Voices in Our Heads
Griselda Suarez has Art in the Soul
Griselda Suarez is very succinct in her self-description. She is “a writer, artist, cook, and a teacher.” According to Griselda, she was born in unincorporated East Los Angeles and “…walked Whittier Blvd and Brooklyn Ave in black and white saddle shoes.” In the podcast, “Voices in Our Heads”, Griselda Suarez talks about growing up in a place where “…her thoughts did not easily find voice; instead, she found a pen and paper.” Ms. Suarez is also the Executive Director of the Arts Council for Long Beach.
In part one of a three-part series of interviews, Griselda Suarez discusses the early years of her life that brought her to this moment. While writing is a crucial part of who she is today, it was visual arts that were her portal into the art world.
Griselda Suarez
In a biography paragraph that she sent to PalacioMagazine.com, Griselda explained that “Her hometown inspires her to investigate memories of a home space that continues to be bodiless.” For Griselda, the arts empower “…others to express their thoughts.”
“Ms. Suarez is a lecturer of Chicano and Latino Studies at Cal State Long Beach, and a passionate arts advocate. She teaches literature, art history, cultural studies, and writing and continues to lecture at other venues, including the Museum of Latin American Art. Griselda encourages arts advocacy and “welcomes artists and residents to engage the arts in all parts of their lives.”
Griselda Suarez Part One
There are two inter-related art forms that are close to Griselda Suarez’s heart. It’s food and culture. Ms. Suarez co-owned two successful businesses, Peppered Up Foods and Sliced & Diced Eatery (2010-2015). In 2015, her restaurant made the Best 100 Dishes in the OC WEEKLY.
Griselda Suarez Part Two
In the closing segment of “Voices in Our Heads”, Griselda Suarez describes her vision for the future of Arts and Culture in Long Beach. She begins with a forecast for what that future will look like next year.
Griselda Suarez Part Three
You can find out more about the Arts Council for Long Beach at www.artslb.org. There, you can sign up for the Council’s newsletter. There will also be information about the monthly microgrant as well as its application. The Risk and Innovation grant application is also online. The Arts Council website can also keep you up to date with Arts and Culture events around town.
