Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Heidi Grace Acuña. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.
Heidi Grace, thank you so much for taking the time to share your lessons learned with us and we’re sure your wisdom will help many. So, one question that comes up often and that we’re hoping you can shed some light on is keeping creativity alive over long stretches – how do you keep your creativity alive?
I keep my creativity alive by having balanced boundaries. I always say that I create to live. (Truly, creating is something I would do every minute if I didn’t have to care for my human body and live in this manmade structured world.) By having boundaries and a life-work balance, my creativity stays alive and fruitful! I go to my studio at least three days a week and leave when I am tired. I take care of my body, my home, and other adult things first, then I “reward” myself by going to the studio for at least three hours. When I’m not in the studio, I am sketching any idea that comes to mind, looking at inspo on Pinterest, reading and researching more about a project I am working on or something random. This feeds my creativity so much that I am excited to bust it out in the studio! I think my creativity stays alive because it’s essentially play time for me! It’s fun, limitless exploration that I’m obsessed with.
Let’s take a small detour – maybe you can share a bit about yourself before we dive back into some of the other questions we had for you?
My name is Heidi Grace Acuña and I create to live. I am a multidisciplinary creative who makes art as a painter, printmaker, illustrator, ceramic sculptor, fabric sculptor, fashion designer and stylist, and costume designer. I create for my mental health, to share the stories of my ancestors, to build community, and to heal. My work addresses community, culture, diversity, identity, gender, and mental health. I have been working as a full time artist for the past year now, and discover more about myself and my art with every project I do. Creating makes me feel endless. Limitless. Whatever idea I may have, I find a way to bring it to life. An idea will be stuck in my head until it bursts onto whatever material it is made to exist on. I just moved into a new studio to have all the space for all of my mediums and materials: there’s an area for painting, a sewing table, and an area for all of my fabrics, books, packing materials, space for my sculptures to live, and other random things. Because of my need to constantly create and my hyperactive brain’s curious nature, it’s perfect for me to explore and work on multiple projects at a time!
Here are some of my upcoming events for you to see the multidisciplinary art I am working on:
On February 24th I will be co-facilitating a Fashion and Technology workshop for Velocity Dance Center’s Young Choreographers Club. The Young Choreographer’s Club is a 4-week dance-making workshop series for aspiring choreographers and dancers led by teaching artist Moonyeka which starts on February 10!
March 14th – I will be exhibiting several new paintings at The Feels Foundation 8th annual showcase “Still in Our Feels” at AXIS Gallery (more details TBA)!
March 14th – “Spin the Look” a fashion, dance, visual design experience, created by Jarman Hauser, co-produced by Jessica Jones. This event will be at Seattle Center Armory Stage at 6pm. Come and experience this unique performance with dance costumes made by me for Moonyeka, House of Kilig, Young Choreographers Club and more!
March 21st – House of Kilig (HOK) members: Moonyeka, Heidi Grace Acuña, Gabriel Colón, Olivia Stevens, and kai alviar horton respond to New York-based artist, Sara Jimenez’s multi-media exhibition “why should our bodies end at the skin?” with a live performance titled “because a volcano knows chasm.” Collaborating artist Enereph will create a soundscore that builds like an eruption to support the lava inspired movement scores directed by Moonyeka in collaboration with dancers Olivia Stevens and Gabriel Colon, wearing one-of-a-kind costuming by Heidi Grace Acuña that lifts a line from kai’s poem.
Follow me on Instagram @heidigraceacuna to stay updated on these events and more!
If you had to pick three qualities that are most important to develop, which three would you say matter most?
The three most important skills that have been most impactful in my journey are to be flexible/open minded, to listen to my intuition, and to be audacious!
To be flexible or open minded has been important in my journey so that I am not so controlling of my work or the outcome. This is important because creating is a liberating practice. When I am open to where the work/the process/the journey will take me, then I get more than I imagined.
With time and practice, I have learned how to listen to my intuition. This is important because I am making things that have never existed before. If I give more space to the outside voices and traditional or set ways of making/doing something, it becomes less about my perspective and experience, and more of a checklist in standards. Again, creating is a liberating practice.
Lastly, it is important to be audacious in creating because why the f**k not!? This ties in with being open minded and listening to my intuition. Creating, for me, is about rediscovering, reflecting, and expressing. By being an audacious creative, I push my human limits to think beyond what I am familiar with. Audacity lets me be free. Again, creating is a liberating practice.
Okay, so before we go we always love to ask if you are looking for folks to partner or collaborate with?
I am available for hire as a stylist, costumer, photographer, creative director, curator, guest speaker, mode, teaching artist, graphic designer, and more! I am open to collaboration and any other creative opportunities that are aligned with my skills, creativity, and experience. I love working with small businesses and community-centered projects. I am also available for commission work for art, costumes, partnerships, and clothing customization. For all inquiries, please email me at [email protected]
Contact Info:
- Website: heidigraceacuna.com
- Instagram: @heidigraceacuna
Image Credits
Heidi Grace Acuña and V. Babida
@films.bysam
