We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Lori Escalera a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.
Lori, appreciate you joining us today. One of the toughest things about progressing in your creative career is that there are almost always unexpected problems that come up – problems that you often can’t read about in advance, can’t prepare for, etc. Have you had such and experience and if so, can you tell us the story of one of those unexpected problems you’ve encountered?
Whew! Retirement age sure rolled around quickly! Not much chance of that happening anytime soon… but I have switched from taking “all” work to the projects that feed my soul and those that contribute to the well-being of others. Grateful, to continue maintaining my optimism in the face of difficult circumstances.
I believe that everyone is put here to “struggle” with and master something, fulfilling their karma; and that we have a path meant for us alone (a destiny). We are meant to engage in the physicality of our lives and to enjoy our senses with all we can touch, see, smell, taste, and hear. This is a primarily Buddhist explanation of how I view my existence as an artist. It is a framework that keeps me grounded during good times and bad, remembering that I have my destiny to follow. As a creative type and a disciplined business owner, I wake up every morning embracing the possibilities of the day! Keeping all this in mind is especially effective when the Universe throws me periodic curveballs.
If you are just starting your career, it is something to know that life is not a straight line. Lucky for me I trained for many disciplines in the arts. That was key, not being sure about my future. Despite all my preparation, there were mistakes made as I experienced adult growth “inexperienced” in so many ways. I made wrong turns and engendered regrets. But I did that with one eye still dedicated to my craft — as surgeries, beginning with retinal surgery at 23, meant I began periodic reframing.
If you are reading this at the end of your career, it is just as important to know that if we are breathing, we can make choices that bring us to healthier, happier places — even as we are suddenly plagued with infirmities and limitations. If I look carefully — unexpected disruptions were always part of my path.
I have always felt “ill health” was the Universe’s way of stopping me from reflecting on something which at the same time was also “sick” in my life. A good dose of flu would take me down and bring unseen things to my attention. Later in life, my joint replacement surgeries (every other year for the last 12 years) sidelined me for half of the year. That is a long time out of one’s life every other year – add the 2019 pandemic on top of that. “Unexpected issues” became the norm.
When COVID came to town, I was in my early 60s. Since my work required “congregation” my festival activities stopped entirely for two years. As the pandemic waned, I had good luck with work opportunities (pavement street arts) but obstacles were set in front of me because the Universe had something else in mind. I pivoted and went inward. I took a Master’s class on the Silver Point drawing method. I began to consult and lecture. It was much more fun and I could feel the change was joyful. When I got beyond the anxiety that unexpected change brought in my career, I could embrace the change in trajectory.
More bumps showed themselves with practical matters – 2023 unexpectedly brought “once in 200-year rains” to SoCal sapping precious time for six months. Then a figurative road closure stopped me entirely with anterior cervical spine surgery in June. But that wasn’t enough as an emergency surgery engaged me 21 days later. This sinkhole forced me to hand over any sense of control for my immediate future. Worry? Nope, because I couldn’t figure out what to worry about, first! Part of me just slept. Part of me pushed forward, part of me had to surrender to forces unknowable.
However, right on cue the Universe worked its magic. Just when I thought the world had forgotten about me – those unseen energies revealed new doors with some exciting things — tailored for little “ole'” me! These opportunities were built on roads I have frequented over a lifetime. I needed only to not be afraid to get up the gumption to go!
Awesome – so before we get into the rest of our questions, can you briefly introduce yourself to our readers.
I did not have a clear or supported path to entering visual arts. I took the secure route into Commercial Arts, Graphics, Advertising, and Marketing services… then in my 30s a “second act” into civic arts, instructional arts pavement arts – and all things community arts-related. Act three appeared in my 50s in Fine Arts. Lifelong, it was where I wanted to be, but had to wait. I had to overcome impatience, and sow the wide field of the arts industry…first. It is nice to have secure financial underpinnings now because now I am freed to do my best work, which could only come with maturity.
In my career path, I coined myself as the Commercial Art “value artist.”. In my destiny with Fine Art, I want to be a “Master Artist.” My lifelong issue with Fine Art is not knowing where to focus myself. I get so excited about painting that sometimes I can’t settle into it. In the meantime, a lifetime has gone by and my desire to make art has continued to flourish – despite all the obstacles. To be a successful Master Artist I had to earn wisdom, achieve discipline in my craft, and know myself. To know what to say and what to do. I can go forward into Fine Art securely. This is something I could not do when I was young. The Universe knew what it was doing in pushing and prodding me along on my way.
Now, I am confident that whatever the Universe brings me is meant as a culmination of my lifetime pursuits, Busier than ever, I now look at “unforeseen” events as a precursor to great achievements. I have grown with a self-confidence I know as “Faith.”
