Carmen Abelleira
Paintings, Mixed Media, Assemblage
I feel triple-lucky blessed! I live in paradise with my great family and friends and I do what I love everyday. In 1994, I made a "now or never" decision to leave my job of sixteen years as a bilingual teacher to focus on my artwork full-time. Now I make or paint something everday.
For me, the process begins with the thrilling hunt for junk which I use for my materials. I order paints through the mail and the world provides the rest! I am surrounded by a wealth of creative resources that many others might consider trash. Thrift stores, garage sales and dumpsters are my never ending suppliers, as well as my community in Ojai, where half the population saves its bottle caps for me! Finding my materials is almost as much fun as creating my pieces. Often the object I find is what inspires and starts the creative process.
I didn't attend art school. I just take a lot in and express what comes. So may different artists inspire me like Kahlo, Keinholz and Cornell. There are so many others to mention. Those three just sound like a wacky lawfirm! I am also inspired by the colorful folk traditions of Mexico, India, Africa and South America, but especially from Cuba where I spent my childhood years. I have great memories of the flavor of life there and these have no doubt (along with the influence of my very creative grandfather), shaped and spiced my work. I look forward to returning there someday.
For now, I'll continue to work happily from my studio/home in Ojai. Life is good!
https://www.facebook.com/carmen.abelleira.9
Family History
Carmen Abelleira has a rich personal history. Her parents returned to Cuba after working in the United States to earn enough money to pursue their dream of opening a coffee shop in their native land of Cuba. Upon their return, Cuba was taken over by Castro, and Mr. and Mrs. Abelleira soon realized that the personal freedoms of the Cuban people were lost under Castro’s rule. With the new political climate, they decided to apply to leave Cuba and return to the United States and with the application a deal was made between the Cuban government and Mr. Abelleira. The government would grant their request to leave Cuba in trade for cutting cane for one year in a “work camp.” Nine years later after an enormous amount of personal sacrifice, there was a knock on the door from the Cuban government (military). The family request had been granted. The door to their home was boarded shut and Carmen and her mother were to leave at that moment with no personal belongings. This was the start of their new life in Los Angeles, California. After growing up in Los Angeles and working as a bi-lingual teacher, Carmen came to Ojai, California in 1989. It was not until 1993 that Abelleira started creating art.
For me, the process begins with the thrilling hunt for junk which I use for my materials. I order paints through the mail and the world provides the rest! I am surrounded by a wealth of creative resources that many others might consider trash. Thrift stores, garage sales and dumpsters are my never ending suppliers, as well as my community in Ojai, where half the population saves its bottle caps for me! Finding my materials is almost as much fun as creating my pieces. Often the object I find is what inspires and starts the creative process.
I didn't attend art school. I just take a lot in and express what comes. So may different artists inspire me like Kahlo, Keinholz and Cornell. There are so many others to mention. Those three just sound like a wacky lawfirm! I am also inspired by the colorful folk traditions of Mexico, India, Africa and South America, but especially from Cuba where I spent my childhood years. I have great memories of the flavor of life there and these have no doubt (along with the influence of my very creative grandfather), shaped and spiced my work. I look forward to returning there someday.
For now, I'll continue to work happily from my studio/home in Ojai. Life is good!
https://www.facebook.com/carmen.abelleira.9
Family History
Carmen Abelleira has a rich personal history. Her parents returned to Cuba after working in the United States to earn enough money to pursue their dream of opening a coffee shop in their native land of Cuba. Upon their return, Cuba was taken over by Castro, and Mr. and Mrs. Abelleira soon realized that the personal freedoms of the Cuban people were lost under Castro’s rule. With the new political climate, they decided to apply to leave Cuba and return to the United States and with the application a deal was made between the Cuban government and Mr. Abelleira. The government would grant their request to leave Cuba in trade for cutting cane for one year in a “work camp.” Nine years later after an enormous amount of personal sacrifice, there was a knock on the door from the Cuban government (military). The family request had been granted. The door to their home was boarded shut and Carmen and her mother were to leave at that moment with no personal belongings. This was the start of their new life in Los Angeles, California. After growing up in Los Angeles and working as a bi-lingual teacher, Carmen came to Ojai, California in 1989. It was not until 1993 that Abelleira started creating art.