Princessa LMA, 1999, Acrylic on Bristol, 30"x40"

One day, when I was 13, my mother and I went to the mall to look for new school clothes. We saw an ice cream stand and ordered some dessert. I remember eating a frozen banana dipped in chocolate but it was so cold it hurt my teeth. So instead of eating it, I began licking it. Unaware that I was attracting the male gaze, my mother commented on the fact that the frozen banana dessert was not a good choice to eat in such a public place. I became embarrassed that I unwittingly caused a scene and we moved to a less populated part of the mall. Looking back, I wondered what would have happened if I would have looked any of those guys in the eyes while eating my banana? Would they have read it as defiance? Sad loss of innocence? An uncontrollable child? A hot sexy girl encouraging a sexual encounter?