Today we’d like to introduce you to Maria Alcala.
Hi Maria, thanks for joining us today. We’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
Photography found me when I was not looking. I had just graduated from high school and was not interested in any subjects offered in my natal city, Barranquilla, Colombia. All I cared about was literature and art, and so I wanted to go to school initially for a Literature degree and become a teacher, but my family did not support that. It was that “starving artist” stereotype taking over, I believe. But then I had a little voice in my brain saying, “You can do this – prove them wrong”, and so I dared to pick up photography, and it was the best and most enlightening experience. I would take my camera everywhere, like I used to carry novels in my bag. Started to be noticed locally and exhibited in a local art show. When the time came to move to the US, I found myself very confused as to what to shoot. It was a new place with new people that was not as approachable, the sense of community was close to non-existent, and I just didn’t feel comfortable going out on a photo walk. And so, staying at home was a comfort, and it felt safe.
I lost my way trying to adapt and to do all the things I was supposed to do. As an immigrant, I had to study and work harder for all the things I wanted to achieve. However, I didn’t know what my end goal was until I took an Art Appreciation class. It was like a switch turned on in my brain and reminded me how important art has been in history, and how it continues to be relevant in the construction of an inclusive and diverse community. I decided right then and there that my major would be in Art, and that my main goal was to promote the arts in my community to empower all local artists and the community itself. I wanted to become a voice for all of those emerging artists, enabling inclusivity and the experience of bringing community together.
Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way. Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
It has not been a smooth road to get where I am now. It all started the second I landed in the US. The process of adapting and trying to understand the new environment in which I found myself took a lot of time and effort from me. Even though I spoke English when I moved here, I still did not fully understand the manner in which others were communicating, so that made me feel alienated from a scene in which I wanted to participate and belong. However, all of my efforts did pay off! I now do what I love most, which is supporting emerging and middle-range artists to kickstart their journey to create community in my little world. Learning from all the struggles has been a journey that has made me stronger.
Appreciate you sharing that. What else should we know about what you do?
I work at Arts Warehouse, a space that offers rotating art exhibitions, art workshops, and other special event programming. Arts Warehouse encourages community growth and empowerment through engagement with local artists, residents, and community members. My role encompasses everything from administrative operations and customer service to assistance with curating exhibitions and supporting programs that connect the public to Delray Beach’s creative community.
It is the most inspiring and rewarding role to have hands-on exposure to curatorial work, exhibition planning, and connecting with fellow artists. When I joined Arts Warehouse, the experience of inspiration and art was enlightening. I have been blessed, after working so hard towards my goals, to work in a space where I can be true to what I want to achieve, and to put myself out there as an artist to learn even more. It gave my work purpose.
What’s next?
My future purpose is to support the artists who return to creativity and see them revel in their growth. In the long term, I want to inspire, inform, and support creative connections, since it is very important for me that the community knows how art is important for its empowerment. As a photographer, I want to continue to create images that portray how creativity has been a path in my life.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.behance.net/maraalcalab/projects
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/maralcalab/
- LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/maria-a-77201614a/
