We were lucky to catch up with Jackie Salgado recently and have shared our conversation below.
Jackie, thank you so much for joining us today. Let’s jump right into something we’re really interested in hearing about from you – being the only one in the room. So many of us find ourselves as the only woman in the room, the only immigrant or the only artist in the room, etc. Can you talk to us about how you have learned to be effective and successful in situations where you are the only one in the room like you?
I take accountability in knowing that it is a privilege to exist in my bloodline on both sides of my familial roots. Having the privilege of being born from nothing, and with nothing, gives you a perspective of what true privilege looks like. Carrying that respect, and understanding, of how walking your own path takes on the responsibility of maintaining resilience, integrity and self discipline, in order to give your children and the next seven generations, the opportunities and more than you have. In the same mindset, you carry these things while also honoring those before you who sacrificed everything in their own paths so you can take your own. There’s an understanding in my tribe of the sacred meaning behind growing our hair long. I don’t take that lightly walking into a room and openly being the only brown person or the only indigenous person there. It’s not a separation that I take lightly because it is a huge responsibility to carry myself in a way that not only honors my life for all those before me and all of those that will come after me. We are keepers of the land and water, we have ties to these lands, and our language is thousands of years old, it is a privilege to carry the knowledge of these things with me in every room I stepped foot into.
Appreciate the insights and wisdom. Before we dig deeper and ask you about the skills that matter and more, maybe you can tell our readers about yourself?
My name is Jacquelyn Salgado and I am a Chicano/ Ojibwe Chippewa First Nations full-time artist and Muralist. I am a multidisciplinary creative so I work with multiple mediums of art and I am constantly working on new projects as well as working towards exhibitions not including commission to work and contracted work as an artist. I’m very proud of what I do and my art is boldly, cultural, and spiritual work that incorporates and ties to my roots and both sides of my culture and in heritage as well.
There is so much advice out there about all the different skills and qualities folks need to develop in order to succeed in today’s highly competitive environment and often it can feel overwhelming. So, if we had to break it down to just the three that matter most, which three skills or qualities would you focus on?
I think the most impactful part of being an artist in my journey, was initially starting off and understanding the way that I best work as an individual. It was getting into the movement of working full time and understanding how to maintain my energy and find a good balance with my personal life as well as inspiration for my work. I think there’s always room for improvement so I did my best to approach each project as my best work and tried to “out-do” myself each time.
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?
As a growing artist and muralist, the biggest support and form of help I’ve had has been the tools and knowledge gained from the San Antonio Street Art Initiatives Artist Business Courses. Burgundy Woods and Shek Vega guided me through the ins and out of the business of the art world that I had no real clue of how to navigate, and the past year after graduating from their 12-week program has been the year of more growth than the past seven for me as a professional artist! I think once I learned how to implement new tools and processes, it truly strengthened my career as an artist and helped me navigate as a business owner from a professional standpoint
Contact Info:
- Website: https://events.getcreativesanantonio.com/artist/jack-salgado/
- Instagram: @bluemoonart.satx
Image Credits
Patrick de Guzman (Instagram: @notpsd)
Jerrome Griffin ( @jgriffinvisuals)
Juan JBX (@juanjbx)
so if you or someone you know deserves recognition please let us know here.
