Meet Tina La Porta

 

We recently connected with Tina La Porta and have shared our conversation below.

Tina, we are so deeply grateful to you for opening up about your journey with mental health in the hops that it can help someone who might be going through something similar. Can you talk to us about your mental health journey and how you overcame or persisted despite any issues? For readers, please note this is not medical advice, we are not doctors, you should always consult professionals for advice and that this is merely one person sharing their story and experience.

Well I suppose art is a therapy for me. It’s not only an outlet but a means toward communication and community.

Mental health care is so bad and inaccessible here in America anyone who suffers, suffers alone.

Thankfully I have a secret weapon: art

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?

I’m currently recovering from losing everything in south Florida— my studio, my business, art supplies and apartment of thirteen years.

It’s difficult for me to imagine being able to rebuild again without resources or incentives. I used everything I had and lost it all except for my ability to continue making work in some capacity or another.

Additionally, American artists are extremely devalued. Very few people are able to make a profit on a sale.

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?

Photography to learn how to look at the world through my own eyes.

Internet to self distribute work.

Feminism for autonomy and to shatter the lens of patriarchy.

 

Awesome, really appreciate you opening up with us today and before we close maybe you can share a book recommendation with us. Has there been a book that’s been impactful in your growth and development?

Luce Irigaray
Je, Tu, Nous

I read this decades before pronouns became part of the discourse. As a matter of fact the first time I read this book was when I was in the Independent Study program at The School of the Art Institute in Chicago.

Irigaray writes about a non hierarchical society that celebrates differences between the genders.

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