Cartographies of Memory | MIA1| Original 36x36 in (91.44x91.44 cm) CP-A103

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 Part of the ongoing Cartographies of Memory series, this mixed-media painting explores Miami not as a geographic location, but as an emotional landscape remembered through movement, light, and time. Inspired by the city's nocturnal energy, the work traces the luminous web of streets, highways, and urban corridors that emerge after sunset, transforming the familiar city grid into a living constellation.

Layer upon layer of paint, collage, markings, and abrasion create a surface that mirrors the way memories accumulate—fragmented, overlapping, and continuously rewritten. Vibrant reds, electric oranges, violets, and blues pulse through the composition like headlights, taillights, and neon reflections shimmering across the city at night. Linear gestures suggest roads and avenues intersecting, while translucent veils of color evoke the atmosphere of humidity, movement, and perpetual transformation that defines Miami.

Rather than depicting a literal map, the painting reconstructs an internal geography—one shaped by countless passages through the city, fleeting observations from car windows, and the emotional resonance of place. The urban fabric appears and disappears beneath successive layers, revealing traces of what once was while hinting at what remains hidden beneath the surface.

In Cartographies of Memory | MIA2, the city becomes a palimpsest of experience. Streets become memories, intersections become encounters, and light itself becomes the medium through which the landscape is remembered. The work invites viewers to navigate not only the city, but also the layered terrain of recollection, where every journey leaves an imprint and every passage becomes part of a larger story.

 To preserve the integrity of this mixed media canvas, display it in a dry, temperature-stable environment away from direct sunlight, humidity, and extreme heat. Avoid touching the surface directly, as the layered textures and delicate materials—such as paper fragments and metallics—can be sensitive to oils and abrasion. Dust gently with a soft, dry cloth or a clean, natural-bristle brush. Do not use water, cleaning products, or compressed air. If long-term preservation is a concern, consider professional framing or consultation with a fine art conservator. 

 Crismary Pascarella’s technique blends architectural thinking with intuitive mark-making, using layered paper fragments, collage, pigment, and text to create spatial compositions. She builds and erodes surfaces through sanding and layering, echoing the processes of memory and urban decay—transforming material into emotional geography.