SoCultures Magazine 2018 SoCultures Magazine Jan-Feb 2019 | Page 81

INSPIRING OTHERS DRIVES MY ART “ART PAVES THE WAY FOR SELF-ACCEPTANCE, WHICH IS THE KEY TO HAPPINESS AND CREATIVE EXPRESSION.” A QUOTE BY AMERICA CARRILLO! “Art paves the way for self-acceptance, which is the key to happiness and creative expression.”  A quote by America Carrillo! Excerpts from the interview… Robert: “What do you believe will be a defining moment for you in your art career?”  America: “A defining moment for me as an artist   Her mission is to inspire with her Art, whether it takes 2 or 30 pieces to capture the message she is trying to convey.  She believes all living beings have a right to live, to not be destroyed for mass production and consumption and that is why animals show up in a majority of her collaging.  To America, creative expression is the only healthy way for her to deal with stress or depression.  She doesn’t drink or smoke, eats a vegan diet and does these things because of her firm belief that there are healthier ways to deal with frustration or boredom. Her first collages, when she looks back on them, are not compositionally pleasing to her, but they served a purpose.  She has sold a few and given away many to friends who were inspired and touched by them, which absolutely made America’s day and she carries those feelings with fond remembrance. 81 SOCULTURES JAN-FEB2019 will be painting an iconic or well-known mural.  Also, if a picture of one of my murals pops up when you ‘Google’ BEST MURALS OF ALL TIME!!”  Art allows America to get the attention she needs, she can be loud or really big with her creations and they are costumes for her that she wears proudly.  When she first began to exhibit and put her Art “out there”, it was intimidating for her.  She was afraid she wouldn’t make an impression and that it wouldn’t move someone like it moved her.  She wants people who view her Art to “feel what I feel”.  When she displays her Art and is asked what it means, she is disappointed that it needs to be explained, “It’s like putting wrapping paper on an elephant, an elephant should be left to its own device to be appreciated and not put into a box with words”.