Women Mind the Water Podcast Series: Lluvia Tec, Mexico

Submitted as part of the Women Mind the Water (WMW) digital stories project produced by Pam Ferris-Olson, in conjunction with Stories from Main Street and the traveling exhibition "Water/Ways." This story is one in a series created for a podcast in 2020-21, featuring regional and international artists whose inspiration blends conversation, activism, science, and water. Find earlier stories from the WMW initiative by searching for "Women Mind the Water" on this website.

Lluvia Tec grew up in Akumal, a pueblo located on Mexico's Riviera Maya on the Yucatan Peninsula. Akumal in the Mayan language means 'sea turtles' and today the area is still home to green sea turtles. It also is home to the Akumal Arts Festival. Lluvia is the only female artist to have participated in the festival for three years She currently has a university art scholarship which she received from the Arts Festival. Lluvia's art is very much inspired by the ocean and sea turtles.

Rosario, Lluvia (00:00): [foreign language 00:00:00]

Rosario (00:00): Hello, Pam. How are you?

Pam (00:02): Hello, Rosario. I am so pleased that you were willing to help facilitate this meeting.

Rosario (00:10): Oh, great. Yeah. I'm happy to help Lluvia and you.

Pam (00:16): The Women Mind the Water podcast engages artists in conversation about their work and explores their connection with the ocean. Through these stories, Women Mind the Water hopes to inspire and encourage action to protect the ocean and her creatures. Today I'm speaking with Lluvia Tec, who grew up in Akumal, a pueblo located on the Yucatan Peninsula in an area referred to as Mexico's Riviera Maya. Akumal in the Mayan language means 'sea turtles.'

Pam (00:47): And today the area is still their home. It is also home to the Akumal Arts Festival. Lluvia is the only female artists to have participated in the festival all three years, and currently attends university at an art scholarship she received from the arts festival. Lluvia's art is very much inspired by the ocean and sea turtles. Also joining us today is Rosario Cu, who has worked in art galleries in Mexico City. Rosario has graciously offers to serve as a translator. Welcome Lluvia and Rosario. I am most grateful to both of you for agreeing to be on the Women Mind the Water podcast. Lluvia, would you describe Akumal for me? And I'd like to get an image of what Akumal looks like.

Rosario (01:36): I'm going to translate. She's saying that Akumal is a very little town, very quiet, and she really likes to be here because she loved the turtles and be an ear to the sea. She said too that it's a very, very quiet town, and her best moment that she has always have to be with the bay in Akumal, that it's a beautiful bay here in Akumal.

Pam (02:07): So what are some of her fondest memories about living in Akumal? And maybe she can tell me some of the favorite things that she liked to do growing up.

Rosario (02:16): She said that one of the best experiences and memories that she has when she is growing here is she's always going to the beach with her parents. And the most that she really likes was to painting the sunset. So she loved to be on the beach, painting the sunset. So she has that memories and she was very happy during these days.

Pam (02:47): I'm going to share some of her paintings with the audience, ones of the sea turtles, and I wanted to know what inspires her to paint these images.

Rosario (02:59): She says that Akumal means it is a place of the turtles. And that when she's growing, before a few years ago, we have a lot of turtles in this bay. And with the time these turtles is the futures of the end. So that's why she tried to explain that it is very important to take care of the turtles in this part. Yeah. That's why she was painting, her art, it's about the turtles.

Pam (03:32): Okay. So I know that she was awarded an art scholarship from the arts festival. And I wondered how her studies at the university have changed the way she creates art.

Rosario (03:46): Okay. She said that when she started to study art design and most of the students around her, sometime it's easier for them to say what they're feeling through their art, or to painting something that is easier for them that talk. And the way also that they see put all these ideas that they have inside is also to try to save or help the planet or the world around them. So that is the way that she sees that.

Pam (04:31): Is it hard for her to paint a large image like the one she creates at the art festival? Is there a special challenge for creating something that large?

Rosario (04:42): She said that, yeah, it was a challenge for her, because also that when she has six years, she started painting and also the walls in her house and all that. But when the first time that she did a big mural, big, and that was when she has 16 years old and it was very, very challenging for her, because the dimension [inaudible 00:05:07] that you put in that little sheet to a big mural was a challenge for her.

Pam (05:16): Yes. Okay. So my next question was that I don't imagine that she was encouraged to paint on the walls around town when she was younger. So I wondered how she feels about the opportunity to do that at the festival.

Rosario (05:31): She said it was very, very, very special for her because from that time that they invite her, all the community applauds her and supports her, because it's not many people in the community they have the courage to put and go out, no? So now everybody recognizes her like an artists and not like a student or another girl in the pueblo. No, all the community now is very proud of her and she's very happy.

Pam (06:04): Very nice.

Rosario (06:05): And [inaudible 00:06:06] also she said they have another opportunities from the festival, she started to have other opportunities or is growing in this area.

Pam (06:16): Good. Very nice. So does she think that her art can have a positive influence in helping Akumal and the sea turtles?

Rosario (06:25): She said that she's thinking that the other artists that come to the festival, the intention is really, yes, to say or give a positive impact in the people that see this art. Because, she says, it's like the mission for the artists, not to just make all these, and for help in this case, that turtles in Akumal. And from the day all these artists come and painting and help to put all these beautiful paintings in the community, the community is very happy because they see their town better.

Pam (07:13): Hmm. Is there anything else that Lluvia would like to tell me?

Rosario (07:18): She say that it was very happy for her that the festival invites her to participate, and she will be so happy that every year the festival invites her. Also, because the town is very happy with this festival and help to have the town, the community, all together. And she say that it is a very, very important festival for her, and she's very proud to be part of the festival, and she will be continue to participate if the festival continue to invite her. And she's very grateful for that.

Pam (07:59): And I can see why the festival wanted to showcase her art. And I think she's a wonderful spokesperson for the festival.

Rosario (08:13): [foreign language 00:08:13].

Lluvia (08:19): [foreign language 00:08:19]

Rosario (08:20): She says thank you so much.

Pam (08:21): Yes. Well, [foreign language 00:08:23] to both of you for being here today, and Rosario, additional thanks for serving as a translator. And please tell Lluvia, I wish her much success in her studies and for the future.

Rosario (08:37): [foreign language 00:08:37]

Lluvia (08:37): [foreign language 00:08:37].

Rosario (08:37): Thank you so much, she said.

Pam (08:44): [foreign language 00:08:44].

Pam (08:46): I'd like to remind our listeners that I've been speaking with Lluvia Tec for the Women Mind the Water podcast series. The series can be viewed on womenmindthewater.com. An audio-only version of this podcast is available on the Women Mind the Water website, iTunes, and Spotify. Women Mind the Water is grateful to Jane Rice for her song, Women of Water, all rights for the Women Mind the Water name and logo belonged to Pam Ferris-Olson. This is Pam Ferris-Olson, thank you for listening.

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Asset ID: 2021.02.17
Themes: Generation Z, art, artists, murals, painting, art festival, students
Date recorded: June 17, 2021
Length of recording: 09:19 m
Related traveling exhibition: Water/Ways
Sponsor or affiliated organization: Women Mind the Water
More information: https://womenmindthewater.com/