Meet Aurelia Luciano

Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Aurelia Luciano. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.

Aurelia, so happy to have you with us today. You are such a creative person, but have you ever had any sort of creativity block along the way? If so, can you talk to us about how you overcame or beat it?

There are points in creatives’ lives where they experience bouts of being unable to create or produce art. As a writer, one of the top questions I receive or have heard other writers get asked is “what do you do when you experience writers block?” I don’t like to refer to these moments as blocks but more as moments of stillness. It is my inner voice asking me to slow down and live life, gain experiences that I will be able to input into my writing once I am ready to write again.

In order to overcome the stillness that I may be experiencing, I find myself delving into the things that make me feel good outside of my passion for writing. Some of those things include resting, spending time alone while recharging or spending time in the company of my loved ones, being creative in ways that do not relate to my writing. Resting is essential to who I am and how I produce my work. I require a lot of silent+still time, it allows me to really connect with my inner self, to be able to filter out the noise of everyday life, and most of all to sleep! Everyone and everything around me is safer when I have a good nights rest, including a nap or two throughout the day. A recipe that calls for silence and rest allow me to get grounded and clear my mind, empowering me to channel the stories I would like write about next.

Spending time with loved ones always opens up a world of possibilities for me. Through our time together, we can make a range of plans or no plans at all, letting the day take us where it may. These experiences are so filled with love, laughter, random outings, and encounters with strangers or others we are familiar with in our community. Some of the best memories have been made with my family and friends. These outings allow me to take in the scenery, to indulge in my senses, while also letting go. There are no pressures to focus on my creativity, there is just a sense of living live in a carefree manner. This allows me to loosen up and be present.

Creativity comes to me in more ways than one. I have most recently begun exploring watercolor painting. When writing doesn’t come to me so effortlessly, I paint. One of my friends, Athena Toledo, is an art therapist & teacher. Anytime we are together, whether just us two or a large group of friends, it is guaranteed that some kind of interactive art aspect/activity will be happening. Experiencing art in a way that is not your main passion or hobby can be very helpful because it allows you to express yourself in new and unconventional ways. Watercolor painting allows me to listen to music at the same time, which I am not really able to do when I write as most times it can prove to be a distraction. Trying something new or different than you are used to can bring up feelings and experiences you didn’t know were stored inside of you and will allow you to create while in flow! Be patient with yourself when you experience creative stillness, do the things that you love or try your hand at something new while also taking care of yourself. Your craft will be sure to come around and inspire you to tell your story/experience once more.

Thanks for sharing that. So, before we get any further into our conversation, can you tell our readers a bit about yourself and what you’re working on?

My name is Aurelia and I am a Dominican American Poet and Event Producer from NJ. I began writing poetry at the age of 10 and have never stopped. A few of the topics that I explore in my poetry are womanhood, motherhood, racism, religion,& love. As an adult, surviving a DV relationship during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic forced me to tap into my gifts and share them with the world. I started my page @goldenlightpoetry on IG and little by little, began telling my story. During the pandemic, I also studied books in relation to event planning. Event Planning/Producing had always been a passion of mine. Before becoming an Event Producer, I would host themed parties for my friends and family, birthday parties for my daughter and other loved ones. Bringing the people that I loved together with a cause for celebration has always been one of my favorite forms of creativity. In 2021, I moved myself and my daughter out of harms way and this allowed me to work on settling my nervous system after surviving abuse and to actively hone in on my crafts, poetry and event producing.

I began to attend open mics in the tri-state area, learning a thing or two about spoken word and meeting some of the most experienced poets in my neighborhood. Attending these events really inspired me to not only continue sharing my poetry out loud, but to begin creating safe spaces for the artistic expressions of others. In the summer of 2022, I curated and hosted my first ever “Golden Light Open Mic” at a local cafe in my city and it was such a huge success. I will never forget the feeling of accomplishing one of dreams. As a child, there was no safety in expression, leading me to keep a lot to myself which in turn allowed me to find my voice through writing. Creating a safe container for expression through the arts felt like a way for my inner child to grow, heal, and receive something that should have easily been provided for her. Since 2022, I have hosted and curated about 20 events, have been published in 5+ magazines, interviewed on a podcast and local newspaper, hosted writing workshops and pop-ups, & built a network of wonderful small, local businesses and entrepreneurs. Doing this work has been nothing but a blessing.

