Today we’d like to introduce you to Paula Lovo.

Hi Paula, so excited to have you on the platform. So before we get into questions about your work-life, maybe you can bring our readers up to speed on your story and how you got to where you are today?

My name is Paula Lovo, I am a Latine artist and educator from Milwaukee, WI. I was raised by two immigrant parents who arrived in Milwaukee by way of Nicaragua and Mexico. My artist journey began with music. I grew up in the Latino Arts Strings Program, this is a space that supports grade school to high school students in classical training and mariachi music. I played the viola from ages 8 to 21. In this program, I got the opportunity to learn various traditional styles of music, participate in solo recitals, and perform alongside amazing musical artists. In my senior year of high school, we were presented the opportunity to record on La Santa Cecilia’s Buenaventura album. It was later nominated for a Grammy that year. In my senior year, I also started to gravitate towards video and film. I decided to study film, with a focus in documentary work. I realized that the topics that I was drawn to were intergenerational relationships, women, spaces that create community and those who build it, memories, and migration. These are topics that have been prominent in my life. During film school, I wanted to play with language and what representation could look like. I started bringing in my family members. I had them share their stories about arriving to the U.S and the connection to what hope meant. I was excited by the experimentation of research and lived experiences. I enjoy teaching and finding ways to bring communities together. As far as how I got to where I am today, this all still feels like a journey. Art has taken different shapes in my life. Starting as a musician and now focusing on film, writing has always been an integral part of my process. I believe there is still a lot left to learn in this lifetime and I lean heavily on community and art as I grow.

Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?

This road has had its ebbs and flows and is still continuing. It definitely hasn’t been a smooth road. I have always been very vocal about having to balance many responsibilities while working on my artistic projects. As a student, I worked multiple jobs while attending classes and working on my film projects . As I transitioned into adulthood, there are other obstacles that present themselves. Such as, reckoning with who I am, how do I show up for others, balancing all different responsibilities. I would lean on those who could provide guidance and direction but stepping stones that I saw important such as applying for grants and residencies has been a learning process. Some struggles were finding a work-life balance that was conducive of family life and my art practice. There are days where I wake up earlier to work on a project and evenings that I allow myself to rest and enjoy family time. This helps me to feel fulfilled in all aspects of my life. Another struggle is handling rejection and what to do with it. I am regularly applying for grants or submitting films to festivals to fund projects or residencies to connect with communities and exhibit my work. Along with applying comes the inevitable rejection that I encounter. I try not to take it personal and understand that some opportunities aren’t for me however, rejection is still something i struggle with. Practicing mindfulness and gratitude helps me in the process. It reminds me to be grateful for the opportunities i have received and continue to work on my process.

Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know about your work?

I am an artist and educator. As an educator, I work with high school teens and I really enjoy working with them and being witness to their self expression and watching them discover their interests and mediums of art. As an artist, I explore stories through writing and filmmaking. I especially enjoy working with 16mm film both repurposed and capturing new stories. My work taps into intergenerational relationships, spaces that create community and those who built it, folklore, and memory. I am heavily inspired by the women in my family and exploring shared experiences. I feel that I am known for capturing stories that are very personal but still feel relatable. I enjoy working with my family, often inviting them to take part in the process both as protagonists and in the making of the work. In this practice, I tell stories about family dynamics that take place in the homes I grew up in. Others tell me afterwards that they felt a kinship to the story based on their own familial stories. My aspiration is to create a living archive of my family that future generations can have. In the making of this, I am sharing with the world stories that I feel are important to share. I am proud of that. I am proud of shining a light on the women that hold down immigrant households, grandmothers who share their stories to both warn of us of tribulations of relationships but also express their resiliency in their story. I’m not all sure what sets me part from others. I’d like to think that who I am now is a work in progress guided by strong women before me. My drive to learn, be curious, and be a loving person is what I work towards every day.

Can you talk to us a bit about the role of luck?

I’m not sure how luck has played in my life and business. Life can be hard and moments can feel very unlucky and there are times where I feel very lucky to be where I am. I wonder if more so than luck, the moments that I face are a moment of learning and practicing the skills that I have been acquiring.

Contact Info:

• Instagram: @paulalovo_
• Other: Vimeo: https://vimeo.com/user106341256

Image Credits

Jovanny Hernandez
Mara Lovo