Meet Cristina Fernandez | Performer, Writer, Sagittarius

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

Hi Cristina, can you share a quote or affirmation with us?
A quote that often pops into my head is by Vietnamese monk, Thich Nhat Hanh:

“Washing the dishes
is like bathing a baby Buddha.
The profane is the sacred.
Everyday mind is Buddha’s mind.”

I’m challenging myself to consistently act with patience, dedication and spirit.
This quote is a nice little reminder on the Art of Attention.

To be able to turn everything into art, down to the most mundane task, simply by the approach:
to make a sexy sandwich, file away documents with style, drive on the 405 with grace-the day I can act with such care in my daily tasks…
Then I’ll really be soaring, baby!

The quote helps make moments of discomfort more bearable. A skill I think we could all work to strengthen.

Also, it’s just sweet to think about the Buddha as a little baby.

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.
I’m a performer. I feel this term most concisely encompasses what I do.

But under that signifier, there’s so much variety: I act, write, translate, produce, tell jokes, dance.
The container keeps morphing, but my spirit stays the same.

I’m an artist at heart.
I’d be doing this back in the days of the village even if there was no recognition, or compensation or formal profession. I’ll always be the person trying to entertain you and make you smile.

I tell stories in many languages, both linguistically speaking as well as in disciplines. I think the fact that I speak 3 languages: Spanish, English and an Arts language, often sets me apart. It provides a peculiar way in, of thinking about and studying story that is specifically all my own. Being an artist parent also gives me a strange edge.

No it has not been easy. It’s never easy. How do I overcome challenges?
Kicking and screaming and resisting until I give over and accept, accept, accept.
Then I get stronger and carry on.

I’ve learned that this, whatever “This” is, is all a part of it. Whatever “It” is.
Everyday of this life I try to release control more and more.

I think when we’re born, we are whole, and then, unfortunately, we slowly fragment, separate-from ourselves and others.
I believe our job is to come back to wholeness.
That’s what I’m currently diligently working on.

Any places to eat or things to do that you can share with our readers? If they have a friend visiting town, what are some spots they could take them to?
Going to the beach during the week, when the least amount of people are there is really lovely. Just sit and enjoy the sunshine even if it’s freezing.

I’d take them out for drinks at Mírate, in Los Feliz mezcal drinks Their mezcal drinks.
Probably swing by Highland Park and get street tacos. Tacos Azteca is really yummy.

Later go see some comedy shows at The Elysian or check out some friends doing stand up around town.

My kids are members at LACMA and they get me in for free through the NextGen program, so I always like walking around there…

But probably, mostly, it would be to host friends in my backyard, make a huge dinner for guests, lots of drinks, wine. Invite some neighbors over…then hike out the hangover the next day.
That may be my ideal way to LA.

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
Ok this may sound a bit hokey, since words can’t quite capture the feeling, but here I go:

I’ve been lucky to be surrounded by many who I believe to be true angels in this world- those who have guided me along the way, truly seeing who I was and my potential, even when I myself couldn’t see it. Folx who have held me, encouraged me, seen my worth, laughed at my jokes, pushed me to be a better human and artist. I turn to them, in spirit, with extreme gratitude. Their love keeps me going.

Here are a few shoutouts, though there are many more:

Los Angeles Performance Practice, founded by friend & collaborator Miranda Wright.
LAPP is an L.A. organization devoted to the production and presentation of contemporary performance by artists whose work advances and challenges multi-disciplinary artistic practices. I began working with LAPP while I was still a grad student at Calarts, and my ongoing relationship with the company and its artistic community has allowed me to continue my practice and has been seminal to my development as an artist.

CalArts.
Grad school was hard, y’all. It drew out all my shadows and pushed them into the light.. I’m so happy I did it. No program is perfect, but I’m grateful that I took a chance on myself and worked so rigorously for the 3 years while I was there. I would not be who I am without that time.

Dan Froot & Co.
Dan Froot & Company creates theater pieces, podcasts, and community gatherings that foster dialogue around hunger, race, the gun debate, and other pressing social issues. I was brought on board to work with Dan through one of my CalArts classmates, Donna Simone Johnson, and it was such a fruitful (pun intended) experience. It was my first job back to the theater as a new mother and Dan could not have been more supportive of the artist parent. I just think the work he does is so important. “It’s God’s work, if there is any,” as I like to say.

Also, here’s a speed through of *SOME* of the women who I adore and admire: Jessica Langer, Sabrina Jalees, Shauna McCann, Aleshea Harris, Alejandra Cisneros, Rachel Kauder Nalebuff, Zoe Aja Moore, Lucía.

Website: cristinafernandez.net

Instagram: theonecristinafernandez

Linkedin: linkedin.com/in/cristina-mercedes-fernandez

Twitter: iamthecristina