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Glendalys Medina is an interdisciplinary visual artist who was born in Puerto Rico and raised in the Bronx. Through abstracting and reconstituting forms drawn from both traditional and contemporary popular culture, she creates a visual syntax that acts as both a personal language and as an autonomous, self-validating expression of personal identity.
Q1. Describe your first memory of making or viewing art.
. My uncle made the first piece of art I ever saw. It’s a beautiful piece that influences me to this day. It’s an image of El Morro in Puerto Rico made out of nails and string. It hangs In my parents’ house, and when I visit, I still admire it with much gratitude. The first piece I remember making was writing my nickname in bubble letters; growing up in The Bronx during the 80s, I heavily influenced by graffiti.
Q2. How would you describe your artwork and the ideas that compel you as an artist?
. I investigate how patterns like habits, perspective, and value structures download into our psyche. Historically, societies categorized and define using image and language. To redefine history, I blend geometry, neuro-linguistic programming, self-help, the New Thought movement, Caribbean and Hip-Hop culture into an interdisciplinary practice that deconstructs image and language, disrupting the downloading of patterns to create new value structures reclaiming a higher self.
Q3. What materials & methods do you use?
My materials and methods alter every time I make a new body of work. What is constant is my visual language. I’m a conceptual artist, so I usually start with an idea and choose what medium and material would best suit it. After that is settled, I get to work on manifesting.
Q4. What do you see as the role of an artist in society?
An investigator that shares their findings with intention and purpose.
Q5. What advice would you give to a student and/or another artist?
Make a yearly plan, seek the lesson in the failure, find like-minded people, understand that you are an entrepreneur, and remember that a loving and grateful spirit is the Midas touch.
Q6. What books are you reading now, or do you recommend?
“Latinx Art: Artists, Markets, and Politics” by Arlene Dávila, Duke University Press, 2020
Glendalys Medina’s work is included in “Latinx Abstract” on view both virtually and in-person at BRIC House (647 Fulton St) through May 2, 2021.
Sarah, This looks fantastic! Thanks for your hard work! And thank you Glendalys for being the first CREATE interview!
What a lovely interview and art! Thank you Sarah!
wow - this is terrific. I learned so much about Glendalys and her work.
I love Sarah’s drawing of Glendalys!
@frida@artyardbklyn.org Thank you !
I assisted Glendalys in several lessons in a junior high public school - the students LOVED her 'boom box' lesson, and they loved Glendalys.
I remember thinking that she hit the nail on the head when she opened the lesson showing and discussing the many shapes and combinations of shapes found when dissecting a boom box. I was surprised that junior high students would find such excitement from an iconic representation of a culture which was popular a generation or two before theirs. But they did! It's always such a satisfying end of school day when you know that students were happy and engaged by virtue of a teacher's well mapped out lesson plan.
Thanks to Glendalys. I wonder what other items we could use to find components (shapes, colors, textures) that would further excite students other (or in addition to) the boom box. Any ideas?
ok wait - I sort of take back that comment about boom boxes. I guess they are TIMELESS. When searching for a good image of one, I found that the MoMA shop sells updated versions:
https://store.moma.org/tech/headphones-speakers/brooklyn-boombox/6724-801538.html
@Dennis Buonagura Do people still use it?? I used to have it, and I loved how loud it was; now, I only use my phone.
@sarah.a.g I have no idea. I never had one of those back in the 70's/80's (can you just imagine me carrying around a boom box???) and I never see anyone these days with them - but who knows? If MoMA's selling them, someone must be buying them. I was more the transistor radio type back then.
I think teaching from ones own work is very engaging for students of all ages. Even if the references are not their own, they can feel the passion and drive of the artist.
Ahaahahahahahahahhahha Dennis and a Boom Box!!!!!!! Haahhaahahahahahhaahahha
Hi Sarah ! This is such an excellent job- I love the portait of Glendalys and I learned so much about her from this. Superb !!
@quentinwilliamston I agree!!