Can you share a story from your journey that illustrates your resilience?
“Resiliency” underlines my life experiences whether they be emotional traumas (being picked on as a kid, hard divorces, earthquake fears), or physical traumas (auto accidents and surgeries). Each time, life becomes “scary” and my future stalled. I ask myself “Will my life change because of this problem? Now I know, my life DOES change. but the question is “How?”
This summer’s cervical spine surgery was a perfect example. I could never have anticipated what would follow! June 2nd, 2023, I went in for a long-awaited anterior cervical spine surgery. Three weeks later I had to return for an unexpected posterior surgery. It was much bigger, my mobility would be compromised, and recovery would be longer. There was never a thought about not doing the surgery. Maintaining my overall independence is crucial. But what would become of my future? This is where life slows down like the pause button on a TV remote. My mind racing with thoughts about a future unknowable. Then, a lifetime of knowing I will get through this, too, kicks in, and I can relax into it.
Initially, I wondered if my pavement art career was over; I questioned my “value” to contribute to the community; Would I still be able to paint? I was gripped with a terror that my phone would never ring again. Thoughts of being forgotten and the world busily going about its business without me…When it was time, when I had healed “enough” the Universe came knocking and I opened the door without the slightest hesitation!
First, I received a call to assist as a “Creative Director” for the Culver City Screenland 5K! (Academy Award Sunday, March 10, 2023). I was so excited; I couldn’t contain myself! In 2017 I created a Google walking tour map “The Screenland 5K Historic Points of Lore” map for the inaugural event. (You can preview the 2024 “100 Points of Iconic Motion Picture Magic” (click on the layers using the legend) https://www.google.com/maps/d/
My participation in the inaugural event was one of the top 10 events of my life! If you would like to be involved in any way: https://www.screenland5k.com/ I Can’t recommend it enough – especially if you would like to be a part of something deeply gratifying. The collective energy is fabulous! I didn’t even question if I was healed enough! Research for a new map layer was something I could do while I was recuperating – creative, inventive, and exciting!
A second opportunity almost slipped by – On a lark I responded to a Call for Artists in honor of Hispanic Heritage Month at Vista City Hall. I wasn’t ready to undertake the Herculean effort of a big art show… but I could be a part of something. So, I inquired, asking if they would help me hang the show because I wasn’t yet healed from surgery. They were quite accommodating. Turns out I was awarded a solo show. I cautiously dipped my toe into the water and it turned out to be a glorious opportunity to go for a swim! I have a solo show-up at Vista City Hall (9/25 – 11/3/23.) I spent the next week working full-time, some days until midnight getting the show ready. After I got the work up, those internal gremlins of insecurity came for a visit whispering in my ear “You worked so hard, no one will care, why did you do it?” Those gremlins always visit me when I am tired, but a little while later, I received an emailk saying, “We’d like to know if you’d accept the city proclamation in honor of Hispanic Heritage Month — the Council loved your work!”
O.M.G., You are kidding, right?! Gremlins vanished.
I reflected on what became a whirlwind of not only doors and windows opening…. but the house pancaking down around me… suddenly everything became possible! All the ideas lying stagnant in different parts of my brain, whirling around me all at once! The possibilities are only limited by … my thoughts. Time to get up, dust off my negativity, and get going!
…Santa Claus dropped a sleigh of spiritual gifts not realizing it was only September!
How about pivoting – can you share the story of a time you’ve had to pivot?
There have been other times in my life which have paralleled this moment. I have been fired four times. Each time was as devastating as the other, not to mention the upheaval of reentering my business practice alone after divorce. But with each decade I have experienced more liberation, money, and better projects.
In my forties, I was let go from an instructional setting. I have always prided myself on my art instructional abilities the most so it hit me hard. Later I was able to see that it wasn’t personal as the city of Carlsbad moved to internal instructors instead of subcontractors. I saw how major career blows occurred at the most opportune juncture! The local rejection allowed me to transform into a global marketplace of professional pavement arts, murals, and instruction – earning money traveling, exchanging culture, making new friends, and making art all over the world!
In my sixties, when COVID hit, I lost three projects which made me think my career was ending. But, once again it was a necessary closure providing me the freedom to explore new methods of art-making settling into a local-national platform. A lifetime of being a resilient chameleon! “Change” does not get any easier – but it has laid an underpinning of “Faith” in my life that allows new doors to find me; I must only be patient and willing to embrace the unknown.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.thestreetpainter.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/lori.escalera/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/lori.escalera
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/lori-escalera-6000aab
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/user/loriescalera
Image Credits
The photos included are submitted courtesy of Lori A. Escalera