Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Madeline Alviso Ramirez. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.

Madeline , thanks for taking the time to share your stories with us today When did you first know you wanted to pursue a creative/artistic path professionally?

I’ve always witnessed my jefe pursue artistic endeavors and make money. If it was selling art brush art pieces, oil paintings or leather work be created by hand, my father would find a customer. He had a confidence about the work he created and would hustle it in such a way that I knew, I could do the same. When I first entered university. I told the school I was interested in psychology, but I kept taking Chicanos Studies and art classes. I was obsessed. I transferred universities and continued taking courses related to cultura and arte. I was a Jr. when my advisor told me that I had to choose what art degree I would be pursing, because that’s what my credits reflected at this point. I had become obsessed with showing my work and began to enter shows and would sell my work. In between this time, I had opened up a photography studio in Sunnyside, Washington. My photography work exploded, but not in the way I had originally thought. Instead of a local presence, I was invited to share my work all over the nation and beyond. Soon, I was photographing Chicano artists and musicians I had admired for years. Soon, the people in front of my lens where people I had always wanted to shoot. I was husting my arte, my photography and I knew this is all I ever wanted to do.

As always, we appreciate you sharing your insights and we’ve got a few more questions for you, but before we get to all of that can you take a minute to introduce yourself and give our readers some of your back background and context?

I got into photography and art because of those before me. I have a very creative family. My father is an artist and my mother is a poet. My father always put this creative side to work and make a living. If he seen a need for an event photographer in our community- he’d buy a camera and put it to use. He’d have my eldest sister take photos and she in turn began to shoot us cholas in a professional setting. In the mid to late 90s I had access to professional cameras, to paints, to charcoals because my father would leave them laying around. Id pick them up and put them to work. For me, growing up in the 90s I captured the beauty of the barrio. I wrote about the beauty of the barrios and began to write and read aloud my work. I published my first short story in grade school and had poetry published in high school and continue to this day. My photography began to get recognition and have been blessed to have my work published in various magazines, collections and more. Seeing my work on television is also exciting. I sold some work to a university press and The Discovery Channel. These are the little pearls of love I’ve been given by opportunities. I continue to share my work through social media, through the community, through the rivers of people who champion my work and make space for me. There was a time where I had a police swat point their guys at me when I was shooting a homegirl at a park with the homies. Ive had university administration call me into their offices to tell me that the people in my art work and the subjects I choose scare people. That they felt threatened. My response was why?! Why is it hard to witness the people of the barrio in their nature state? Through poetry, art, sculpture work and more… I love to show up exactly as I am. As an educator, I feel that representation is vital- and showing up as a tattooed Chicana chola wearing hoops and cattails is important. Because our visions are important and being authentic is liberating and powerful. Don’t be afraid to show up as you are.

We often hear about learning lessons – but just as important is unlearning lessons. Have you ever had to unlearn a lesson?

A lesson I had to unlearn was a belief that my work wasn’t good enough. I remember loving the prison arte I found in Lowrider Magazine and other magazines that told the stories of the neighborhoods. I loved receiving envelope arte when the little homies were doing time and just amazed at how gorgeous the work was. I began to be inspired in such a way. I remember some vato in college comes into my dorm to kick it with my roommate and he he seen some of my pen work. I was of Zapata. I was proud of the piece and this guy says, “you gotta make his shouldered a little bigger.” I kinda sunk into my bed and stared at that piece all night. This was just my style. I hadn’t yet some out as a full fledged artist at that point. I was telling the universe I was going to be a psychologist and this vato just seen right through me. Then I was like, who the hell is this guy?! This vato isn’t an artist. He’s that weirdo that thinks calling myself a mujerista is falling into European ideologies… blah… blah… my work is unique and a blend of color y barrio and its what come naturally to me. I had to fall in love with my work. I had to admire the uniqueness that was mine and when I began to appreciate everything, everything fell into place for me.

Is there mission driving your creative journey?

Im not in competition with anyone but myself. I need to be in a constant state of creative bliss. Whether its applying myself to a new craft or writing or painting something new it must be done. I love encouraging others to try something artistic. My children know that it is important to take time to release your artistic side. Sometimes it means coloring, or finder painting. I offer art classes to youth in my community and hope to expand on a solid location soon. I am working on establishing a cultural center in my area and just started an artist collective in Central Washington. I am curating a few art shows and people can find out more about that by following any of my social media accounts.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://MadelineAlvizo.com
• Instagram: @madelinealvizoramirezstudios
• Facebook: https://facebook.com/madelinealvizoramirezstudios

Image Credits

madelinealvizo.com
all rights to Madeline Alvizo Ramirez (Studios)