A micro-interview |
Patricia Caspers: In your bio, you mention that you were the first person in your family to attend a four-year college. I was, too, and I think a lot about how my education changed me, and changed my writing. I'm wondering if this is something that influences your art?
Kat Cervantes: Attending college has shaped my artistic journey in so many ways. In high school, my fascination with the rich history of San Francisco fueled a strong desire to live there, ultimately leading me to San Francisco State University.
As a first-generation daughter of Mexican immigrants raised in a predominantly immigrant community in Los Angeles, the decision to pursue higher education and move far away from home felt monumental. At the time, only a small percentage of my high school graduating class attended college, and an even smaller percentage, including myself, opted for a four-year institution.
This space provided me with the opportunity to delve into my identity as a young woman navigating a new chapter in my life. Being in San Francisco during this time in my life also played a pivotal role in shaping my perspective.
I wanted to pursue something creative but I initially entered college with an undeclared major, and ended up majoring in Environmental Studies. Later, I made a deliberate switch to Fine Arts with an emphasis on art education. The courses I undertook in the Environmental Studies department at SF State exposed me to a lot of crucial issues surrounding climate change.
The combination of these impactful Environmental Studies courses and the mentorship of inspiring teachers in the Fine Arts Department laid the foundation for the artist I am today. Currently, most of my art revolves around native plants but its roots are in climate change and social justice, and exploring their intersections with my identity as a woman of color and mother.
In essence, my college experience in San Francisco has played a pivotal role in shaping not only my artistic expression but also in fostering a deep engagement with issues that resonate with me as an individual.
Kat Cervantes: Attending college has shaped my artistic journey in so many ways. In high school, my fascination with the rich history of San Francisco fueled a strong desire to live there, ultimately leading me to San Francisco State University.
As a first-generation daughter of Mexican immigrants raised in a predominantly immigrant community in Los Angeles, the decision to pursue higher education and move far away from home felt monumental. At the time, only a small percentage of my high school graduating class attended college, and an even smaller percentage, including myself, opted for a four-year institution.
This space provided me with the opportunity to delve into my identity as a young woman navigating a new chapter in my life. Being in San Francisco during this time in my life also played a pivotal role in shaping my perspective.
I wanted to pursue something creative but I initially entered college with an undeclared major, and ended up majoring in Environmental Studies. Later, I made a deliberate switch to Fine Arts with an emphasis on art education. The courses I undertook in the Environmental Studies department at SF State exposed me to a lot of crucial issues surrounding climate change.
The combination of these impactful Environmental Studies courses and the mentorship of inspiring teachers in the Fine Arts Department laid the foundation for the artist I am today. Currently, most of my art revolves around native plants but its roots are in climate change and social justice, and exploring their intersections with my identity as a woman of color and mother.
In essence, my college experience in San Francisco has played a pivotal role in shaping not only my artistic expression but also in fostering a deep engagement with issues that resonate with me as an individual.
May 2024
Kat Cervantes is a first-generation Mexican American Chicana artist and the founder of Plantitas en Barro. Born and raised in Los Angeles, California, she later moved to San Francisco for college, initially pursuing Environmental Studies before transitioning to Fine Art with a focus on Art Education at San Francisco State University. Kat was the first in her family to attend a four-year college and earn a degree.
Her creative journey spans various art forms, from painting and ceramics to sculpture and conceptual information arts. After obtaining her Bachelor's degree, she earned a teaching credential for Visual Arts and dedicated four years to teaching K-12. Simultaneously, she pursued graphic design courses at LA Mission College and worked on zines, including "A Brief Pre-colonial Guide to Psychoactive Plants in the Americas."
Becoming a mother in 2019 marked a significant turning point for Kat, prompting a journey of ancestral healing with community healers. A traumatic birth experience and family estrangement led her to a path of personal and ancestral healing, guided by mentors and teachers.
In late 2021, Kat relocated to Sacramento, reigniting her connection with native plants. Gardening, a significant part of her life, provided healing, drawing profound parallels between native plants and the disruption caused by colonialism in ecosystems and her ancestral heritage.
March 2023 brought a pivotal moment when Kat exhibited her artwork alongside artist Esme Cabrera at Sol Collective in Sacramento, CA, in a show titled "Tending to Myself, Tending to My Jardín." This experience was profoundly healing, reigniting her inspiration to continue pursuing her art.
Her current work delves into themes of plant/mycology connections, ancestral reconnection, death, and rebirth. Drawing inspiration from goddesses like the Sumerian goddess Inanna and the high priestess Enheduanna, Kat aims to convey resilience, envision new possibilities, and challenge societal expectations through her art.
Her creative journey spans various art forms, from painting and ceramics to sculpture and conceptual information arts. After obtaining her Bachelor's degree, she earned a teaching credential for Visual Arts and dedicated four years to teaching K-12. Simultaneously, she pursued graphic design courses at LA Mission College and worked on zines, including "A Brief Pre-colonial Guide to Psychoactive Plants in the Americas."
Becoming a mother in 2019 marked a significant turning point for Kat, prompting a journey of ancestral healing with community healers. A traumatic birth experience and family estrangement led her to a path of personal and ancestral healing, guided by mentors and teachers.
In late 2021, Kat relocated to Sacramento, reigniting her connection with native plants. Gardening, a significant part of her life, provided healing, drawing profound parallels between native plants and the disruption caused by colonialism in ecosystems and her ancestral heritage.
March 2023 brought a pivotal moment when Kat exhibited her artwork alongside artist Esme Cabrera at Sol Collective in Sacramento, CA, in a show titled "Tending to Myself, Tending to My Jardín." This experience was profoundly healing, reigniting her inspiration to continue pursuing her art.
Her current work delves into themes of plant/mycology connections, ancestral reconnection, death, and rebirth. Drawing inspiration from goddesses like the Sumerian goddess Inanna and the high priestess Enheduanna, Kat aims to convey resilience, envision new possibilities, and challenge societal expectations through her art.