Meet Carolina Cuevas | Artist

We had the good fortune of connecting with Carolina Cuevas and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Carolina, how has your perspective on work-life balance evolved over time?
I’m still trying to figure out that balance for myself. It’s also constantly evolving as my priorities shift and I find new ways to create and live. I do think I’m getting better at finding that balance. There is this expectation to keep producing and not end the momentum, but burnout is a real thing. For me, it’s more important to not get myself to that point where my mind and body are so exhausted that there isn’t any room for the people and things I love.

So that means constantly evaluating if the opportunities or projects I’m taking on are fueling me instead of draining me. Also creating really strict boundaries for myself. I would love to say I don’t procrastinate, that I don’t bite off more than I can chew and that I have all aspects of my life planned and figured out, but that just isn’t the reality. The more I embrace that, the easier it becomes to understand and create better habits. A lot of balance comes from understanding myself and what is important to me and that looks different for everybody. So I wouldn’t say there is a perfect formula for it, but I do think it starts with the self and the people that support you.

Can you open up a bit about your work and career? We’re big fans and we’d love for our community to learn more about your work.
The work I create is about the meeting of the body and material. My practice explores ideas surrounding the history of altar-making and what constitutes an altar. My work explores a reimagining of what an altar can become to protect us, heal us, and help us remember or move on in the current state of the world. I focus on collectiveness, parts of different things and people, put together to create a new form of altar. I’m interested in combining materials, such as textiles and clay with found or foraged materials to create and discuss the body, altars, and language. My work focuses heavily on traditional craft processes such as backstrap weaving, basket weaving, natural dyeing, hand building in clay, and candle making. I use these processes to challenge the idea of craft practices in contemporary spaces. There is also a continuous connection to language and its duality throughout my work. Switching between Spanish and English, the idea that language can hold so much power in the spiritual and our everyday use of it.

My work is still in flux and I’m constantly learning new ways to create and be an artist. Success doesn’t look the same for everyone and I’m still learning that. As of right now, I’m happy to be teaching at my alum school, California College of the Arts, and making in the Bay Area. I’m currently an Artist-in-Action fellow at Root Division and I feel like this community has embraced me. I’m just honored to be able to stick around and create in this space. There is always a new challenge, but for me, it’s about reminding myself how far I’ve come and all the amazing things ahead. It’s easy to want to rush through the process and make comparisons, but I’ve learned to enjoy every step of my career and making.

Let’s say your best friend was visiting the area and you wanted to show them the best time ever. Where would you take them? Give us a little itinerary – say it was a week long trip, where would you eat, drink, visit, hang out, etc.
I grew up in Miami, so the ocean and nature are really important, so I would probably start with Lands End. It’s a beautiful walk with amazing trees, views of the Golden Gate Bridge, cliffs, and a small beach. A bit touristy but I love it! Then because I always need to include an art tour, I would visit the Dogpatch and see the Insitute of Contemporary Art SF. On weekends they open up their back garden and Calaca Coffee serves the most delicious and unique coffee, all while looking at the interesting shows that ICA SF has up.

The Shoutout series is all about recognizing that our success and where we are in life is at least somewhat thanks to the efforts, support, mentorship, love and encouragement of others. So is there someone that you want to dedicate your shoutout to?
I’ve been so lucky to have so much support from the people around me, from professors and mentors to friends and family. My biggest motivators and inspirations are my parents, my sister, and my partner. They have been with me every step of the way and always respected and encouraged my career. All my work has them at its core.

Todos mis logros son suyos!

Website: https://carolinacuevas.com/

Instagram: @carolinac16

Image Credits
Nick Bruno