Maria Velasco: All of Me

Firstly, tell us about yourself! Where do you live, what sort of art do you make and how many children do you have?

My name is María Velasco. I am an installation artist originally from Spain, living and working in the US since 1991. My work exists in the realm of social practice and I love to create participatory projects with the community. I studied at the University of California in Santa Barbara and I currently teach at the University of Kansas in Lawrence, KS where I live with my son Alex, who is ten years old.

How do you continue to engage with your art practice alongside raising children?

I am an academic and spend lots of time around young art students. Raising Alex as a single mother, artist and academic is constantly challenging and feels impossible at times. Although I cherish my time alone, I dislike very much the idea of ‘parking’ the child while you do all the other things. Last summer, I attended my first parent artist residency at Elsewhere Studios in Paonia, CO where I could bring together all the parts of my identity and it felt right for the first time in eleven years!

What does a typical day look like for you and how much time do you manage to carve out for your own work?

My typical day starts with taking Alex to school, followed by going to the University to teach my classes. Teaching is a demanding job and I find it most challenging to fit in the studio time for my own projects. In the past few months, I have managed to carve out studio time every day, sometimes very early in the morning and at times, late at night. It is now written in my planner and I am fighting to not let anything else get in the way, including email, cellphone and social media while I am working.

Have you come up against specific challenges as an artist and mother? What were they?

There are numerous logistic challenges that arise with being a single mom and advancing professionally. I have always traveled for shows and conferences and when it was just me, it was more feasible. Although I constantly adjust my projects to not be away from my son too frequently, the artworld doesn’t make exceptions, so… it is always a juggling act. My challenge right now is happening more on a conceptual level, where I am looking for ways to make the mother-son relationship visible in my artwork. I feel there is a curve there for me and a significant gap before we can see an equal playing field in the arts.

What is the best piece of advice you have been given?

To put things in perspective and to be joyful! It is easy give in to frustrations and disappointments. You have to choose to appreciate yourself and not take for granted what you have.

Who are your role models? Who or what inspires and encourages you?

I am currently most inspired by other artists who have embraced their identity as artists and parents and the ways in which they make it work. Even though I am most grateful for my single mom friends and extended family, I have also felt very isolated in my own experience. I find tremendous connection and inspiration online through networks like Cultural Reproducers, Artist Parent Index, and of course Spilt Milk. Historically, I admire artists like Mary Kelly, who early on figured out a way to make art about raising her son and made significant conceptual contributions in this area as well.

How has the experience of motherhood impacted your practice on an emotional/intellectual level? Has it made you view yourself/your work differently? Are there things that influence your work now that you didn't think about pre-kids?

My work deals with intimacy and vulnerability, identity and migration. Exploring these issues through the relationship with my son feels natural because we are deeply connected. My series ‘Intertwined Worlds’ is helping me to explore this part of the journey.

Having Alex enriches my life tremendously and I can’t imagine a life without him. I am hyper aware of the fact that his world will be vastly different from what we know today and I make different choices because of this, especially in terms of sustainability, legacy and social values.

If your child(ren) were asked “Tell me about your mother” what do you hope they would say?

I am appropriately open with him about the issues of life and we talk about stuff often. I love that we have that connection, and we touch base a little before bed time or in the car. If I could be a fly on the wall, I would love to hear him say that I can fix stuff and figure things out; that he likes my cooking and that I can be pretty silly sometimes. I am teaching him to embrace his emotions and his heart, to be respectful of himself and others, and to figure things out.

What drives you to continue to create work?

Making art is my heart’s work. I love making things with my hands and love color.