When she set up her art exhibit last year at West Chicago’s Gallery 200, Naperville artist Marita Valdizan had no idea what was in store for her. The mixed media artist had hoped to show her pieces and make a few sales. Instead, her art led her on a whirlwind European tour and introduced her to a group of women she now calls sisters.
What happened was an act of kismet: Marita, a serial exhibitor who would never say no to a chance to display her work, was participating in the Maker Market at College of DuPage, an event that encourages student entrepreneurs to show and sell their product. Jacqueline Camacho-Ruiz, the creator of the Today’s Inspired Latina book series, was in attendance and realized that the finely-crafted metal crocheted body wear in Marita’s booth was part of the collection she had seen previously at Gallery 200. After introducing herself to the Peruvian artist, Jacqueline engaged Marita in a conversation and recruited her for inclusion in Today’s Inspired Latina Volume VI: Life Stories of Success in the Face of Adversity.
The book, a compilation of stories from 20 international Latina entrepreneurs, differed from the earlier volumes in that it was co-authored by Veronica Sosa, founder of the Seminar for Hispanic Entrepreneurs in Europe (SHE), an organization that helps Hispanic woman advance their personal and professional lives. The collaboration resulted in a global movement that brought women from North and South America together with their European counterparts in a celebratory book launch in Paris and Belgium in October. Marita, the first visual artist to be included in the Inspired Latinas series, embraced her sisterhood and created 2D art pieces for each of the women featured in the book.
Marita returned energized from her excursion, ready to embark on her next project: a solo show at Gallery 200 opening November 2020. With crochet hook in hand, she is crafting a collection in her signature art form for “The Treasures of My Land,” exhibition. Using the Peruvian stitch technique she learned from its creator, Juan Pacheco, Marita will honor her homeland through pieces that reflect her culture.
The prolific mother of two is proud to be defined by her heritage and we are fortunate to be able to experience her world through her art.
For more information on Marita, visit www.waalay.com/commerce.
To find out about Today’s Inspired Latina, visit www.todayslatina.com.
Editor’s Note / Call for artists (by 3/14) to enter Public Art Competition hosted by Naperville Art League.