Currently, I am working on putting together my debut poetry and photography collection, titled Evergreen. Evergreen is a collection of poems that will allow the reader to truly get to know me and my heart through my words and photographic experiences as a black, latinx, & single millennial woman and mother. While on this journey, I have landed a position working for an amazing local art gallery, SMUSH Gallery, as one of their event producers. I have been blessed enough to learn so much about what it entails to work with and serve artists of all mediums, about caring for a community space that believes and upholds its mission& integrity through inclusivity, diversity, and acceptance of all humans and their forms of expression. Together, we will be hosting our 2nd Annual Black History Month Open Mic on Sunday, February 18th! In 2024, I am looking forward to gaining all kinds of new experiences, expanding on the knowledge that I have acquired thus far, and continuing to create, whether that be my writing or the wonderful & colorful safe spaces for artists, musicians, writers, poets, and human beings in general!

If you had to pick three qualities that are most important to develop, which three would you say matter most?

On this journey of writing & event producing, I have discovered that kindness, empathy, and strong communication skills are three qualities necessary to develop as a creative. Allowing myself to be human in front of others and telling a story that others can relate to, with love and compassion has positively impacted my journey. The kindness that I have received and given to others throughout this journey has gotten me further along than being ill mannered or distasteful. Through the genuine kindness of others, I have been able to build relationships that do not expect anything in return for our connections and that have put my name in rooms that I have only dreamt of stepping into. The opportunities I have been offered or have been able to provide for others just from showing understanding and warm-heartedness are unmatched. Dr. Maya Angelou says it best “I’ve learned that people will forget what you said, people will forget what you did, but they will never forget how you made them feel.” Of course, I cannot please everyone. However, I want the people who cross my path or that choose collaborate with me to feel seen, heard, and understood with gentility.

In order to upkeep many of the connections created in my life via poetry and event producing, or even in general, I have come to realize that honest and thorough communication is key. In this industry, you come into contact with all kinds of people. Vendors, suppliers, caterers, artists, venues, musicians, their friends and families. Being in constant communication with various beings of all backgrounds and perspectives, it is bound for miscommunication to happen once in a while. It is imperative to communicate effectively and clearly to cut out any chance of miscommunication or misinformation from arising. In order to do this properly, it is best to speak in person, over the phone, or virtually (thank God for technology!) as emails and text messages can get lost and allow for misunderstanding and messages can be misconstrued.

All in all, if you allow yourself to be personable, understanding of others and yourself, and communicate in honest and gentle ways, you will be able to run your business effectively and with integrity.

Who has been most helpful in helping you overcome challenges or build and develop the essential skills, qualities or knowledge you needed to be successful?

I come from a very large family, having 3 sisters and 2 brothers. The person that has been most influential in my life when it comes to overcoming challenges and helping me to develop my essential skills, qualities, & knowledge would be my oldest sister, who is also my godmother, Judy.

When I was born, Judy was 14 years old and she bore a lot of the responsibility in the home as most 1st born daughters in Latinx households do. My sister spent a lot of time with me when my mother would work long hours. As we’ve gotten older and become mothers ourselves, raising our daughters together and making memories, my sister and I have become closer. She will always be a living guardian angel to me, helping to guide and support me through this journey while sending me positive quotes, affirming bible verses, checking in on one another almost everyday, and sharing health tips, herbs and oils, even workouts!

When I found out I was pregnant over 10 years ago, my sister was the first person that I told because I knew she would help me sort out my jumbled thoughts and truly think about the pros and cons of making such a life-altering decision. Although my sister believed that I was too young to accept motherhood, she supported my decision and has loved my daughter through every moment and milestone, even helping to raise her by providing her with new experiences, helping me by taking her in the summers and over long holiday breaks and teaching her about basic necessities.

I would say that my sister Judy is a second mother to me, rightfully taking on the title of Godmother. She has helped me overcome some of the darkest times in my life, always gifts me amazing cakes on my birthdays, gives me facts along with her opinions and the freedom to make informed decisions on my own. Watching her provide my nieces with a life of sustainability, love, stability, & faith has been so inspiring to witness. I can only aspire and do my best to become a force like her someday.

Contact Info:

Image Credits
Jonathan Rojas of @hazard_photography

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