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Assignment # 5: Interview with a Creative Web Designer Interview via email with: Lavanya Soni, Web Designer
1. Looking at what you have created in the past, would you change anything today? Why or why not?
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Assignment #6: Interview with a Creative Genius Interview via email with: Gabriela Garcia Medina, Poet
1. People regard you as a creative person. Do you agree? Please explain your answer. Yes, I would most def. agree that I am a creative person. I have always thought that given the current state of the world and the constant destruction around us; it is important to put out as much creativity as possible to balance things out. Thinking outside the box and bringing creativity to the things we do in life, allow us and all those around us to see that there are infinite possibilities, that if we can imagine it, we can create it and bring it to life. There is a quote that I like, not sure exactly how it goes or who said it, but it’s something like “Do not go where the path may lead, find your own path and leave a trail” which I take it to mean that we don’t always have to do things the way the world and social norms expect us to, when we think outside the box, use our creativity and create our own way, our own path, then we are broadening the word’s imagination and possibilities are endless!!! So yes, I am a very creative person in everything I do. In my art, in my poetry, in the way I treat others, in the way I deal with relationships, with community, etc. You don’t have to be an artist to be a creative person, we all have the power to live creatively.
2. Looking at what you have created in the past, would you change anything today? Why or why not? No, I wouldnt change a thing. I believe that mistakes are part of growth. That things we have done in the past shape who we become. We can be ashamed or regretful of our past, but then we wouldn’t learn from it; so I just accept the life that I created for myself, I look back and I count the lessons that I have learnt, the mistakes that I was able to grow from. That is how wisdom is gained, when we can accept the choices we have made in our lives with compassion, when we forgive ourselves for those choices we’re not so proud of, but that have taught us a lesson about ourselves, about the world. And so I am grateful for my mistakes, for my past, for everything that has made me who I am today. I actually have a poem about this “I am not an Extension of my Poetry”
3. Have you ever doubted your talent? If so, how did you work through your doubt? I am an artist, of course I doubt my talent. Constantly! Especially because I am lucky to be surrounded by other artists whom I respect, love and admire and when I hear some of their work, I cant help but compare it to mine. I have a friend who, every time he writes a new poem and shares it with me, I ask myself if I should be writing? But that’s only for a split second; I immediately realize that comparisons do not serve anyone; and then I see that just because he is a good poet that I am inspired by, does not mean that I am not also a good poet that inspires him and others. I realize that everyone has a different distinct voice that is unique and powerful, and my voice is most def. unique and powerful. There is a message in my writing that people can relate to. There are stories I tell through my poetry that I feel is my responsibility to the world to share; and so I get over my fears and give thanks for my gifts and my ability to dedicate my life to doing what I love and what I am passionate about full time!
When it comes to Acting, I doubt my talent all the time! I actually went to UCLA for Acting. I graduated from the School of Theatre Film and Television and it was always hard to get cast in one of the yearly plays that were put on by our programs. It wasn’t until I became more politicized and conscious that I realized that none of the other 6 Latinos and African American students in our program were getting cast for these plays! And so I stopped putting myself and my talent down and started asking bigger questions! After getting all the students of color to sign a petition for the Theatre School to put on a people-of-color-friendly play, we were all finally cast in lead roles. But after graduating from UCLA and actually taking a chance at regular auditions I am often insecure if it is my talent that is lacking or if I’m too short for a role, too fat, not pretty enough, not white enough, not exotic enough, etc. but I realize that these are all limitations that I put on myself; and that if I truly want to be a successful actress I just have to commit to working hard and finding the confidence in myself and in my art to continue to put myself out there; and when I find a movie or a production that is aligned with my intentions and my purposes, they will want to work with me and I with them. I realize that my rejection is not personal, a lot of these films and big-time productions’s main purpose is to make lots of money, and in order to do that, talent, depth and ability doesn’t always play a big role in how these companies cast their productions. So I accept that I have a gift, and that if I continue to work hard and to put myself out there, I will find a production that is aligned with my purpose.
4. Have you ever felt enlightened by an event in the past that has given you a new perspective on life? Please explain. My mom would always take me to the ballet, to the theatre, to the circus, to concerts, to pretty much everything creative, cultural and artistic when I was little. So I am always inspired when I attend an event that moves me. I love Lila Downs, I think she has a beautiful voice and I can touch her soul whenever I go to hear her sing. I appreciate Marta Carrasco and her performance art pieces. I am amazed with Pina Bausch and her dance company. I am moved by Won Kar Wai films, Three of my favorite authors are Alice Walker who’s novel “Temple of my Familiar” taught me about compassion and made me feel proud of being a woman. Ana Castillo who’s novel “So Far from God” made me appreciate being a woman, and it opened my eyes to how someone can talk about serious issues in fun and creative ways, and Octavia Butler, whose 19 novels fill my bookshelves and who shows me that even a black, six-foot woman can break styles and genres winning several Nebula Awards and being considered a pioneer in Science Fiction Novels. All these artists and more have influenced the way I look at life and my appreciation for art. But more Importantly, they have shown me through their out-of-the-box creativity that the sky’s the limit when it comes to creation!
5. If you and I were to trade places, tell me one thing about yourself that I should know. That my record collection is one of my most priced possessions; and that nothing makes me feel more at peace than burning some NagaChampa and listening to an old Billie Holliday record. Michael Jackson when Im cleaning the house, Earth, Wind and Fire when I want to be uplifted and get a great start to my day; and Donna Summer when im getting ready to go out dancing.
