Meet Lourdes Marie Gan | Asian American Writer, Spoken Word Performer and Community Organizer

We had the good fortune of connecting with Lourdes Marie Gan and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Lourdes Marie, how do you think about risk?
In my perspective, taking risks in your personal and professional life provides the utmost courage. Risk taking is imperative to an artist’s growth, especially when you come across an idea or a goal that no one else desires to validate or believe in. You truly have to treat risk as a motivating factor because it provides that fuel to keep going, keep dreaming and transform a simple thought into the brilliant fruits of your labor. I would not be the individual I am today without the countless amount of risks I have taken and I have no regrets. Everything I decided to do artistically molded every aspect of the other parts of my life that I feel incredibly fortunate to have every day. I trusted my instincts and knew if I stopped talking about what I envisioned to commit to the necessary work, all of the risks proved to be worth it beyond the fear of failure.

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.
A friend of mine once asked me who I write for and why I write. Why do I perform? Why poetry?
I write for my inner child. I write for my family’s history and for the legacy of my child. I write for me. Anyone who decides to listen to my poetry or read my work will always understand the heart of me. As an Asian American writer I am always on a balance beam to be, “American enough” or “Filipino enough”. Most days, my primary focus is believing that I AM enough. I cannot perform, I cannot show up for others or write poems when my vessel is empty. The moment my art does not excite me or displeases me is the moment I should walk away because that indicates I am committed to the wrong philosophy. When I began doing spoken word I was unkind to my art and my mind because I performed and wrote from a place of ego to please others. I understand now the purpose was always to give myself grace for any art that I am able to produce because a person is always an artist even when they are not creating. We are all living, breathing and significant art all on our own, recognizing that the greatest challenge to overcome is the conversations you have with yourself. I want the world to know the honesty and authenticity of my art because that is where an audience will always discover my truest self; courageous through my vulnerability.

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.
My favorite spots in the city are all catered to places that give me limitless joy. I am an old soul who appreciates slowing down in a world that demands us to constantly hustle from sun up to sun down. For fashion and hidden gems of thrifted goods, I revel in the trip to Orange Vintage Circle in the O.C. From vinyl records to collectible rings, Orange Vintage circle is camouflaged amongst a quaint neighborhood with a grand fountain in the middle of feeling transported back to the 1950’s. What comes to mind in terms of great food would be Leo’s Taco Truck in Historic Filipino Town, Vaca in Costa Mesa, Verse in Toluca Lake and Bar Flores located in Echo Park. Each business is diverse, family run/owned, soulful, and delicious from the energy to the dining experience. For any emerging artist looking for an inclusive and vibrant space, I recommend No Pulp Poetry Club in Long Beach, Palms Up Academy on Wednesdays hosted by Arianna Basco, Sunday Jump in Historic Filipino Town and Poetry in the Valley at Blaqhaus. These stages are immensely fulfilling and provides every artist the necessary foundations to be unapologetic all while being encouraged by other artists. When all is said and done, I resort to being present with my loved ones at the beach. People in L.A. often neglect that we are surrounded by the vastness of the coast, therefore Playa del Rey or Crystal Cove beach are great escapes.

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?
The most important people and efforts that deserve credit and recognition for my success are my family, friends in the poetry community and artist collective, Open Heart. Spoken Word
Open Heart, specifically Andrew Zaragoza Jr. and my family deserve the flowers for every accomplishment I have achieved since August 2022. When I moved from the Bay Area during the pandemic, I struggled reigniting my passion for art and writing for years. After doing a deep dive to discover where I belonged in L.A., the unwavering support of my family brought me into The Library Coffee shop in Long Beach, the same day Andrew decided to read from his first poetry collection. Our conversation after our very first open mic was a seed that blossomed into this abundant garden that Open Heart has become. When Open Heart provided me my platform to begin my poetry journey, suddenly all of these doors were now accessible. This incredible artist collective gave me the tools I needed to be brave, share my writing with the world and it has brought the loveliest human beings into my life who have all played a pivotal role in building me up to be the woman I am. I could not be more grateful for them and those I have met along the way.

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/xlunarlourdesx/ and https://www.instagram.com/openheart.spokenword/

Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/results?search_query=lourdes+gan+sunday+jump

Image Credits
Kyra Jacobs, Sunday Jump