flako” Jimenez, Mercedes’ home attendants, and other community members who either serve as caregivers to their parents or work with seniors. As development continues, we plan to conduct additional interviews in hospitals and at service agencies.

  • In 2020, while in residency with the Piper Theater, The TEAM Plays Petri Project, and BRIC Lab, an excerpt of the documentary was released on February 5, 2021.

  • Documentary directed by Brisa Areli Muñoz

STAGE PLAY

A new multidisciplinary theatrical work in which we explore our relationship to the matriarchy and our ancestors, familial bonds and inherited trauma, and how our own identity can impact our mental health.

  • In April 2023, we had our first stage play workshop at KAJE in partnership with The Musical Theatre Factory. Written and directed by Modesto Flako Jimenez Performed by Zuleyma Guevara Original Music composed and performed by The Musical Theatre Factory. Watch the highlight video here

  • On June 2025, Modeto Flako Jimenez was in residency at Hubbard Hall in Cambridge, NY to continue developing and workshopping the script for the stage play.

VIRTUAL REALITY

Viewers are invited to journey through the material objects and psychic space of the home where Jimenez grew up, and where he would spend years caring for the woman who once raised him.

GALLERY

A multidisciplinary installation that includes a visual exhibit, and a documentary, inspired by Modesto 'Flako' Jimenez’s grandmother Mercedes, and the legacy of Latine individuals she helped migrate to the country.

  • Our first Mercedes Gallery took place on from June 6th - Saturday, June 11th at the DOJO space. In this space guests were able to experience the visual exhibit which included a screening of the an excerpt of the Mercedes documentary in development, they were able to share their stories through audio and writing prompts, and collect caregiving tips and resources collected by Karenly Vega for people living with Dementia/Alzheimer's and their caregivers/family members.

  • The second Gallery took place from November 7th-19th, 2022 at Abrons Arts Center where we held panel discussions for the first time as well.

    In this iteration, we integrated interactive augmented reality, video, audio along with the photography, and family heirlooms, for a deeper dive into Mercedes’ journey to the United States and her battle with dementia.

  • In our third iteration of the Mercedes Gallery, the space was made to resemble Mercedes’ home while displaying all the images and heirlooms. The Gallery then worked as a setting for our first stage play workshop with Zuleyma Gutierrez.

  • From May through July of 2023, we had a residency at Governors Island, as part of their the annu­al Orga­ni­za­tions in Res­i­dence pro­gram — where 24+ NYC-based non­prof­its will high­light arts, cul­ture, envi­ron­men­tal­ism, and edu­ca­tion through exhi­bi­tions, talks, screen­ings, res­i­den­cies, and work­shops in the his­toric for­mer mil­i­tary hous­es in Nolan Park and Colonels Row.

    For three months, we were in House 18, where the entire house held the Mercedes Gallery and many Healing Room workshops! Presented in partnership with Material for the Arts and The Musical Theater Factory.

  • Part of Next Wave 2024 & Emerging Visions at Brooklyn Academy of Music (BAM), Mercedes Part 1 took place. This iteration of the Mercedes Gallery brought viewers into a poetic, visually stunning recreation of the Bushwick home where Modesto Flako Jimenez was raised by his grandmother Mercedes after he arrived from the Dominican Republic.

    Co-commissioned by BAM (Brooklyn Academy of Music), Oye Group, and Musical Theater Factory with development support by Material For The Arts, Dementia Spring, Princeton Lewis Center for the Arts, Guggenheim Foundation and Abrons Art Center; Produced in Association with Media Art Xploration (MAXlive) with support from the Simons Foundation Science, Society, and Culture.

HEALING ROOMS

A series of free two-hour workshops led by community artists to provide an opportunity to engage in self-care, and creative self-expression with no experience needed, and receive additional information regarding community resources. 

  • Our first Mercedes Gallery and Healing Room took place from June 6th - June 11th at the DOJO space.

    These therapeutic art workshops, led by art therapist Sarah Serrano-Esquilin and guest artists, were intended for caregivers and anyone connected to someone living with dementia.

    Guest Artists included: Amanda Everich, Crystal Clarity, Fernando “Ski” Romero and Caregiving Tips and Support Resources workshop by Clinical case manager, Karen Vega.

  • The second Healing Room took place from November 7th-19th, 2022 at Abrons Arts Center where we held six therapeutic art workshops led by artists Crystal Clarity, Modesto "Flako" Jimenez, Fernando 'Ski' Romero, Sasha Beliakova, Sarah Serrano, Rosana Rodriguez, and Karenly Vega.

  • From May through July of 2023, we had a residency at Governors Island, as part of their the annu­al Orga­ni­za­tions in Res­i­dence pro­gram — where 24+ NYC-based non­prof­its will high­light arts, cul­ture, envi­ron­men­tal­ism, and edu­ca­tion through exhi­bi­tions, talks, screen­ings, res­i­den­cies, and work­shops in the his­toric for­mer mil­i­tary hous­es in Nolan Park and Colonels Row.

    In House 18, the Healing Room was open to all who visited the house with select days led by artists. Those that entered and joined the Healing Room were encouraged to hang up their artwork on the walls to share their stories after viewing the Gallery and documentary and reflecting.

    Different senior Centers were also taken on trips to this house to join the Healing Room and hang up their artwork and writings for all visitors to view.

  • Part of Next Wave 2024 & Emerging Visions at Brooklyn Academy of Music (BAM), Mercedes Part 1 took place.

    This Healing Room was open to all who visited Mercedes Part 1 instillation. Free resources, meals, and art materials were readily available for everyone to access and take, focused on mental health and Dementia.

    Co-commissioned by BAM (Brooklyn Academy of Music), Oye Group, and Musical Theater Factory with development support by Material For The Arts, Dementia Spring, Princeton Lewis Center for the Arts, Guggenheim Foundation and Abrons Art Center; Produced in Association with Media Art Xploration (MAXlive) with support from the Simons Foundation Science, Society, and Culture.

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