We recently connected with Mile Vasquez and have shared our conversation below.
Mile, so many exciting things to discuss, we can’t wait. Thanks for joining us and we appreciate you sharing your wisdom with our readers. So, maybe we can start by discussing optimism and where your optimism comes from?
Optimism in my life stems from the rich and vibrant environment my parents created for me. My parents were eclectic individuals with a deep love for nature, animals, art, and culture. My father was a renowned botanist in Bolivia, and he shared his passion for nature and conservation with me, fostering a sense of wonder and curiosity. Growing up surrounded by exotic plants, cactus gardens, and a home filled with laughter and life shaped my optimistic outlook.
Despite challenges like my father’s departure and my mother’s struggles with depression, I found resilience and strength in the love and support of my family. My mother’s recovery journey through spiritual practices taught me the power of forgiveness and healing. I also formed strong bonds with my half-sisters and step-mom, which helped dissolve feelings of resentment and abandonment.
These experiences and my deep connection to nature have been a source of healing and inspiration, allowing me to pursue my dream of becoming a botanical artist. Through my art, I aim to share the beauty and resilience of nature, creating a sanctuary for others to find peace and connection.
My optimism is rooted in the legacy of my parents’ passions and the enduring love and strength of my family.
Great, so let’s take a few minutes and cover your story. What should folks know about you and what you do?
I am Milena Vásquez, a visual artist, designer, and photographer based in Calgary, Alberta. Since 2016, I’ve collaborated with other artists and art organizations, creating and organizing events, exhibitions and art programs, promoting emerging talents, and fostering inclusivity within the art community.
My work is deeply rooted in finding inspiration, creativity, and healing through nature exploration and community engagement. Drawing from childhood memories of exploring nature with my botanist father and working with family botanical archives, I explore landscapes and experiment with dreamy photographic styles.
For the last two years, I’ve been working on a meaningful photographic journey into the woodlands of Fish Creek, searching for a deep connection to the Land. The outcome of this exploration is a series of poetic photographs that capture the healing journey. I sale my work through my website and social media.
This year, I’m working on a personal project in my garden, exploring themes of life and loss, comfort, and hope. Gardens are living artworks and a source of endless inspiration; we can learn from nature’s resilience and the humbling reminder of our limited control over the cycles of life.
In 2023, my art partner Maya Corona and I started Blooming Diversity, a community initiative for women from diverse backgrounds who find inspiration in nature. The main goals are to experience green areas regularly, learn about the Land, connect with nature and others, develop a sense of belonging and create art.
The Blooming Diversity project brings together women from diverse backgrounds in Calgary who share a deep connection with nature. Through exploring the outdoors, art coaching and participating in artistic events, we uplift each other’s practices and provide support through life’s challenges, including depression, grief, and anxiety. Nature offers a tranquil and safe space to share, heal, and find inspiration together.
Everyone is welcome to join our adventures and artventures; we share our services and events through our Blooming Diversity website or Instagram.
If you had to pick three qualities that are most important to develop, which three would you say matter most?
Learning graphic design has been crucial in establishing and defining my brand style. It has enabled me to create marketing materials for my shows and art sales while strengthening my social media presence. These skills also allow me to produce graphic materials for the exhibitions I organize, including artwork labels, artist statements, signs, posters, brochures, and social media posts. Furthermore, my graphic design skills enable me to regularly update my website and create posts and marketing materials at no cost. This knowledge has allowed me to make a living by taking on projects such as logo design, website creation, and various types of graphic materials for others. As a photographer, I depend on my expertise in graphic software like Photoshop and Illustrator. Overall, my skills in art and design have been invaluable in supporting my work as an artist, photographer, entrepreneur, and event organizer.
How can folks who want to work with you connect?
My work focuses on community engagement and nature exploration as tools for improving mental health, overcoming grief, and developing a sense of belonging and well-being. I seek to connect with people who love nature and have skills that can enhance our group sessions related to nature and creativity, such as yoga practitioners and instructors, forest therapists, naturalists, botanists, experts in medicinal plants, Indigenous knowledge, meditation, artists and all practices related to nature, well-being, and creativity. Our community, Blooming Diversity, stands for equality, opportunities, and diversity, aiming to create a more inclusive and vibrant community. We hope to expand and reach more people, whether as practitioners or participants. If you have a skill related to the outdoors, art, or healing that you want to share, please reach out to us—we need you.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.milenavasquez.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/milena.vasquez.mathewson/ https://www.instagram.com/milena.vasquez.mathewson/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/milenavasquezartista/
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/milenavasquez/
Image Credits
1. Mile enjoying a day in the Rockies
2. A day in the mountains with the artist group; Sharina Fong, Mile Vasquez, Josefina Rodriguez, Ana Angeles and Maya Corona
3. Blooming Diversity exhibition artists: Elizabeth Amezcua, Ana Angeles, Ariadna Sly, Carolin Durán, Yuli Carvajal, Chris Olguin, Aya Corona, and Mauricio Lozano.
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