Meet Dulce37

Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Dulce37. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.

Hi DULCE37, appreciate you sitting with us today to share your wisdom with our readers. So, let’s start with resilience – where do you get your resilience from?

I believe that my resilience comes from influences and situations. Much of my resilience are really my survival tools – a combination of pain, education and faith.
I have watched women struggle all of my life, and as a woman who has survived and warred through life myself, I have leaned on faith for as long as I can recall, way before I knew I was an artist. My long life curiosity to understand death, emotions, faith, the story of genesis and humanity grew stronger in 2007, when I lost a loved one to suicide. At the time, my oldest brother Nick had bought me a book titled “Searching for Mary Magdalene”-it was full of vibrant art. As I admired the artworks, I was also drawn to her mystery-I found myself understanding her, the way she was misunderstood. I remembered when I was a kid and I had first heard that there was a woman in the bible who was a prostitute, I was a kid – it was “adult talk”, but I always remembered and for some reason, it upset me. Later, in life, I studied her more; my brother, without knowing, reconnected me to the mysterious woman who helped me with the grief I felt during my period of mourn and then again many other times in life.
When I think of all that those who have came before us historically and in my family, I can’t help but to awe at how far we have come along, even in my lifetime alone. It’s important to me to use use this time, while I am alive to use my voice, it is a platform that many before us have fought so hard for. I feel that while I am a part of this journey, just the same, I too want to make a difference, even if a small one, for my nephews, my nieces… for you. I always feel a bit of pressure for being a woman and a minority, like everywhere I go, I represent the entire class of female minorities and I want to make us proud. Not just another statistic.

Great, so let’s take a few minutes and cover your story. What should folks know about you and what you do?

I am currently an active art director, artist, educator and student. In 2015, I founded arts and education non-profit, S.H.E. Gallery, after a series of dreams that led me to study business-for-the-arts through The University of Chicago. It was not something I thought I could afford but they had a partnership with Hyde Park Art Center, I was never officially accepted into the program but they did let me take the classes: writing, curatorial practices, teaching and business. It was the most difficult part, to trust the dreams, the signs and the uncomfortable moments in a class where I felt outcasted. You really have to hold on to your faith to trust the process and dive in. Nine years later, I still cannot afford a brick and mortar, but somehow, I am still able to keep my non-profit alive through the community who continues to work with me, I am very grateful and amazed at how much has been accomplished, its exciting to think of what other surprises will come along as we grow..
I am currently working with Illinois Medical District’s Art Council, as a member and sub-committee we just hosted our 2nd Annual Arts Fair, Dream Big- a huge partnership with IMD, Cook County, Vertiport, GEvents, and The Stark Foundation took place on August 20th. I had an opportunity to present my father and his authentic mariachi group, which meant the world to me, as he is a heart failure survivor. I also had the chance to reintroduce flamenco dancer, Amanda Saucedo, and work again with first generation graffiti artists, TAKE2 and FESSKI alongside DJ Jesse De La Pena. It was a beautiful event. I also just launched a partnership with Artsy, where I will be able to represent artists worldwide in addition to the artists that I have been working with for so many years. We will be joining a graffiti jam contest, Battle for the City where I will expanding the opportunity this weekend, August 25th at the 606 Trail in Chicago. I am very excited to expand our audience, artists and opportunities. I have included a QR code to this article for artists to apply!
As an artist and director, I am also spearheading “Chicago Love Notes”, a public art mural community project in partnership with Teresa of Pilsen Arts Community House. As lead artist, I have created an interactive concept for all age participants to express themselves and be a part of something really special. I began a series titled “How Long Is Forever: Infinity” – the linework represents infinity – interwoven human infinity. We are hoping that this will also be a series that can visit many other Chicago neighborhoods that can aid in healing, even in a small way, like leaving the city a love note. We began the mural on August 17th and am working to unveil by the end of August, the mural is located at the viaduct of 16th and Wood. I am also working with other Pilsen locals, so more of my D37 art will be in my community inside and outside of doors this fall, which is also very special to me. As an artist, I have been exhibiting artworks all year with Dancing Krow Studio in Oak Park and will be co-exhibiting for the remainder of the year continuing a lifelong theme titled “Infinite Pulse”.
As an educator, I began working as a museum adjunct at the Art Institute of Chicago fall of 2022. I have been working with many schools, trusts, and the public-it has been an amazing experience that has further allowed me to study art and society, I absolutely love talking to people that visit from so many corners of the world, it’s fascinating. Most recently, I was able to provide a private tour to Georgia O’Keefe’s “My New Yorks” exhibit to the members that made it possible-it was a very special moment. It’s always an honor to be able to speak on behalf of any artist there. Most proud, has been when I have been able to also speak on graffiti history at outside institutions, The Nineteenth Century Club in Oak Park and most recently, The Admiral at the Lake. It’s awesome to be able to speak on artists I know and have worked with and honor one that we recently lost, first generation legend, Rodney “O.R.K.O.” Wade. I am now challenging myself more as an an multidisciplinary artist, I have always turned to the arts to heal. I am evolving and healing as I work through a new series where I am collaborating with older drawings and modernizing them digitally. It’s been an amazing way to look at my growth and be proud of myself, even if I am not flooding with social media attention, it’s fulfilling and for that its a personal success.
As a student, I am in break until October, I start year 2 of UChicago’s Basic Program for Adults, where I am studying philosophy- all of those learnings have really aided with every other areas of my life. I am ALSO working a fictional novel, titled “Luz”. I am really excited about publishing this story! Stay tuned!

