Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Jessica Mákàńjú González Martínez. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.
Jessica Mákàńjú, looking forward to hearing all of your stories today. If you could go back in time do you wish you had started your creative career sooner or later?
Life can be an onion sometimes. Yea, an onion. It’s not what you expect a story to start off with, but the reality is layer by layer the impact of the onion can uncover something deeper inside you that never was wanted but can be very rewarding…well if you like onions; which I do. Deep down inside I always felt I was an artist. I saw the world through a giant, creative lens and applied it to how I tackled problems and implement actions in my career. Over ten years ago, I took a step into becoming a designer of strategies in the field of economic development. I built programs that helped people get into good paying jobs, I designed incubator spaces to connect entrepreneurs to realize their business dreams; I strategize with community members, activists, and power dealers on how to make neighborhoods less gentrified. My work was fun and exciting to see how what I envisioned in my mind can be made reality. All the while, I dove deep into my community. I explored every nook and cranny of cities, trying to get the flavor that made them special. The most special places for me were where artists convened. Places where their visions were unapologetically free and fluid – not a fear or concern of being rejected. I needed this layer, to explore it deeply. So, I began to curate art. Activating gallery showings whenever possible, patronizing artist’s work and promoting businesses who created thoughtful relationships with local artists. All the while, I was too passive to consider myself an artist. My time in these places help me to explore myself in ways I don’t think I would have ever done. You see, it was that unapologetic environment that made me feel free. I took a step forward and joined a theatre organization led by young artists called Rising Youth Theatre. There I combined my professional knack for business and my creative lens. Yet, as the layers began to peel and I began to identify the labels I applied to myself, and the ones that I wouldn’t. Being an artist felt naturally my lane; then, I realized that I held myself back. Many friends would affirm how creative I was and that I in fact I was an artist. It wasn’t until a mentor of mine made it clear that I should try out my artistic vision. That given the time to be still may be good for me. So, one day I picked up a few jarritos – clay pots from Mexico – and the first thing that came to my mind were birds. So I painted, and painted, and painted. With each bird painting I began to teach myself about brush strokes, paint temperaments, surfaces, and other important nuances of working with acrylic paint. People began to get wind of my art and had a few even reach out to commission a pot for them. It has been a great joy to push myself and unravel these layers. I have so many to go yet realize that I wouldn’t have had it any other way. The first leg of my artistic journey in exploring and immersing my art journey helped educate me on what it means to be an artist. It allowed me to learn to be forgiving and generous.
Jessica Mákàńjú, love having you share your insights with us. Before we ask you more questions, maybe you can take a moment to introduce yourself to our readers who might have missed our earlier conversations?
I am a child of Borikén. I come from people who touched the land as a guide; adorned their body with shells and told stories across walls. My body resides on native lands of other peoples, while my heart remains in the Caribbean. As an artist I aspire to tell narratives of how we in the diaspora find our way home through art. Birds serve as a reminder that no matter how we migrate we always will find a way to make home. Our bodies may move, but our minds keep memory of who and where we came from. Inspired by the Taíno-Arawak people. I capture how they built relationship with the natural world and captivated a pathway back to our roots and the other dimensions that define us. Pichón by Mákàńjú Arts steps into visualizing birds found across the diaspora to the many who wish to reconnect what is no longer familiar. Like our people of have done for many centuries, birds migrate to embrace new habitats and discover home where they land. Whether temporary, or for extended periods of time, birds teach us how to embrace the natural habitat and find comfort with what the Earth provides in the moment. My hope is to allow people to explore their own connections with land, indigeneity, and the restoration of humanity and nature.
What’s the most rewarding aspect of being a creative in your experience?
Making art in itself has been rewarding. The temperament it provides me is learning to be calm and still. It reminds me when it is a good time to step away from a piece and when I should just keep going. It also disconnects me from being perfect. There is no right way of being an artist and being okay with that has been important. Society deems upon us the act of perfection as the green light to give something a try. We enjoy telling ourselves we can’t do something because ‘xyz’ are not in order. When this happens we shorten our abilities, quiet our destinies, and postpone opportunity. Once I got all these out of my head, I began to realize so many truths. Making art opened doors for me within my family. I learned new truths about my past. How my grandfather José “Taíno” González was an infamous artist on the island of Boríken – colonially known as Puerto Rico – who specialized in carving birds out of wood. He was revered as an artisan across the island. Who knew that my spontaneous idea of painting birds rooted from something deeper. Now, when I paint a bird I feel I am honoring his legacy, our people, and history.
Is there something you think non-creatives will struggle to understand about your journey as a creative?
Categorizing people has never served me well. I prefer to automatically see people as creative and carriers of the possibility to make art. If there is one thing folks can take in about my journey is that this was my reality and entry point into owning being a creative. Whenever they are ready, there is a possibility open for them as well. The important thing is trusting yourself enough to pluck the first string, brush the first stroke, or release the first lyric. Possibilities can be endless when we tear down our own walls and peel away our layers.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.makanjuarts.com
- Instagram: @makanju_arts
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jessicagonzalezl/