6. If you could choose a theme song for the rest of your life, what would it be? Color Esperanza by The chorus goes like this: English Translation—by Me :)
“Saber que se puede, “Knowing it is possible Querer que se pueda Wanting it to be possible Quitarse los miedos Removing all fears Sacarlos afuera Taking them out Pintarse la cara Painting your face Color Esperanza The Color of Hope Y tentar al futuro con el Corazon” And advance toward the future with your heart”
7. If you could live anywhere in the world, where would it be? Please explain your choice. I love that I have been blessed to travel from a very young age. I Appreciate the differences in cultures that I have been exposed to throughout my life. Born in Russia (to Cuban parents), raised in Cuba, moved to London, moved to Geneva, moved to the Canary Islands, moved to Madrid, moved to Los Angeles; with family planting roots from Tunisia, Africa, to Buenos Aires Argentina. It is hard to have everyone spread out like this, but it is a fact that globalization displaces families; and though it is difficult because I miss my grandmother in Cuba, my baby brother an mother in Geneva, my dad in Argentina, my aunt in Lanzarote; I am still very blessed to have seen so much of the world. It has made me open minded to people’s differences, it has made me compassionate to other people’s beliefs and traditions and it has allowed me to have a global community of friends whom I continue to learn from and grow from everyday. I hope that I can continue to travel and see those parts of the world I still have not discovered, connect to people in countries I have not yet been to, and continue to live out my existence as a citizen of the world, exposing my children and the people I love to these experiences as well. But if I absolutely HAVE to chose a country….my heart is in Cuba (right next to my grandma’s!)
8. If your creative works had an odor, what do you think they would smell like? Why? I’m not sure how to answer this question…..hmmmmm…..I think that my creative work is so diverse, and I strive for its evolution on a constant basis, so I don’t think it would ever smell the same, it would probably always invoke a different smell actually. Depending on the poem itself, on the person reading, or hearing the poem, and on the spiritual and emotional place of myself and of the person hearing the poem. The smell would not only vary depending on each individual piece but it would also vary depending on the phase I may be going through as a writer at the time in which the poem was written. Also, when I share a poem, it usually deals with a specific experience in my life, what makes my work good is the fact that many people can hear my poem and relate their own personal experience to mine, so, maybe another smell that my poetry might have would be invoked by the memory of each person hearing the piece, whatever memory is triggered when they relate to my poem, a smell might be one that reminds them of that experience or that memory, which again means that the smell would vary depending on the person and on the experience.
9. If you could change one aspect of our society through your work, what would it be? I would use art as a way to heal, inspire and bring love and compassion to the world and everyone in it. I want to start by doing small things everyday that make an immediate difference. I want to live consciously and use art as a way to establish a human connection with everyone I encounter on my path. I don’t want to take any moment, person or situation for granted. I want to be an undying smile and a strand of light for the world. I want every room I enter to be filled with creativity, with light, with love and compassion that will continue even after I am gone. I want to work on projects that fulfill me and my purpose in life. I want to use my art as a tool for healing and change.
10. How do want people to remember you? I want to be remembered as that woman who always entered a room and made it brighter, more hopeful, more loving and radiant with life, a brightness, a hope, a love so powerful that it remains and multiplies even after I am gone. A woman who was always trying to be a better version of herself, always learning, always growing, unafraid of challenges. A woman who lived life to the fullest, with great intensity, who gave everything she could, took advantage of every moment, every experience. A woman who lived mindfully of everyone and everything around her, who was loved greatly by her family, who left a legacy of children and grand-children and great-great-grandchildren. And who wore a smile like a tattoo on her face.
I am currently working on a poem which is about how I want to die, not in a morbid, sad way, but rather, what the world would be like and what my life will be like on the day that I die, all the things I hope to have accomplished and a description of the special day in which I part from this earth. It does not exactly answer the question of how I wish to be remembered, but it is kind of an extension of that question since more importantly than how I want to be remembered is how I will have lived my life. I have the answer to this in the paragraph below:
How I want to die: I want to die past the age of 100, on my birthday, bringing my life full circle. The day of my parting, I want to be surrounded by my family. By my children, my great grandchildren, my great great grandchildren. I want that day to be a celebration, a big party of my 100+ years, everyone will be present, and then a song will play, maybe salsa, maybe son, and I will have eaten so healthy my whole like that I wont have a walker, or a walking stick, and as I hear the music, I get up for a last dance. I want someone to tell a joke, that is so funny that everyone will laugh, so hard my teeth might fall out, but wait, I will have perfect dentures because I ate so healthy my whole life. My son will hold me tight. My granddaughter will draw me a picture, my grandson will lose a tooth, and my great-great-great grandbaby will say their first word “love” on this beautiful day. Big smiles, trees and nature will surround me, cause the party is happening outdoors, in a large backyard with balloons all different colors. I want to wear a tiara even though I will be old, I will still be young at heart. I want to tell stories of all my travels and my many moments of joy and adventure to everyone at the party. I want my family member to read some of my poetry out loud. And I want to get kissed, cuddled and hugged by all of them. I want to see dirty knees from running around laughing and brown smudges on the faces of my great grand children because they have been eating lots of chocolate and yummy treats. I want to eat a Cuban Merengue cake that day, with blue roses and green writing on it. I want the inside to taste like the cakes I had when I was a little girl. I want to feel the warmth of my family in their smiles and at this party I will realize that my family is one of the biggest contributions I will leave the world with, and I want to remember this day (so many years before, in 2008 when I wrote these words), and I will sigh and say “I did it, everything I wanted in life, I have” And right as I am overcome with a peaceful gratitude for all my blessings, then I want to go. I want to go in my sleep that night, after I get kissed goodnight by all the little ones, after I tell my children that I love them, and after I close my eyes and begin dreaming of the exciting adventure that is about to come next.
www.myspace.com/GabrielaGarciaMedina
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