SwietStuff
OUT with corporate, IN with creative.
I collaborated with New Orleans-based artist Emily Swietlik during 2019-2021 piloting her SwietStuff #artWORK project and method of hand-made jewellery and wearable art with women from La Lucha neighbourhood in Santa Marta, Colombia, a place where job opportunities are very limited, especially for women with young children and older generations. This projects’ mission is to empower communities through art and generating income.
Emily started the first international #artWORK project in Santa Lucia, Guatemala, with Las Margaritas women’s collective. The project has grown to include more women in the community and was expanded to Colombia, as I led this team. Organising this #artWORK project was also creating a community that supported each other. We worked with women of all ages, shared knowledge, pool resources, and raised each other up.
Afterwards, right before the pandemic, I was invited by Emily to do an art residence in Santa Lucia, Guatemala. Together with artist Antonia Zennaro we developed a series of workshops and collective creations with and for Las Margaritas women. Magic.