Looking back, what do you think were the three qualities, skills, or areas of knowledge that were most impactful in your journey? What advice do you have for folks who are early in their journey in terms of how they can best develop or improve on these?

Number One: The fun times.

To me, the best marketing is staying true, remaining authentic, and it’s free. All that I have done has been heart-driven. If it’s not fun or meaningful, I can’t get excited about it. Some have confused my excitement with promotions, and then it becomes so. Make sure you have fun and never take yourself so serious that you forget who you are. The world is full of marketing and fake influences that can drive people to feel small, if it makes you feel small, its not real. Turn of the noise and have fun.

Number Two: The tough times.

The toughest times for me have been dealing with betrayals. After success, came betrayal – time and time again. I lost many people throughout my journey. It has been very difficult to embrace and chase dreams, you bust your ass, it’s extremely time consuming, a real passion becomes a labor of love. You will have haters, less friends and many more lonely times, but that is part of what also helps you see your real friends and supporters. As an artist, it has been very difficult, with social media, it’s easy to get discouraged if you see your artwork not being popular or liked, for me, knowing and working with so many artists it has been easy to see that my art is not liked or supported. That kind of thing hurts, but I feel like everyone is unique in their own way and for that I want to love and support my art – there has to be someone out there who may also enjoy it or whom it may speak to – art is for everyone. Don’t let anyone….or worse, don’t let yourself tell you any different, you are unique and for that you are beautiful. The toughest times are those when you are forced to fight demons, so don’t give up on yourself. Face your fears, and you will see fears are illusions. It’s not easy, but “just do it” -trust yourself, be patient with yourself – realize that anything long-lasting in co-creation with God wont fail you, once you realize that, it’s so much lighter, even through the tough times. I recently had to face a huge battle with CAN T.V., I am still fighting towards justice. Never give up, it’s what oppressors want you to do.

Number Three: The breaks.

Turn off the noise, listen to your inner self – the silence will speak. I journal what I listen in the silence.
Don’t burn yourself out, take guilt-free breaks.
Be kind to your body.

What has been your biggest area of growth or improvement in the past 12 months?

A healing heart.
I feel myself growing, learning and healing as I understand the challenges that we face as a society. In reflection on the pride and ego that has stumped leadership and corrupted a way of life, I feel empowered to know that no matter how tough it gets we all have potential to kill the beast inside and allow our inner God to shine. One of the artists that I worked with Rodney “ORKO” Wade passed away in December. He was one of those rare people who leave a lasting lesson that changes your life. His words of wisdom and encouragement while he was alive sorta keep him alive. It reminded me of how fragile life was and how important the work that I am doing is. Especially, when I saw his friends turn into family and his family blending with his friends. The blessings carried through love are then passed on to the next generation, that is what I saw. His oldest son, Michael stays in touch, he just moved to Chicago and when I see him, I again remember how important this work is-he is an extension of Rodney and somehow that keeps him alive with us too. I have some of Rodney’s ashes, it’s bittersweet.
I recently again turned to Mary Magdalene, last year when I turned 40, heartbroken after an abrupt break up from a narcissistic artist, I found myself traveling to the wonders of the cave in South France where it was believed Mary Magdalene spent the last of her 30 years, to chapels built for her, and even her basilica where I was face to face with her relics. I flew and climbed so high when I was so low. I could not believe I was there – a sudden trip, full of surprises again brought me back to my roots, the beauty of my faith. Lat month, I read the Gospel of Mary Magdalene and she again spoke to me, herein, she reminded me of the beauty of knowledge, gnosis, knowing and loving oneself. We all hurt, when we are hurt, you must allow time to heal, to be human, to cry, we can’t mask emotions as they will come back to haunt, but we must forgive. I faced a lot of challenges back-to-back, but I am stronger and wiser because I feel that people that have disappointed and betrayed me, those painful situations that stumped me were situations created by weak souls threatened by something they can’t understand – love. The powerful love. Love magnifies love. I have learned that Disney’s villains are mirrors to our challenged souls and it is only through love that one will allow themselves to really love, basically you can’t reach love if you don’t kill the internal beast. I choose love, over and over – we have to fight our demons, over and over-I chose to love, nothing else is truly real. Mary Magdalene continues to remind me of her perseverance, from one tormented and misunderstood woman to another, I see me in her and in every women I meet that shares my story.

“The Kingdom, it can’t be built through conflict. Not by opposition, not by destruction. It grows with us, with every act of love and care, with our forgiveness” -Mary Magdalene”

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.sharinghisenergygallery.net
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/s.h.e._gallery/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/S.H.E.GalleryNFP/
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCFhIQ9nXpjXwfdbu7P9rJVg
• Other: www.dulce37.store

  IG: @dulce.37

Image Credits

Dulce Maria Diaz
S.H.E. Gallery
Illinois Medical District
WGN News
TAKE2
ORKO
Pato
Pilsen Arts Community House
Nineteenth Century Club
The Admiral at the Lake
Sainte-Baume Cave (Mary Magdalene)