Artist Spotlight: Ava Natalia
Every month, we highlight one of the amazing artists in our reuse community.
This month, ACR has the privilege of spotlighting Ava Natalia, a textile artist who uses recycled materials and secondhand yarn in their creations. Most recently, they used yarn sourced from ACR in a collaborative arts project created as part of a fellowship. Entitled “Find Your Flower”, participants were instructed to find a crocheted flower that had been strewn across the trees, to which they would be informed of the flower’s “Birth Certificate” that detailed the flower’s time, date, location, and thoughts the artist had while making it. The project was intended to show the importance of craft as a method of sustainability and encourage a more conscious mode of consumption. In addition to textile art, they also sing, sew, draw, and DJ as a way to diversify their creative abilities.
Learn more about Ava and how they use the act of creation to connect with others and the environment in the following interview.
When did you learn to crochet and how did you start crocheting using recycled materials?
My mom and I knitted together when I was a kid and shared a fondness for repurposing random found objects. At 14, I learned crochet and soon after utilized it as a tool for creative expression, experimenting with vintage patterns, yarn-bombing, and creating my own patterns. As my personal style developed and my taste in unique yarns emerged, I started utilizing recycled materials and thrifted yarn. Second-hand yarn has this energy to it; it’s fun to imagine the previous owner and feel that you are rescuing the yarn. Not to mention, the uniqueness of it. Some yarns I’ll find are out of production, making them feel even more special…
With the rise of fast-fashion, mass production and ever-changing trends, it is hard to remain ethical, maintain a unique style, and save money! Craft, to me, is the ultimate solution to that problem.
Do you have other creative interests?
I love all things art! I just did a project using post-it notes from ACR, where I asked people to write a secret and then sewed them all together on fabric, creating a sort of tree of Austinites’ underbelly.
I love to sing and just had a concert at 21st Co-op’s 51st anniversary, where I sang Bossa Nova with some of my favorite friends from UT’s school of music.
Currently, I’m drawing up a playbill for my salsa professor’s graduate thesis over Taino culture, where she will be holding a dance recital. She hired me after I showed her a zine I made and we bonded over our shared appreciation for spirituality.
And! I am a DJ (namely, dj fartbox), social director, and blog intern for KVRX and interview musicians for Local Live. My friend, DJ Hippiestank, and I are planning on a poetry/spoken word/radioplay show. I held a show last year called “I Have So Much to Say and No One to Talk to Except You” after a breakup and needed a good place to share my excess thoughts about art and psychology. This year, I plan on updating it to “I Have So Much to Say and Someone to Talk to." Lol.
Overall, I try to diversify my creative abilities (as I am incapable of choosing just one thing) and take advantage of Austin’s rich community. There are so many people, so many places, I’d feel unsatisfied if I didn’t explore that richness while I’m here.
Which aspect of creating is your favorite?
It’s hard to pinpoint exactly why I’ve dedicated my life to creating. Of course, I take pride in it. It is rewarding to hold something that represents your personality and hard work.
It is a good coping mechanism, too. There are many depressing drawings and poems I have stowed away in my journals.
In that sense, art is a glimpse into the soul; a physical form of consciousness and an invitation into our mind portals! We often can’t properly translate the feelings we have while creating or experiencing a creation, but those feelings ignite a connection within yourself, others, and your environment. I think that is my favorite thing about creating.
Where do you get your inspiration?
I love the feminist craft movement of the 70s, notably Judy Chicago’s “Dinner Party.” I also LOVE the Fluxus movement, specifically their values of community engagement, play, and fluidity. I recently read Jorge Sanjinés’ manifesto where he explains the importance of involving your community within art-making, which directly inspired my post-it note project.
Besides those pretentious callouts, I try to treat everything as potential inspiration. I’m a pretty sensitive thinker and that has not always been pleasant. But, I try to utilize that as a tool to experience life deeper and notice the little things. Also, just people. All people have this sweet beauty when you pay attention. I try to take that in and just let whatever I make flow from those experiences.
What is your preferred way to engage with your audience?
I have realized that my favorite pieces of art are ones that I feel I have a personal place in; ya know, when you project yourself into the meaning of a piece and suddenly you can feel like it's about you! Those experiences can be so transforming. I try to make my audience feel personally involved in my art, thus my preference for community engagement and interactive art.
I think connection is strongest when the artist’s presence is sensed because of the intimacy between audience and artist. When I create, I try to be honest with myself about what I’m feeling and why… When I go to present my work, hopefully that energy translates and my audience feels a personal connection. I try to engage with my audience as genuinely as I can! I give my full self and watch as their minds wander around with it.
How does reuse play a part in your creativity?
My professor, Kristin Lucas, once gave us a reading about the energy of objects– how you’re less likely to throw away a hat if your grandma made it for you. That’s how I feel about found or second-hand materials. It’s like I’m protecting grandma’s hats! And, even when you might not be able to place it, there is something that emanates from those objects; something that draws you, specifically, to it. I love using these materials because they give me a starting point: I can interpret that energy and follow it naturally.
Do you ever donate materials to ACR? If so, what compels you to donate?
I don’t really donate anything ever– I am way too attached to my hoard!
Do you have a favorite ACR find? How did you use it?
I recently went to ACR’s photo section and picked through all of the photos with people in it. I am using them as references for my drawings. I find it a good alternative to sketching images from pinterest. Also, I love the buttons section.
Where can we find out more about your work?
I mostly post my process on my instagram: @avanatalia78
But, I have a poetry account: @girly_emo_poet
But also! I have a crochet account with my wonderful best friend, Leila Wald: @2girls1skein