We were lucky to catch up with Lisa M. Silvera recently and have shared our conversation below.

Lisa M., looking forward to hearing all of your stories today. We’d love to hear about a project that you’ve worked on that’s meant a lot to you.

One of the most meaningful (& challenging) projects I collaborated on was creating large scale background “sails” for The Netflix Series “Gentefied”, a comedic drama series documenting the gentrification of Boyle Heights (just East of the LA River) here in LA, which is historically a robust and close-knit Mexican American community.

It tested my technique and my ability to problem solve (I love that aspect), and I learned so much about the power of my WILL as a creative. The set designers handed me a sketch with measurements and a example of the color palette and I marched off to create 7 large-scale pieces (some as large as 16′ x 10′ x 8′. It was my first foray into working “big” which involved scaling the dye brew calculations, creating large vats for each hue, and landing on industrial tie-backs and oversized rubber bands to bind the pieces. I look back and laugh now but, in all transparency I was a whirling dervish at the onset of the project!

The good news?! Everything was absolutely stunning, the production crew, producers, and talent LOVED the pieces, and they were kind enough to return the ginormous pieces to me. My art appears in several scenes, and it was an incredible experience/undertaking. I love to collaborate.

Here’s the twist. When the pandemic hit us, like all of us, I was masterminding ways to stay solvent, calm and creative as well as help my community to stay as safe as possible. Teaming with my a dear friend, Victoria, a creative, masterful seamstress, I used some of the fabric from the sets to create artful, protective face coverings. They are beautiful, taking a little bit of he sting out of covering our smiling faces for almost 2 years.

Great, appreciate you sharing that with us. Before we ask you to share more of your insights, can you take a moment to introduce yourself and how you got to where you are today to our readers

It started as a personal tool for healing & a moving meditation of sorts. I have always been a creative/artistically expressive being. Simultaneously, I was a new “Bonus Mom” to my partner’s daughter and found that art projects, specifically textile projects were our sweet spot, and a tool for fun and bonding. It inspired and morphed into something much greater rooted in an intentional and meaningful premise.

I started seriously studying Shibori (Japanese “refined” tie-dying) years ago inspired by my life-long bestie’s Mom Arianne King-Comer, a celebrated Painter & Textile Artist who’s work is housed by many galleries and museums including the Smithsonian National Museum of African American History. I experimented, studied different techniques, created and gave some gifts, no biggie (or so I thought!) then it exploded.

The key here is that my lifetime imperative has been to spread love, assist our collective in raising our vibration through awareness, mindfulness, artistic expression & LOVE. This process further inspired and empowers me to execute this imperative.

I “cook” every single piece with crystals, burn palo santo & sage, incant prayers, sing, dance & intentionally infuse positive affirmations while I create. The pieces are literally vibrating, and are tasked with being physical ambassadors & tools to spread love, joy and countless attributes that correlate to the power of the crystals I use.

My process is proprietary, and to date ,I have not encountered anyone doing anything similar.

That categories for humans, nest, pets & sets; including aprons & tabletop, scarves & pareos, onesies & swaddles for the littles, select clothing & gorgeous pillow covers, wall hangings & beach wares. I work with non-toxic dyes, safe for our waterways as well a pure, sacred indigo from Western Africa. I favor upcycled or vintage fabric or “blanks” as I call them in Organic Cotton, Silk, Bamboo, etc. as natural fibers hold the dye & designs beautifully.

My following includes everyone from hipsters to Nana’s, and several notable chefs & discreet celeb clientele. I love doing pop-ups here and there, and my various tribes are all so incredibly supportive – a total blessing in itself.

Truthfully, the “draw” is the process & how I empower the pieces and the final results are the magical & crystal-infused and “supercharged” pieces.

SOULVERA is the overarching brand that cradles my physical creativity, commitment to mindfulness/spirituality and my life-coaching, mentoring & public speaking.

I feel like FINALLY my life, work & purpose are aligned and in FLOW. I have worked my whole life to finally arrive in this peaceful place. I am one very grateful, creative human!

What’s a lesson you had to unlearn and what’s the backstory?

That is such a good question!

As a recovering, Type-A Perfectionist, the greatest lesson learned and the gift I consistently receive is the beauty found in surrendering to the unknown.

Confronting my obsession with the need to “know” the outcome while developing the self-trust and patience intrinsic to my process have both been huge for me.

In my last lifetime I excelled as a NY/MIA/LA- based Fashion/Beauty/Wellness PR Chick and Master Marketer. Both disciplines are quite rigid, breed unhealthy (for me) competition and the need to know and prove.

My art and process have have both been instrumental in liberating me from the need to KNOW, PROVE and has been replaced with the need for NOW! I cannot control precisely where and how the lands for the most part, and learning to let go, trust and work in FLOW has replaced the need to “KNOW”. I am interested in the wonder of the present, the beauty of the here and now.

Is there a particular goal or mission driving your creative journey?

The mission driving my creativity is simple. Freedom.

Freedom to create, express, and to share my work and process in a way that incites joy, beauty and calm to the recipient (or anyone that beholds it for that matter.

Freedom to travel and create, share myself and what activates me through the creativity coursing through my brain, hands and heart.

Contact Info:

• Website: art: www.soulvera.com coaching: www.getdetangled.com Experiential Travel: www.40MoreSummers.com
• Instagram: @SoulveraCreates and @lisasilveracoaching
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/soulveracreates
• Linkedin: linkedin.com/in/lisasilvera
• Twitter: @lisasilvera