about us
andromeda is a web series inspired by the secret lives of first-
generation Latine college students. The series invites viewers to immerse themselves into the mind of Rosa, the series' main character. Rosa is an unhappy first-generation college student that gets trapped in an alternate dimension. Her story explores themes of identity crisis, loneliness, nostalgia, and a need to be seen and heard.
The purpose of this project is to immerse the viewers into the confusing emotional world of first generation students, which often looks and feels like walking through a beautiful fantasy, while feeling misunderstood and unable to fully thrive.
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From pressures of being a child of immigrants, to lost scholarships and postponed graduation dates, feeling unseen at home and at school, and the complexities of being gifted children with unmet expectations, the college lives of first-generation students are underrepresented in popular media and in college infrastructure. andromeda seeks to create art that reflects the realities of this identity, and to help create spaces where first gen students can process their unique, and often confusing, experiences.
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about the artist
Jax Ovalle is a Guatemalan-American musician and filmmaker based in Chicago. They create concept projects that blend multiple disciplines to explore and reflect the experiences that come from existing within the intersection of various identities. Through their creative practice, Jax aims to find new ways for audiences to experience storytelling, live music, and community.
Some of their previous projects include CABRONA, a Latina-led rock band focused on feminist and queer stories, and With Love, an album, poetry book, and immersive concert experience that explored the pathway towards healing shame. Their most recent project, andromeda, is a webseries, podcast, and recipient of a DCASE Individual Artist Grant. Drawing from their own time in higher education, the series follows a first generation college student who struggles to find connection and belonging both at school and at home. The project aims to expose the unique experience and emotional tension that comes from being a first-generation college student.
